Carlson Scan vs QGIS Comparison
Compare Carlson Scan vs QGIS features, pricing, and more.
Last updated: November 2026
Carlson Scan
4.8/10
Windows software that runs Carlson's laser scanners and borehole tools to capture, mesh and measure underground voids, stopes and boreholes for mining and civil surveyors.
QGIS
7/10
QGIS is a free, open source desktop GIS. Organisations use it to view, edit, analyse and map spatial data, including vector, raster, mesh and point cloud layers.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | C Carlson Scan | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 4.8/10 | 7/10 |
| Integration | 4/10 | 8/10 |
| Security | 4/10 | 5/10 |
| Support | 5/10 | 5/10 |
| Cost | 6/10 | 10/10 |
| Analytics | 5/10 | 8/10 |
| Ease of Use | 6/10 | 5/10 |
| Customization | 4/10 | 9/10 |
| Scalability | 4/10 | 6/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | Contact for pricing | Contact for pricing |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Contact for pricing | Free QGIS (open source) |
| Features | ||
| LiDAR Processing | ||
| GIS and Mapping | Not listed | |
| Inspection Automation | Not listed | |
| Offline Field App | Not listed | |
| Work Orders | Not listed | |
Carlson Scan vs QGIS cost by team size
| Team size | Carlson Scan | QGIS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | Contact for pricing | FreeQGIS (open source) |
| 5 users | Contact for pricing | FreeQGIS (open source) |
| 10 users | Contact for pricing | FreeQGIS (open source) |
| 25 users | Contact for pricing | FreeQGIS (open source) |
| 50 users | Contact for pricing | FreeQGIS (open source) |
The plan that fits each team size, billed monthly, before add-ons and usage charges. Each cost opens that tool's pricing calculator for the team size.
Which One Should You Choose?
CWhy choose Carlson Scan
- Higher Ease of Use score (6/10 vs 5/10)
Why choose QGIS
- Has a free plan (Carlson Scan does not)
- Higher Customization score (9/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Integration score (8/10 vs 4/10)
Pros & Cons
CCarlson Scan
Pros
- Shows the point cloud and mesh live during a scan, so crews can check coverage before they leave the site.
- Calculates closed surfaces and volumes on the spot, which suits stope and void reconciliation.
- Processes data on the device, so it works underground with no internet connection.
- The license allows installation on any number of tablets, and version updates have been free for hardware owners.
- Exports to E57, LAS, PTS and DXF for use in CAD and blast design tools.
Cons
- Works only with Carlson's own scanners and probes, so it cannot be bought or used on its own.
- Older C-ALS Mk3 and original Void Scanner units cannot move past legacy version 1.3.6.
- There is no public pricing, and the hardware must be quoted through sales or dealers.
- Almost no independent user reviews were found, which makes it hard to compare against rivals.
- Runs on Windows only.
QGIS
Pros
- No licence fees on any number of seats, under the GPLv2+ open source licence.
- Python and C++ plugins let teams add custom tools and database connectors such as PostGIS.
- It reads many data formats and standard web services, which makes it easy to connect to existing data.
- Its print layout, atlas and report tools suit organisations that produce a lot of maps.
- It loads LAS, LAZ and virtual point cloud datasets with classification-based rendering.
Cons
- Capterra reviewers report slow performance, freezes and crashes on heavy workloads.
- Newcomers describe a steep learning curve and say installation can be difficult.
- There is no vendor-backed support contract; help comes from the community or third-party providers.
- It cannot edit point clouds and has no asset maintenance features such as work orders.
- Some reviewers say it lacks tools that ArcGIS Pro offers.
Not sold on either?
Air Inspection Automation (AiA)Our product
Plans DJI drone inspection missions for power line towers from LiDAR scans: it finds the towers, places photo stops, checks clearance, and splits the route into battery flights.
Made by the team behind b stack radar. Shown here because it fits this topic. It is not part of our rankings. How we rank tools
Frequently Asked Questions
QGIS scores higher on our Industrial & Infrastructure Software criteria: 7/10 against 4.8/10 for Carlson Scan. The largest gap is in Customization: 4/10 for Carlson Scan and 9/10 for QGIS.
QGIS has a free plan; Carlson Scan does not list one.
