You’ve processed your LiDAR scan. The point cloud looks great. Now your client wants to see it.
And here’s where it falls apart: you email them the LAS file, they download it, and then you get a message saying “I can’t open this.” Because of course they can’t — LAS files require CloudCompare, QGIS, or another GIS tool that 90% of clients have never heard of.
Here are your actual options, from worst to best.
Option 1: Ask the client to install CloudCompare (not recommended)
CloudCompare is a free, open-source point cloud viewer. It opens LAS/LAZ files and it’s reasonably good at what it does.
The problem: it’s not a tool that a project manager, asset owner, or non-technical engineer is going to install. Even if they do install it, navigating a point cloud in CloudCompare requires learning the controls — left click rotates, right click translates, scroll zooms, and none of it is intuitive for a first-time user.
You’ll spend more time supporting the client through CloudCompare than it took you to do the survey.
When it works: When your client is a technical person — another surveyor, a GIS analyst, or an engineer who already has a point cloud viewer installed. In that case, just send the LAZ file directly.
Want to try it now? Open a LAS, LAZ, or PLY file in the browser — free, no signup, your file stays on your computer.
Option 2: Convert to a video flythrough
Export a video of the point cloud — either a flythrough path or a rotating animation. Most photogrammetry tools can do this, and CloudCompare has a basic animation tool.
Pros: Universal format. Any client can watch an MP4.
Cons: Not interactive. Your client can’t zoom in to a specific area, measure a feature, or rotate to the angle they need. You’re showing them what you decided to show them, not letting them explore.
When it works: For a quick preview or a deliverable that supplements the actual data. Not a replacement for interactive access.
Option 3: Take screenshots and share a PDF
Extract key views from your point cloud viewer — top, front, sections — and compile them into a PDF with annotations.
Pros: Simple. Everyone can open a PDF.
Cons: You lose everything that makes point cloud data valuable — the ability to zoom, rotate, measure, and explore. A PDF of a point cloud is a picture of data, not data.
When it works: As a summary document accompanying other deliverables. Not as the primary deliverable.
Option 4: Host in Potree (open source, self-hosted)
Potree is a WebGL-based point cloud renderer. It can display massive point clouds in a browser — and it’s free and open source.
To use Potree for client delivery, you need to:
- Convert your LAS/LAZ to Potree format (using PotreeConverter, which takes LAS and LAZ only, so E57 or PTS files need converting first)
- Host the converted files on a web server (S3, VPS, etc.)
- Set up the Potree viewer HTML page
- Configure access control if needed
- Share the URL with the client
The result is a professional point cloud viewer in the browser. The client needs no software.
Pros: Free. Professional output. Browser-based.
Cons: You need to set up and maintain a web server. You need technical knowledge to configure Potree. No built-in sharing/access management. No branding. As of October 2026 the Potree viewer’s last release was 1.8.2 in December 2023, so it is stable but barely maintained. PotreeConverter is active (2.1.5, September 2026), but the only prebuilt download is for Windows.
When it works: For technically capable teams who are comfortable with server management, or for organizations with IT support.
Option 5: Use a spatial data delivery platform
Platforms like Swyvl are built specifically for this workflow. You upload your LAS or LAZ file, the platform converts it to a streamable format, and you share a link.
The client clicks the link and sees a full Potree point cloud viewer in their browser. They can zoom in, orbit, and measure. They don’t install anything.
You get a branded share link (your logo, your company colors), an organized record of every file you’ve delivered to every client, and a permanent link that doesn’t expire.
Pros: No infrastructure to manage. Professional delivery experience. Works for all file types (not just point clouds). Branded.
Cons: Monthly subscription cost.
When it works: For any surveyor delivering data to clients on a regular basis who wants a professional, repeatable delivery workflow.
