Potree Alternative: A Managed Point Cloud SaaS for Teams Without a Dev Stack
Potree is an excellent open-source WebGL renderer from TU Wien (Vienna), capable of streaming very large point clouds in a browser. But it expects you to convert files with PotreeConverter, run a web server, build the UI and ship updates yourself. ATIS.cloud delivers the same fluid in-browser rendering as a managed SaaS: native measurements, secure link sharing, extended scanner formats and a 14-day free trial without a single line of code.
500 GB
per file
8 brands
native scanner workflows
No credit card, no commitment, no PotreeConverter, no hosting to manage
Open-source library vs managed SaaS
Potree is an open-source WebGL renderer for large point clouds, developed by Markus Schütz at the Institute of Computer Graphics and Algorithms, TU Wien (Vienna, Austria). Latest release 1.8.2 published December 12, 2023. BSD 2-Clause license. Target audience: developers, researchers and IT teams able to self-host a WebGL library and write their own integration.
- • Free and open source (BSD 2-Clause)
- • Designed for very large clouds (multi-billion points per published TU Wien research)
- • Formats: LAS, LAZ, EPT (Entwine Point Cloud)
- • Pre-conversion required via PotreeConverter (separate command-line binary)
- • Hosting on you: HTTP web server, bandwidth, certificates, monitoring
- • No official SaaS: PotreeDesktop for local use, or custom web integration
ATIS.cloud is a SaaS dedicated to point cloud visualization, measurement and sharing. No conversion step, no server to host, no code to write. Upload the raw scan and share it with clients via secure link in minutes. Built for AEC firms, surveying companies, BIM managers and asset owners whose job is to move and share scan data, not to ship a custom WebGL product.
- Managed SaaS: no install, no dev, no infrastructure
- Smooth cloud rendering up to 500 GB per file (up to 5 TB on Enterprise)
- Extended formats: E57, LAS, LAZ, RCS, RCP, LGSx
- Native scanner workflows for 8 brands: FARO, Leica, NavVis, Riegl, Trimble, Viametris, Matterport, GeoSLAM
- Native measurement, annotation and section cuts
- Secure link sharing with permissioned access, no client setup
- Sovereign hosting in 22+ countries, professional support included
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Feature | Potree | ATIS.cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Distribution model | Open-source WebGL library to integrate and self-host | Managed SaaS, ready to use |
| Required skills | Dev: PotreeConverter, HTTP server, JavaScript, TLS, ops | None: end-user UI in the browser |
| Point cloud formats accepted | LAS, LAZ, EPT (after PotreeConverter) | E57, LAS, LAZ, RCS, RCP, LGSx (direct upload, no conversion) |
| Native scanner workflows | Generic format only, no brand-specific workflow | 8 brands native (FARO, Leica, NavVis, Riegl, Trimble, Viametris, Matterport, GeoSLAM) |
| Pre-processing step | PotreeConverter required (separate CLI binary) | None: upload raw scan |
| Hosting and infrastructure | On you: web server, bandwidth, TLS, monitoring | Included, sovereign hosting in 22+ countries |
| Measurement and analysis tools | Built-in: measurements, elevation profile, clipping volume, annotations, camera animation | Measurements, annotations, section cuts, persistent project markers |
| Secure link sharing | Public URL, no native access control (depends on your setup) | Permissioned link sharing, controlled external access |
| User and project management | Not included (you build it) | Roles, permissions, multi-project workspace |
| Updates and maintenance | On you: track upstream releases, port custom code | Continuous SaaS updates, no migration on your side |
| Support | Community (GitHub issues, forum) | Professional support included, dedicated support on Enterprise |
| License and ownership | BSD 2-Clause: full ownership of the stack | SaaS subscription, your data stays yours |
| Customization | Full UI and rendering control (you write it) | Configuration, branding (Brand Studio on Enterprise), API |
| Latest release / activity | 1.8.2 published December 12, 2023 | Continuous SaaS releases |
| Cost model | Free upfront, hidden costs: dev time, infra, maintenance | Public Standard / Advance / Enterprise plans |
Where ATIS.cloud wins
Where Potree wins
Zero technical setup
Potree requires PotreeConverter, an HTTP server, TLS certificates, JavaScript glue and ongoing maintenance. ATIS.cloud requires a browser. For surveying firms, BIM teams or asset owners without an in-house dev team, this is the difference between a multi-step deployment project and a same-day handover.
Free and open source (BSD 2-Clause)
Zero direct license cost. If you have in-house dev capacity and your use case fits LAS/LAZ/EPT, Potree's economics are hard to beat.
