To get to our latest update, we tested some ten models of 3D scanners, all costing in the region of $2,000 or less.

And, honestly, they all have their strengths and weaknesses. Some deserve equity in the spotlight with our picks above, but can’t because of the current format of our guide.

If you need to scan small, highly detailed objects, disregard everything above and get the Revopoint Mini2. As the name suggests, it’s designed to tackle mini objects, and it does so better than everything else we tested. It can be a little finicky to position, but paired with a turntable, it produces unbeatably fine scans. It benefits from Revopoint’s decent software, too, which is a pro in every Revopoint scanner’s list.

One utterly unique scanner that we tested as part of this update is the Matter & Form Three, which performs exceptionally well and provides detailed scans at a variety of object sizes. The hardware itself is premium, with a gorgeous carry case and accessories, including a custom turntable that magnetically connects to the scanner for synchronization.

Its primary feature is the onboard processing, which completely negates the question of processing power in your computing device – all you need is a web browser to scan with the Three, plus its open-source nature means technologically savvy users can bend it to their will for neat edge computing and vision applications. Our initial testing of the Three was undone with connection issues and other puzzling issues. Matter and Form has since contacted us to suggest that the issues we faced were largely fixed with updates, and that we hadn’t tested the Three at its most fully up-to-date version. The company was correct, but in our view, not through error on our part. As a matter of review process, we do check that the hardware is up to date. It’s a messy situation, but we’re investigating further and will update this article soon with an explanation and our updated impression of the scanner as intended.

It suffices to say that the Three is a terrific and unique scanner that, frustrations or no (we’ll see), we can see it excelling in the classroom where regular pauses in the process are easily bridged with other tasks. Matter and Form offers a curriculum to go with the Three, too.

For fixed needs for large-object capture in a more settled, controlled setup, the Revopoint Range 2, as with the original Range, excels at quick, efficient scanning of large objects. Like other inexpensive Revopoint scanners, it uses structured infrared light and captures either in feature-based or marker-based modes. It’s a fine scanner for specific usage.

The Revopoint Pop 3 Plus serves as a competent evolution on the Pop 3, adding the option for global marker tracking, plus improved calibration and marginally finer resolution. While providing the same all-rounder performance we expect of the Pop series, the Pop 3 Plus seemed more susceptible to feature-based runaway than the other scanners tested. That, paired with only the slight jump in price to the more advanced MetroX, and drop to the eminently more forgiving Inspire, keeps the Pop 3 Plus out of contention in this update.

We also tested the 3DMakerPro Seal, Seal Lite, and Moose for this update, with the Seal Lite non-functional, and the Seal and Moose hardware both performing adequately, but utterly let down (once again, per our last update to this guide) by the JMStudio software. It hasn’t changed much at all since we last used it, and it’s still a colorful mess that’s clunky and frustrating to use.

Likewise, we’ve gone hands-on with the Creality RaptorX, which, on paper, trounces everything else tested in this list. Unfortunately at the time of writing, a firmware incompatibility renders the RaptorX close to unusable for Windows users unless: a, you manually roll-back an OS security update to allow the scanner’s firmware to update; b, you sideload an unsigned Creality Scan Android app, downloaded from Google Drive, to your Android device and update the scanner’s firmware via WiFi; or c, you use the Creality Scan for Mac to update the scanner, before returning to your Windows device to continue scanning.

None of them are ideal, and we’re not comfortable recommending this several-thousand-dollar device when, to simply get it to work, the company asks you to breach basic security measures. (Unless you also have a Mac or know someone with one that likes you enough to let you borrow it.)

It’s not necessarily Creality’s fault – as we understand it, the Windows security update in question borked many devices’ functionality – but regardless the hoops to jump through are not ones you should have to do for a near-$5,000 device.

We’ll continue testing as new software updates and products drop. If there are any models of scanners we’ve overlooked, let us know, and we’ll investigate for a future update.

Below, you’ll find a changelog mentioning things that have changed, so you can see our past recommendations and how the machines, and our opinions, have changed. The moment we see a 3D scanner that deserves to be known, it goes on this list.

Update – April 16, 2025: A big batch of new scanners were tested for this update, with Revopoint dominating the podium. Be sure to read the Other Machines section for the full overview of everything tested.

Update – August 21, 2023: New scanners have stretched the budget 3D scanner scene in every direction, so we’ve made a great effort to reorient ourselves. With that in mind, we’ve gone hands-on with close to a dozen current (and yet-to-be-released) models of 3D scanners and reshuffled accordingly, with new top, budget, and upgrade picks across the board.

If you want to freshen up your 3D scanner knowledge or find out the differences between the two most commonly used techniques, here is a quick overview of laser triangulation and structured light.

Laser Triangulation

There aren’t as many budget scanners using laser triangulation, and the technology is usually not found in portable 3D scanners. Laser scanners project millions of points or lines on an object, then capture its reflection with sensors. Because the sensors are located at a known distance from the laser’s source, accurate point measurements are gathered by calculating the reflection angle of the laser light. With the knowledge of the distance of the scanner from the object, the scanning hardware can map the object’s surface and record a 3D scan. These 3D scanners are famously accurate: resolutions range in the tens of micrometers. On the flip side, their range is limited to only a few meters. Triangulation 3D scanners emitting a laser line are capable of scanning moving objects.

However, you should note that the properties of the surface to scan affect the scanning process. Therefore, very shiny or transparent surfaces can be quite problematic for this technology.

For 3D scanning people and animals, you can’t use a 3D laser scanner since it might cause damage to the eyes. Structured light might be a better choice, but this technology requires the subject to stay perfectly still. So while you might get great 3D scans from your friends and family, you may find your dog a difficult subject.

Structured Light

Structured light technology also uses triangulation but works by projecting a pattern of light onto the object to scan and not a laser line (or dot).

Since the patterns can only be projected from one vantage point at a time, multiple 3D scans have to be combined to form a complete 360° mesh. Some manufacturers circumvent this constraint by mounting the object on a motorized turntable and stitching the 3D scans together automatically.

Like laser scanners, structured light scanners are very accurate, with resolution ranges in the tens of micrometers. Unlike 3D laser scanners, this technology is safe to apply to humans and animals. The 3D scanning range is limited to a few meters. Structured light technology is found both in stationary and portable 3D scanners.

Most structured light consumer 3D scanners are designed for scanning objects the size of your average coffee pot from a close range, but it’s true that you can often stitch multiple 3D scans together into one piece. Generally speaking, the bigger your objects are, or the farther away, the more expensive a 3D laser scanner will be.