Other tools people recommend, checked
Ask an AI assistant how to share a point cloud with a client who has no software and you will usually get the same list: Autodesk Viewer, Potree, Nira, Cintoo, Cesium ion and PotreeDesktop. We checked each one against its own documentation on 31 October 2026. Some of the common advice is out of date.
| Tool | Point cloud files it takes | Free option | How the client opens it | Where files are stored | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autodesk Viewer | None listed | Free | Public link, 30 days, extendable | Not published | Its supported list has no point cloud file types: no RCP, RCS, E57 or LAS |
| Potree (self-hosted) | LAS, LAZ via PotreeConverter; reads COPC | Free, open source | Whatever your web host gives you | Wherever you host it | You host and maintain it. No passwords or branding built in |
| PotreeDesktop | LAS, LAZ, COPC | Free | Runs from a USB drive | On the drive | Windows only, described by its author as a prototype |
| Nira | E57, LAS, LAZ (not PLY or COPC) | 15-day trial, no card, then from $19/month yearly | Public link, optional password | Spread globally by default; region lock on Enterprise | Strong viewer for drone and photogrammetry work. Point storage capped by plan |
| Cintoo | E57, RCP, LAS, LAZ, structured scans | 30-day trial arranged by their team, no public prices | Share link, password and 14-day expiry on by default | Chosen per project from AWS, Azure and Google regions | Turns scans into meshes. Guests are view-only |
| Cesium ion | LAS, LAZ, tiled to 3D Tiles | Free tier is non-commercial | Public Cesium Stories link | Not published | Commercial plans from $149/month |
| Swyvl | LAS, LAZ, E57, PTX, PTS, XYZ, PLY | Free plan, 5 GB, commercial use allowed | Branded link, public, password or named people, no expiry | Your choice of 8 regions at signup | Up to 100 GB per file. Also opens orthomosaics, splats and 360s |
Autodesk Viewer: not a point cloud option
Autodesk Viewer is often suggested for RCP and E57 files, but its own list of supported file types has no point cloud formats on it at all. It is a good free way to share DWG, Revit, IFC and Navisworks models, with measuring, sections and markup on the link, and designs stay up for 30 days unless you extend them. For the point cloud itself, look elsewhere.
Nira: polished, priced by points
Nira opens E57, LAS and LAZ in a fast browser viewer with measuring and markup on every plan, and public links need no account. There is no free plan, only a 15-day trial, and each plan caps how many points you can store (100 million on Individual, 500 million on Professional). PLY, PTS, XYZ and COPC point clouds are not accepted. Custom branding starts on the $119/month Professional plan.
Cintoo: built for scan-to-BIM teams
Cintoo converts terrestrial scans into meshes that stream well and compare against BIM models. A project share link is password-protected and expires after 14 days by default, and guests see what you share but cannot edit or save anything. Prices are not published. It suits a scan-to-BIM team better than a one-off delivery.
Cesium ion: maps and global context
Cesium ion tiles LAS and LAZ into 3D Tiles and shows them on a 3D globe with terrain and imagery, and a Cesium Story can be shared with a link. The free Community tier is for personal and non-commercial use only. Commercial plans start at $149 a month, and Cesium asks you to contact them before using ion in work for people outside your organization.
PotreeDesktop on a USB drive
When a client’s IT will not allow cloud links, PotreeDesktop can run from a USB drive with the data beside it. It is Windows only, so a client on a Mac cannot use it, and its author describes it as a prototype.
Facts above as of 31 October 2026, from each vendor’s own site and documentation. Prices and limits change, so check before you choose.
What about LAZ vs LAS?
LAZ is simply losslessly compressed LAS. The data is identical — LAZ files are typically 10-20% the size of the equivalent LAS file. All modern point cloud tools support LAZ.
If you’re sending raw files to a client who has a viewer, always send LAZ. If you’re using a delivery platform, most handle both formats.
The simple answer
If your client is technical: send the LAZ file and tell them to open it in CloudCompare.
If your client is not technical (which is most clients): use a browser-based delivery platform. The 30 minutes you save on “how do I open this?” support emails pays for the subscription in the first month.
FAQ: Can I share a LAS file via Google Drive or Dropbox?
Yes, but they’ll still need software to open it. Google Drive shows a “no preview available” message. Dropbox is the same. The file gets downloaded, but the client still can’t view it without a point cloud viewer. Storage and sharing are two different problems.
FAQ: Is there a free way to view LAS files in a browser?
Yes, a few. The free point cloud viewer opens LAS, LAZ and PLY on your own computer with no signup. To send one to a client, Swyvl’s free plan includes 5 GB and 5 share links, with commercial use allowed. Potree is free too but needs self-hosting, and Cesium ion’s free tier is for non-commercial use only.