Tool profile
3DF Zephyr: cost, fit and limits
3DF Zephyr is photogrammetry software made by 3Dflow SRL of Italy that reconstructs 3D models from photos and video frames, sold as a free personal version, a Lite license and full subscription or perpetual licenses for surveying and documentation work.
What to know first
3DF Zephyr is sold in four tiers with prices printed on the product page: a Free version for personal use, Lite at €199 + VAT one time, a monthly plan at €250 + VAT, and a perpetual full license at €4,200 + VAT. The step from Lite to the full plans adds control points, measurements, laser scan import and orthophoto and DEM output. The privacy policy names servers in Italy and the United States.
3DF Zephyr at a glance
| Maker | 3Dflow SRL, Italy |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | €199.00 + VAT |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Photogrammetry Software in 2026, rank 2 of 12 |
| Website | 3dflow.net |
Who 3DF Zephyr is best for
Surveyors and documentation teams
Full plans add control points, measurements, laser scan import, orthophoto and DEM generation, and GIS, CAD and survey tools in one program.
Hobbyists testing the workflow
The Free version has no time limit but is personal use only and caps a project at 50 photos or video frames, which is enough to learn the pipeline.
Budget-conscious freelancers
Lite costs €199 once, includes full reconstruction with unlimited images (limited by RAM) and dual GPU support, and carries 12 months of updates.
3DF Zephyr plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| 3DF Zephyr Free | Free | Perpetual personal-use license: up to 50 photos or video frames per project, single GPU, textured mesh export with JPG texture only, limited editing. |
| 3DF Zephyr Lite | €199.00 + VAT | Perpetual license with full 3D reconstruction, unlimited images (limited by RAM), dual GPU support, basic export and editing, 12 months of updates and basic email and forum support. |
| 3DF Zephyr (Monthly) | €250.00 + VAT / mo | Billed for 30 days, cancellable any time; full GPU support, full export, advanced editing, control points, laser scan import, orthophoto and DEM output. |
| 3DF Zephyr (perpetual) | €4200.00 + VAT | Perpetual full feature set with 12 months of updates; renewing for another 12 months costs 20% of the license price. |
Checked November 2026.
What 3DF Zephyr does
- Reconstruction in every paid tier
- Lite already performs full 3D reconstruction with images limited only by RAM, so the cheapest paid tier does not cap photo count the way the Free version does.
- Control points and measurements
- The monthly and perpetual plans add control points and measurement tools, which turn a model into something a surveyor can check against known coordinates. Without them the model has no external scale reference to check against.
- Laser scan import and orthophoto output
- Full plans accept laser scans next to photos and generate orthophotos and DEMs, so one project can serve mapping and inspection deliverables. Both are listed only for the paid full feature set, not for Lite or Free.
- GIS, CAD and survey tools
- The product page lists GIS, CAD and survey tools in the full feature set, covering the hand-off from reconstruction to the drawing environment. That helps when the model must leave the program and enter a drawing or survey package.
- GPU tiers
- Lite supports dual GPUs and the full plans full GPU support, while Free uses a single GPU, so hardware use scales with the plan. A workstation with two graphics cards gains from Lite, and heavier rigs from the full plans.
How 3DF Zephyr handles your data
The privacy policy states that servers are located in Italy and the United States. It sets no general retention period: software purchase data is kept for accounting and support, and contact form data is kept only to reply. The policy does not mention AI training or name any certification. The product page opened describes no AI feature, and the desktop program processes projects locally, but the vendor's policy was not checked for how project files are handled if you send them to support.
Where 3DF Zephyr falls short in practice
- Lite stops short of survey tools. Lite omits the full export, advanced editing, control points and laser scan import, so a surveyor who buys it first usually has to move up to a monthly or perpetual plan.
- Free version is tightly capped. Free covers 50 photos or video frames per project, one GPU, JPG-only texture on textured mesh exports and YouTube-only movie upload, so it cannot carry client work.
- Trial terms are not stated. The product page opened gives no trial length or trial limits, so a buyer must ask before assuming a free evaluation of the full set exists.
Works with
Alternatives to 3DF Zephyr
3DF Zephyr: common questions
How much does 3DF Zephyr cost?
As of November 2026, Lite is €199.00 + VAT once, the monthly full plan is €250.00 + VAT, and the perpetual full license is €4,200.00 + VAT. A Free version exists for personal use. The page also lists a 12-month update window on perpetual licenses.
What are the limits of 3DF Zephyr Free?
Free is for personal use only. It allows up to 50 photos or video frames per project, a single GPU, textured mesh export with JPG texture only, YouTube-only movie upload and limited editing. Commercial work needs Lite or a full plan.
What does a 3DF Zephyr renewal cost?
After the first 12 months of updates on the perpetual full license, renewing for another 12 months costs 20% of the license price, which is about €840 on the €4,200 license. The monthly plan has no renewal in that sense; it can be renewed or cancelled each 30 days.
Where does 3Dflow store data?
The privacy policy states servers in Italy and the United States. It sets no general retention period and says purchase data is kept for accounting and support. It does not mention AI training, so ask the vendor if that matters for your files.
Is Lite enough for a surveyor?
Usually not. Lite reconstructs models with unlimited images but leaves out control points, measurements, laser scan import and the full export of the monthly and perpetual plans. It fits asset creation and documentation better than measured deliverables. Buyers who only need meshes for documentation may find it adequate, and an upgrade path to the full plans exists.