What software opens LAZ files?

These tool profiles explicitly list LAZ in fileFormats[]. Compare who opens, edits, or exports the format, how much support is documented, and whether the catalog tags the tool as free or paid.

Last updated 2026-07-18.

6 Tool profiles
2 Free or free-viewer options
2 Full-support listings

Need the full import x export matrix? Open the formats hub. Need the same slice inside the category x sector grid? Open the LAZ filter on the landscape map.

Direct answer

Need the same slice inside the full catalog grid? Open the LAZ filter on the landscape map.

LAS ASPRS LAS LiDAR point-cloud coverage in the reviewed AEC catalog. E57 ASTM E57 open point-cloud exchange coverage in the reviewed AEC catalog. RCP Autodesk ReCap (RCP/RCS) point-cloud coverage in the reviewed AEC catalog.

Comparison table

Tool Price signal Direction Support Score Verdict
CloudCompare
Free, open-source (GPL) desktop application for processing, comparing, registering, and analyzing 3D point clouds and meshes, with mature CLI/headless batch mode and two independent Python scripting layers.
 Free viewer Listed Unknown 4.4/5 worth-it
Agisoft Metashape
Photogrammetric processing software converting digital images into point clouds, meshes, orthomosaics, and DEMs, with a documented headless-capable Python scripting API.
 Paid / perpetual Listed Unknown 4.0/5 worth-it
Pix4D (Pix4Dmapper / Pix4Dmatic)
Photogrammetry suite converting drone and terrestrial imagery into orthomosaics, point clouds, and CAD-ready geospatial data; Pix4Dmatic is the current high-volume large-project engine.
 Paid / subscription Listed Unknown 4.0/5 worth-it
iTwin Capture
Reality modeling software for photogrammetry and reality capture that democratizes infrastructure documentation. Transforms photography, lidar point clouds, and sensor data into engineering-ready 3D reality meshes, orthophotos, and classified point clouds for digital twins. Cloud-based processing with desktop and mobile capture apps.
 Paid / subscription Opens + exports Full 3.6/5 solid
Trimble Business Center
Survey CAD software for processing field data from GNSS, total stations, laser scanners, drones, and mobile mapping into high-quality deliverables, with specialized modules for mining, monitoring, tunneling, bridge, and GIS workflows.
 Paid / subscription Opens + exports Full 3.0/5 solid
Trimble RealWorks
Registers, analyzes, and models laser-scan point clouds from any scanner source into CAD/BIM deliverables, including targetless auto-registration; sold only through Trimble distributors.
 Free viewer Listed Unknown 2.4/5 situational
CloudCompare
Free, open-source (GPL) desktop application for processing, comparing, registering, and analyzing 3D point clouds and meshes, with mature CLI/headless batch mode and two independent Python scripting layers.
Price
Free viewer
Direction
Listed
Support
Unknown
Score
4.4/5
Verdict
worth-it
Agisoft Metashape
Photogrammetric processing software converting digital images into point clouds, meshes, orthomosaics, and DEMs, with a documented headless-capable Python scripting API.
Price
Paid / perpetual
Direction
Listed
Support
Unknown
Score
4.0/5
Verdict
worth-it
Pix4D (Pix4Dmapper / Pix4Dmatic)
Photogrammetry suite converting drone and terrestrial imagery into orthomosaics, point clouds, and CAD-ready geospatial data; Pix4Dmatic is the current high-volume large-project engine.
Price
Paid / subscription
Direction
Listed
Support
Unknown
Score
4.0/5
Verdict
worth-it
iTwin Capture
Reality modeling software for photogrammetry and reality capture that democratizes infrastructure documentation. Transforms photography, lidar point clouds, and sensor data into engineering-ready 3D reality meshes, orthophotos, and classified point clouds for digital twins. Cloud-based processing with desktop and mobile capture apps.
Price
Paid / subscription
Direction
Opens + exports
Support
Full
Score
3.6/5
Verdict
solid
Trimble Business Center
Survey CAD software for processing field data from GNSS, total stations, laser scanners, drones, and mobile mapping into high-quality deliverables, with specialized modules for mining, monitoring, tunneling, bridge, and GIS workflows.
Price
Paid / subscription
Direction
Opens + exports
Support
Full
Score
3.0/5
Verdict
solid
Trimble RealWorks
Registers, analyzes, and models laser-scan point clouds from any scanner source into CAD/BIM deliverables, including targetless auto-registration; sold only through Trimble distributors.
Price
Free viewer
Direction
Listed
Support
Unknown
Score
2.4/5
Verdict
situational

How to open a LAZ point-cloud file

  1. Start with a tool above that lists LAZ in its cataloged file-format coverage.
  2. If you only need to inspect the file, filter first for free plans, free viewers, or view-only support.
  3. If you need to change the file and send it back out, favor tools marked Native or Opens + exports.
  4. If support is Partial or Unknown, open the tool profile before assuming a clean round-trip.

For broader category context, compare the same format against the rest of the AEC catalog on the landscape map.