WebODM for PC: How to Download & Install on Windows

Introduction

If you want to turn drone photos into real maps and 3D models without paying for expensive survey software, WebODM is the free program that does it. It is a free and open-source drone mapping and photogrammetry program, with a browser dashboard, a task queue, and map and 3D viewers, and it turns overlapping aerial photos into orthomosaics, point clouds, elevation models and textured 3D models. There is no payment, no account and no serial number, and the download from the official WebODM download page is the complete program.

This guide explains what WebODM is, what it can and cannot do, what your PC needs to run it, and how to download and install it from the official website only. You will also get a first-use walkthrough that takes you from installation to a working result in a few minutes. By the end, you should be able to install WebODM on Windows and use it in a real project.

WebODM is best for drone mapping, aerial surveys, and turning drone photos into maps and 3D models. Because it is free and legitimate, you do not need a cracked copy or an unknown download site. The official website provides the installer, and the free version is a real, permanent tool, not a short trial.

What Is WebODM?

WebODM is a free drone mapping program that you install on your Windows PC and use in your web browser. In simple terms, it is a program where you create a project, upload the photos from a drone flight, and let it process them into a map: it matches the overlapping photos, works out where each photo was taken, and builds a stitched, georeferenced orthomosaic, a dense point cloud, a digital elevation model and a textured 3D model of the ground below. You open it in your browser, upload photos, start a task, and view the finished map and 3D model.

What makes WebODM useful is that it is a complete mapping workflow in one free program. It handles the whole chain, from raw drone photos to a finished orthomosaic and 3D model, with ground control point support for survey-grade accuracy, GPU acceleration for faster processing, and a plugin system for extra tools. It runs locally on your own PC, so there is no per-job fee and no limit on how many images you process. Three honest notes: WebODM is a local web app, so it runs in your browser but the processing happens on your own computer, and that processing is heavy, with 8 GB of RAM the minimum and 16 GB or more recommended; since April 2026 WebODM is an independent project and no longer affiliated with OpenDroneMap, so it uses its own ODX photogrammetry engine rather than OpenDroneMap’s ODM, and installers sold under the OpenDroneMap name are not WebODM; and WebODM Lightning is a separate paid cloud service for people whose PC is not powerful enough, while the desktop program itself is free.

Key Features

Orthomosaics: Orthomosaics stitch your drone photos into a single georeferenced aerial map you can measure and share.
Dense point clouds: Dense point clouds turn overlapping photos into millions of measured 3D points of the terrain below.
Textured 3D models: Textured 3D models rebuild buildings, terrain and trees as a mesh you can rotate and inspect.
Digital elevation models: Digital elevation models, including surface and terrain models, show heights across your survey area as rasters.
Browser dashboard and viewers: A browser dashboard with a task queue and interactive map and 3D viewers keeps every project in one place.
Ground control points: Ground control point support, with checkpoint support in version 4.0.0, lets you check and improve survey accuracy.
GPU acceleration: GPU acceleration, with support for NVIDIA RTX 50 series cards in version 4.0.0, speeds up processing on strong PCs.
Free and open source: WebODM is free and open source under the AGPL-3.0 licence, with free installers and no licence key or subscription.

System Requirements

Operating System: Windows 10 or newer, 64-bit
Processor: A 64-bit CPU with SSE3/SSSE3 support; a modern multi-core processor is recommended
RAM: At least 8 GB of RAM, with 16 GB or more recommended for larger datasets
Storage: At least 20 GB of free disk space, with 100 GB recommended for larger projects
Graphics: Any modern graphics card; an NVIDIA GPU helps, with GPU acceleration for faster processing
Other: A stable internet connection for the download, drone photos in JPEG or TIFF format with GPS data, and a web browser such as Chrome, Edge or Firefox

These are practical, modern Windows guidelines, not a word-for-word copy of an official specification table. The most important point is simple: WebODM is designed for normal Windows PCs, and a modest modern computer is enough to start.

How to Download WebODM (Official Method)

The only safe place to download WebODM is the official website. Do not download it from random file mirrors or “free download” portals, because those copies may be outdated or bundled with unwanted software. The official site is the source of truth for the current version.

Official download link: https://webodm.org/download

On the official WebODM download page, download the free Windows installer to your Downloads folder. The download page says the software is 100% free, and there is no account, serial number or payment involved at any point. If a site asks you to pay for WebODM, or offers a cracked version of it, leave that site and return to the official WebODM page. Be careful not to confuse WebODM with installers sold under the OpenDroneMap name: WebODM is no longer affiliated with OpenDroneMap, and only webodm.org is the official WebODM site.

