Measure on the cloud
Distance, area, circle and height-profile tools are all free, with the coordinates of each point listed.
Point clouds on a Mac
How Do You Open a Point Cloud on a Mac?
Open it in your web browser. The free SpatialSense Lite Viewer opens LAS, LAZ and PLY point clouds on a Mac with nothing to install and no account, and you can measure and comment on them for free.
- Free forever
- No account
- Nothing to install
The short answer
Much of the best-known desktop scan software runs on Windows only, and the open-source tools that do run on macOS can be hard to install and slow with large files. A browser viewer avoids the problem, because there is nothing to install. Drop a LAS, LAZ or PLY file into the free Lite Viewer and it opens in the browser on your Mac. E57 and PCD files, 360° walks and floor plans open in the full SpatialSense platform.
What you can open on a Mac with SpatialSense Lite Viewer
- LAS, LAZ and PLY point cloudsDrag the file into the browser window and move around the cloud.
- IFC, GLB and splat filesThe same viewer opens IFC models, GLB meshes and Gaussian splats.
- Measuring, freeMeasure distances, areas, circles and height profiles at no cost.
- Clipping and comments, freeClip a volume to focus on one area, and leave comments on what you find.
- Nothing to install, no accountIt runs in the web browser already on your Mac, one file at a time.
Why is opening a point cloud on a Mac so awkward?
We read user forums and issue trackers for the common point-cloud tools before writing this page, and Mac users run into the same three walls.
Windows-only desktop software
Some of the most widely used scan software has no macOS version at all, so a Mac user who receives a scan has nothing to open it with.
Open-source tools that break
Free desktop tools that do run on macOS are reported to crash on large files and to break after operating-system updates.
Conversion before viewing
Some viewers accept only one or two formats, so a file has to be converted on another machine before anyone can look at it.
A viewer that runs in the browser sidesteps all three, because the browser is already on the Mac and the file opens in it as it is.
What it looks like in the Lite Viewer
Drone clouds in the browser
Drone point clouds of a whole site open in the browser, one file at a time.
Clip and comment
Clip a volume to focus on one area, then leave a comment on what you find.
The Lite Viewer and desktop scan software on a Mac, side by side
What it takes to look at a scan someone has sent you.
| SpatialSense Lite Viewer | Desktop scan software | |
|---|---|---|
| Install | None. It opens in a web browser. | An installer, and often a Windows machine. |
| Account | None. | Often a licence or a sign-in. |
| Formats | LAS, LAZ, PLY, IFC, GLB and splat, free. E57 and PCD in the full platform. | Varies, and some need a conversion first. |
| Measuring | Distance, area, circle and height profile, free. | Depends on the tool and the licence. |
| Price | Free forever. | Usually a licence or a subscription. |
Open your point cloud on a Mac
For a LAS, LAZ or PLY file you only need the first two steps.
- Open the Lite ViewerGo to 3dviewer.spatialsense.app in your browser. There is no sign-up screen.
- Drop the file inDrag a LAS, LAZ or PLY file into the window, or try a sample.
- Measure and commentMeasure distances, areas and heights, clip a volume and leave comments.
- Need E57 or PCD?Those open in the full platform, which is free for 30 days with no card.
- Keep it with the siteIn the platform, put 360° walks, drone flights and floor plans next to the scan.
Frequently asked questions
How do I open a point cloud on a Mac?
Open the free SpatialSense Lite Viewer in your browser and drop in a LAS, LAZ or PLY file. It needs no install and no account, and measuring is free.
Is there a free point cloud viewer for Mac?
Yes. The SpatialSense Lite Viewer is free forever and opens LAS, LAZ and PLY point clouds, plus IFC, GLB and splat files, in the browser with no account.
Can I open an E57 file on a Mac?
Yes, in the full SpatialSense platform: upload the E57 to a project and it opens in the browser. Start a 30-day free trial with no card, or book a demo and we set up your first site. E57 does not open in the free Lite Viewer.
Can I measure a point cloud without paying?
Yes. The Lite Viewer includes every measuring tool, distance, area, circle and height profile, along with clipping and comments, at no cost. Saving and downloading your work needs an account.
How much does SpatialSense cost?
SpatialSense has per-site pricing with unlimited users (current prices), a Lite Viewer that is free forever with no account needed, and a 30-day free trial of the full platform that needs no card details.
See SpatialSense on your project
Need E57 files, 360° walks or a link your whole team can open? Start the 30-day trial of the full platform with no card, or book a demo and we set up your first site with you.