Extended scanner formats with no conversion
Potree accepts LAS, LAZ and EPT after PotreeConverter. ATIS.cloud accepts E57, LAS, LAZ, RCS, RCP and LGSx directly: no command-line conversion, no preprocessing pipeline. RCS and RCP are read and written natively without an Autodesk license.
Academic-grade rendering on the largest clouds
Built on multi-year TU Wien research in real-time point cloud rendering, with multi-billion-point scenes documented in the published literature. For pure rendering throughput on extreme dataset sizes, Potree remains a reference.
Native scanner workflows for 8 brands
FARO, Leica, NavVis, Riegl, Trimble, Viametris, Matterport, GeoSLAM. Tuned workflows mean less time spent normalizing scanner output, especially for mixed-fleet operations.
Full UI and rendering customization
As a WebGL library, Potree gives you complete control over the viewer's look, behavior and integration with your own product. ATIS.cloud, as a SaaS, is configurable but not infinitely moldable.
Permissioned link sharing built in
With Potree, sharing a scan typically means publishing a public URL and trusting obscurity. ATIS.cloud ships permissioned external sharing as a first-class feature, with controlled expiry and access logs.
No vendor lock-in
You own the code, the data and the deployment. If your business model requires shipping a self-hosted product to your own clients, Potree fits naturally.
Sovereign hosting and pro support
Sovereign hosting in 22+ countries, AES 256-bit encryption, GDPR and CCPA compliance, professional support included. Potree leaves all of that to you.
Continuous updates
ATIS.cloud ships features continuously without forcing you to fork or port custom code. Potree's last public release is 1.8.2 (December 12, 2023): if you've forked it for production, you carry the merge cost.
Choose ATIS.cloud if...
- You want to view and share point clouds without writing or maintaining code
- Your scans include E57, RCS, RCP or LGSx (not just LAS/LAZ)
- You need permissioned link sharing, role-based access and user management out of the box
- You do not have an in-house IT team to host and maintain a WebGL library
- Sovereign hosting, professional support and a 14-day free trial matter to you
- Your scans come from FARO, Leica, NavVis, Riegl, Trimble, Viametris, Matterport or GeoSLAM
Choose Potree if...
- • You have a dev team to integrate, host and maintain the library long-term
- • You are building a custom product with an embedded point cloud viewer
- • Your files are LAS/LAZ/EPT only and you do not need extended scanner formats
- • You prefer to self-host and own the full stack
- • Avoiding subscription costs is more important than time-to-deploy
How to switch from Potree to ATIS.cloud
Migrating off a Potree deployment is immediate. You skip the PotreeConverter step entirely and stop running a web server.
Recover your original scan files (pre-PotreeConverter) or pull them straight from your scanner in E57, LAS, LAZ, RCS, RCP or LGSx
Sign up for ATIS.cloud and upload the raw files: no conversion, no preprocessing
Recreate your measurements, annotations and section cuts directly inside the ATIS.cloud 3D app
Share each scan with your teams and clients via permissioned secure link
Decommission your Potree HTTP server and reclaim the hosting, bandwidth and maintenance budget
What our customers say
Discover why over 2,600+ companies trust us.
"ATIS.cloud allowed us to reduce delivery time by 2 hours per project. Our clients can view scans immediately."2h saved per deliverable
James
Licensed Surveyor, Horizon Surveying
"The interface is intuitive and comparing with our BIM models has become child's play. A real productivity gain."+40% productivity
Sarah
BIM Manager, Arcadia Construction Group
"We were able to abandon our expensive on-premise solution. ATIS.cloud is much more accessible and simpler."Affordable pricing
Michael
Technical Director, Meridian Industries
"Sharing has revolutionized how we work with our clients. No need to explain how to install an application anymore."0 client friction
Emma
Heritage Manager, Atlas Heritage Foundation
Security and compliance
FAQ: Potree Alternative
Three reasons.
First, time. Potree expects you to run PotreeConverter, host a web server, write the integration and maintain the stack. ATIS.cloud is a managed SaaS: upload, share, done.
Second, formats. Potree accepts LAS, LAZ and EPT after conversion. ATIS.cloud accepts E57, LAS, LAZ, RCS, RCP and LGSx directly, including the proprietary scanner formats most professional fleets use.
Third, sharing and access control. Potree leaves access control to your hosting setup. ATIS.cloud ships permissioned external link sharing, role-based access and audit trails as first-class features.
Test ATIS.cloud with your existing Potree files.
Free 14-day trial, no credit card, no PotreeConverter, no hosting to manage
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