OpenDroneKit

OpenDroneKit and WebODM

A free, open-source desktop and web application that turns aerial images into maps, elevation models, point clouds and 3D models, running on the user's own computer. OpenDroneKit is a free, open-source desktop app covering the whole inspection, from flight plan to report. Here is where they overlap, where they differ, and where WebODM is the stronger choice.

Updated 2026-10-02WebODM facts checked on their own pages, 2026-10-02

About this comparison

No accuracy or speed benchmark has been run between OpenDroneKit and WebODM, so none is claimed. Where WebODM’s pages do not mention a capability, the table says “not mentioned” rather than “no”.

What does each do?

CapabilityWebODMOpenDroneKit
PlatformsWindows (native installer), macOS (installer with Docker manager), Linux (Docker), Docker on all platforms webodm.orgWindows; also developed and tested on Linux. facts
Photogrammetry / orthomosaicYes webodm.orgYes: COLMAP structure-from-motion, COG orthomosaic source
DSM / DTMYes webodm.orgYes: DSM, DTM and hillshade (Cloud-Optimized GeoTIFF) source
Point cloud / textured 3D modelYes (also Gaussian splats) webodm.orgYes: point cloud (.ply), Poisson mesh (.ply / .obj) source
Runs locally / offlineYes: "Runs on your computer, even offline" webodm.orgYes: everything runs on your machine source
GPU accelerationYes (CUDA) webodm.orgOptional: CUDA COLMAP for dense reconstruction source
Cloud processingOptional (WebODM Lightning; CloudODX command-line tool via NodeODX) webodm.orgNo: not implemented; a cloud request runs locally and says so source
Mission planning / flight controlNot mentioned on webodm.org webodm.orgYes: 22 templates, exports to QGC, DJI and Litchi source
MAVLink / ArduPilot flightNot mentioned on webodm.org webodm.orgYes: MAVLink 2 upload to ArduPilot, simulator-tested source
Input imageryJPG and TIFF (8/16-bit), with or without EXIF, video; "any drone" webodm.orgGeotagged photos source
Measurements / volumeYes (measurements with volume) webodm.orgYes: area, perimeter, volume, cut/fill against the DSM source
Ground control pointsYes webodm.orgYes: import, mark and accuracy report source
AI defect detectionNot mentioned on webodm.org webodm.orgYes: crack, corrosion, structural and solar models with published metrics source
Inspection reportsNot mentioned on webodm.org webodm.orgYes: HTML, PDF, DOCX and Markdown source
Open sourceYes (AGPL-3.0) api.github.comYes (MIT chosen; LICENSE not yet on main) source

What does each cost?

OpenDroneKit is free: no account, licence key or paid tier.

WebODM, as published on 2026-10-02:

  • "100% Free" to install and use; native Windows installer (v3.3.0 listed on the download page) webodm.org
  • WebODM Lightning: an optional paid processing subscription for limited hardware or large datasets; price not shown on the download page webodm.org

Licence: AGPL-3.0 (WebODM and its ODX engine) api.github.com. Prices change; check the vendor’s page before deciding.

Where is WebODM the better choice?

  • Photogrammetry is its whole focus, developed for 10+ years (its own claim), with GPU acceleration and a mature processing engine (ODX, forked from ODM). webodm.org
  • Ships one-click native installers today for Windows and macOS; OpenDroneKit has no installer yet. webodm.org
  • Broader input support (fisheye, 360°, video) and outputs such as textured models, Gaussian splats and contours. webodm.org
  • A larger community: webodm.org states 116 contributors. webodm.org

Mission planning, MAVLink flight, defect models and inspection reports are not described on webodm.org; recorded as 'not mentioned', not as 'No'.

Which should I use?

  • Pick WebODM if its strengths above are what your work depends on, or if you need a packaged, supported product today: OpenDroneKit has no installer yet and is community-maintained.
  • Pick OpenDroneKit if you want planning, MAVLink flight, reconstruction, defect detection, measurement and reports in one free app that runs offline, and you can install from source.
  • They are not exclusive: OpenDroneKit’s outputs are standard GeoTIFF, GeoJSON and mission files, so either tool’s results can be opened alongside the other’s in QGIS.

What happened between WebODM, ODM and ODX?

On 2026-04-06 WebODM announced it had separated from the OpenDroneMap project. WebODM continues under its own GitHub organisation and forked the processing stack under new names (ODM became ODX, NodeODM became NodeODX). OpenDroneMap continues as its own organisation. Both remain AGPL-3.0.

  • WebODM announced on April 6, 2026 that it would continue independently of OpenDroneMap, citing "irreconcilable differences" between the co-founders. webodm.org
  • ODM was forked as ODX and NodeODM as NodeODX under the WebODM organisation; Docker images webodm/odx and webodm/nodeodx. webodm.org
  • New repositories: github.com/WebODM/WebODM, github.com/WebODM/ODX, github.com/WebODM/NodeODX. webodm.org
  • ClusterODM and PyODM were also renamed (ClusterODX, PyODX); WebODM 3.2.0 shipped the changes three days after the announcement. aerocartwright.com
  • OpenDroneMap continues at github.com/OpenDroneMap; the ODM repository is still active (last push 2026-09-16). api.github.com
  • WebODM, ODX and ODM are all licensed AGPL-3.0. api.github.com
  • Third-party coverage describes processing outputs and algorithms as unchanged between the forks at the time of the split. aerocartwright.com

OpenDroneKit is not affiliated with OpenDroneMap, WebODM or ODX.

Sources

Accessed 2026-10-02.

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