Step-by-Step Installation

Follow these steps in order. Take your time with the install location and component choices, because those are the steps that most often cause problems later.

Open the official WebODM download page — Open https://webodm.org/download in your browser.
Download the Windows installer — Click Windows on the download page and download the free installer, currently version 4.0.0, to your Downloads folder.
Run the installer — Double-click the downloaded installer file and follow the setup wizard to install WebODM. The Windows installer is signed, so if Windows SmartScreen appears, confirm that you want to run it.
Choose the install location — Accept the default install location, or choose a folder with enough free space. WebODM needs at least 20 GB of free disk space.
Finish the installation — Wait for the installer to finish, then close the setup wizard.
Launch WebODM — Open WebODM from the Start menu or the desktop shortcut. WebODM starts on your PC and opens in your web browser.
Create your first project — Create a new project in the WebODM dashboard and give it a name, such as My First Map, so you know the program is working.

Tip: WebODM processing is heavy on RAM and disk: with 8 GB of RAM you may not be able to process more than about 100 images, so start with a small dataset first. If your PC struggles with a big job, try WebODM Lightning, the paid cloud service, instead of forcing it on a small machine.

How to Make Your First Drone Map with WebODM

This walkthrough is a simple first project. It is not a full course, but it will help you see WebODM working on a real project and learn its main tools.

Collect overlapping drone photos — Fly your drone over an area and take overlapping photos, or use a free sample dataset of drone photos if you do not have a drone yet.
Create a project in WebODM — Open WebODM in your browser, create a new project and give it a name.
Upload your photos — Upload the drone photos to the project. Photos with GPS data work best, because WebODM uses the GPS positions to place them on the map.
Create a processing task — Start a new processing task in the project and keep the default settings for your first map.
Wait for processing to finish — WebODM processes the photos into a map and 3D model. This takes a while, so start with a small dataset of 20 to 50 photos for your first try.
View the orthomosaic — Open the finished task and view the stitched orthomosaic map, and check that the ground features line up correctly.
Explore the 3D model — Open the 3D viewer and explore the point cloud and textured 3D model of the area you mapped.

Is WebODM Free?

WebODM is free and open source under the AGPL-3.0 licence. You download it from the official WebODM download page, install it, and use it without paying and without a time limit. There is no paid version of the WebODM desktop program itself. Be aware of three honest limits: processing is demanding, with 8 GB of RAM the minimum and 16 GB or more recommended, and with 8 GB you may not be able to process more than about 100 images; WebODM Lightning is a separate paid cloud service for people whose PC is not powerful enough, while the desktop program itself is free; and WebODM is no longer affiliated with OpenDroneMap, so do not download installers sold under the OpenDroneMap name thinking they are WebODM.

That free status is important for this guide. All the steps here use the official download only, and they do not involve cracks, activators or licence keys. If you ever see a site offering a paid or cracked version of the free program, treat it as unsafe and return to the official site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is WebODM safe to download?

Yes, when you download it from the official website only. The official installer is the version made by the developer. Avoid third-party sites that bundle extra software or ask for payment for a free program.

Does WebODM work on my Windows PC?

Yes, in most cases. WebODM runs on Windows 10 and 11 (64-bit), and the system requirements above cover a normal modern PC. Check the official site for the exact current version if your PC is older.

Is WebODM really free, or will it stop working?

The free version described in this guide is not a short trial. It stays usable after installation. There is no paid edition of the WebODM desktop program itself.

Do I need a powerful PC to run WebODM?

You need at least 8 GB of RAM, and 16 GB or more is recommended for larger datasets. With 8 GB you may not be able to process more than about 100 images. You also need at least 20 GB of free disk space, with 100 GB recommended for larger projects. A normal PC can run WebODM and process small datasets, but big surveys need a stronger machine.

Conclusion

WebODM is a useful, free addition to a Windows setup because it is a free open-source drone mapping and photogrammetry program that turns drone photos into maps and 3D models, and it can be downloaded safely from the official site. Start with a small first project, learn one tool at a time, and build from there.

To get started, download WebODM from the official website here: https://webodm.org/download Install it with the steps above, test it once, and then use it in your next project. With a little practice, it can become a regular part of your workflow.