Software That Pairs with iPhone LiDAR Scanner: What Contractors Actually Use (2026)

John Dutton

The iPhone LiDAR scanner is built into every iPhone Pro from the iPhone 12 Pro onward. Most contractors who have it don't know what software to use with it. This guide covers what actually works for field documentation in 2026.

What the iPhone LiDAR scanner is actually good for on a job site

The iPhone LiDAR sensor emits invisible laser pulses and measures how long they take to reflect back. At close range (under about 5 metres), it's highly accurate — typically within half an inch on room-scale objects. Beyond that, accuracy degrades.

For contractors, this means LiDAR is excellent for:

Scanning rooms to generate floor plans
Capturing existing conditions before work starts
Documenting as-built dimensions after renovation
Quick on-site measurements without a tape measure

Best software for iPhone LiDAR for contractors

Manifold — best for field documentation + LiDAR

Manifold's Floor Plan Scan feature uses your iPhone LiDAR to auto-generate a 2D floor plan as you walk a room. Accurate to within an inch. Exports as PDF or shareable link. Takes under 2 minutes per room.

Manifold also includes Orbit Measure — 3D scanning that works on any iPhone or Android (no LiDAR required), GPS photo documentation, required-photo checklists, and PDF reports. It's the only app that combines LiDAR floor plans with field documentation in a single platform.

$24/user/month (Photo+Scan). No seat minimums. Free trial, no credit card.

Apple Measure app — good for quick measurements, not documentation

Built into every iPhone Pro, the Measure app can measure distances and spaces. It doesn't produce floor plans, doesn't export documentation, and doesn't integrate with any field workflow. Useful for checking a single dimension, not for job site documentation.

MagicPlan — floor plan focused, per-project pricing

MagicPlan uses iPhone LiDAR to generate floor plans and costs $40/project over quota. Good for property managers or real estate professionals. Doesn't include field documentation, GPS photos, checklists, or PDF reports. See our MagicPlan vs Manifold comparison.

Matterport — enterprise-grade, expensive hardware

Matterport produces photorealistic 3D walkthroughs but requires a Pro3 camera (~$6,000). Has an iPhone app but the quality is significantly lower than the dedicated hardware. See our Matterport vs Manifold comparison.

What about Android? You don't need LiDAR

Most Android phones don't have LiDAR. Manifold's Orbit Measure feature solves this — it produces measurable 3D models from standard camera video using gaussian splatting. Works on any Android phone. Accurate to half an inch. No LiDAR required.

See our 3D scanning on Android guide.

Try Manifold free — works on any iPhone or Android. No seat minimums.