Is DJI Terra Free? Trial, LiDAR & Paid Licenses

Prepared by the Drone Emotions team. Official documentation checked on 7 October 2026. Trial conditions and feature entitlements may change; confirm the current DJI application terms and release notes before starting.

DJI Terra free download: what does it include?

Downloading an application, activating a trial and purchasing a license are separate steps. Start with the DJI Terra Download page, which links to manufacturer resources. DJI publishes installers, manuals and release information on its official downloads page.

After installation, identify the task you want to run and the authorization it requires. A successful installation does not tell you whether a particular reconstruction, export or deployment option is included. Treat the installer as the starting point for checking your workflow.

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Does DJI Terra have a free trial?

Yes. DJI’s official Terra page provides a trial application. Select Try for Free and review the form before applying. DJI reviews the request and emails an activation code.

Current trial conditions

• Duration: one month.
• Image reconstruction: no more than 500 photos.
• LiDAR reconstruction: an 8 GB data limit.
• Computer: one device; switching computers is not supported after activation.
• Software and connectivity: the latest Terra version and an internet connection are required.
• Activation deadline: activate within three days of receiving the code.
• Applications: normally one application; bulk requests are prohibited. DJI also invites users who applied before V5.0.0 to apply again to experience Gaussian Splatting.

These are the application conditions published when this guide was checked. Read the current form and the instructions accompanying your code.

Prepare before requesting your code

Choose the computer you intend to evaluate, install the software and prepare your test data first. A rushed activation can consume useful evaluation time while you are still arranging drivers, storage or survey files. Follow our Installation & Activation Guide to organize the setup.

For photographs, choose a coherent survey area with enough overlapping coverage. Selecting disconnected images merely to stay below the limit makes the test less useful. For LiDAR, prepare a complete small recording rather than deleting files from a larger mission folder.

Write down the outputs you want to inspect before running the first task. A short test can help assess the interface and handover process; it cannot establish the processing time or storage requirement of a much larger production survey.

Is DJI Terra LiDAR processing free?

Check the sensor rather than assuming one rule applies to every DJI LiDAR dataset. The following distinctions come from DJI Terra support and the official Zenmuse L3 FAQ.

Zenmuse L1

DJI identifies point cloud output generation as free. Advanced functions, including point cloud accuracy optimization and other output results, require Standard or a higher edition under the published conditions.

Zenmuse L2

DJI lists point cloud processing, accuracy optimization and other output results as free. The published pricing explanation references Terra V5.0.0 and directs users to release notes for subsequent features.

Zenmuse L3

DJI also lists point cloud processing, accuracy optimization and other deliverables as free for L3, referencing Terra V5.1.0. Later feature charges, if any, are governed by the relevant release notes.

Before placing an order solely for LiDAR work, list the sensor, installed version and required outputs. Check whether the intended functions are already covered. Our Supported Drones & Sensors Guide helps you describe the input data, while our Versions & Release Notes page points you toward release documentation.

Free processing functions still require a suitable computer, complete survey data and a quality review. Check coordinate references, inspect coverage and compare independent measurements before relying on the result. Use our Accuracy, GCP & RTK Guide to plan that review.

When should you compare a paid DJI Terra license?

Compare paid products when your required workflow goes beyond the functions available to you, or when an evaluation period is insufficient for ongoing work. Begin with the deliverables, then select the entitlement that covers them.

For example, a company may need a point cloud from laser recordings for one project and a textured reconstruction from photographs for another. Write those requirements on separate lines. The fact that one task is covered does not establish authorization for the other.

• Edition: compare the required tools with the named product.
• Duration: consider a defined contract or repeated work over several years.
• Deployment: identify the workstation and its connectivity requirements.
• Included applications: check whether the purchase expressly includes additional software.

Use our DJI Terra License Guide for selection and deployment questions. For purchase costs, read DJI Terra Pricing: Annual vs Permanent License Costs. Current products and prices appear on the Buy page.

Are software updates free?

DJI states that Terra V5.0.0 and later do not require upgrade or maintenance fees. This policy does not make an expired annual license permanent or add a different edition’s entitlement. Check the official Terra FAQ when reviewing an existing purchase.

Does the installer include DJI Modify licensing?

DJI’s downloads page lists a combined installer containing Terra, Modify and Reality. The presence of an application in an installer is not evidence of a paid entitlement. Confirm the applications named in your license or trial. Our DJI Terra vs DJI Modify guide explains the workflow roles.

A practical plan for evaluating DJI Terra

The most useful test follows the same handover process you expect to use for real projects. We recommend this sequence:

1. Define success. Name the output, receiving application and quality checks. A visually attractive preview alone may not answer your project requirements.
2. Check the workstation. Use the System Requirements & Workstations Guide before activating a device-bound evaluation.
3. Prepare coherent data. Keep original files backed up. Choose a manageable test area with the scene features that matter to your work.
4. Record the setup. Note the version, authorization, input data, processing settings, elapsed time and working storage.
5. Inspect and export. Review the result, then open the exported file in your intended GIS, CAD or visualization application. Check units and coordinates.
6. Review the gap. Identify unresolved tasks and estimate production needs. Ask about the exact entitlement before purchasing.

If a task fails, capture the error message and record the version and workflow stage. This makes an enquiry more useful than simply reporting that “the trial does not work.” You can contact Drone Emotions with those details and your required outputs.

DJI Terra free version and trial: frequently asked questions

Can I download DJI Terra before purchasing?

Yes. Use DJI’s official download resources, then check the authorization required for your intended processing task.

Is the free trial an unlimited permanent license?

No. The application-based evaluation has a limited period, dataset caps and device conditions. Check the terms above and on the application form.

Does the trial’s 8 GB limit apply to every free LiDAR function?

The 8 GB figure is stated in the trial application. Check sensor-specific free functions separately; do not apply trial conditions to every LiDAR workflow by assumption.

Do I need paid Terra solely to process Zenmuse L2 or L3 recordings?

DJI documents free processing functions for both sensors. Review your exact task and version before buying solely for that purpose.

Can I use the evaluation on a different computer?

DJI’s trial conditions do not allow switching after activation. Prepare the intended workstation first.

Does a free software function guarantee survey accuracy?

No. Assess the acquisition, coordinate references and independent checks. Licensing cost does not establish whether a result meets your specification.

What should I send when asking for license advice?

List your sensor, data type, Terra version, required outputs, processing computers and expected usage period. Mention any existing entitlement.

Official documentation and further reading

• DJI Terra product page and trial application.
• DJI Terra installers, manuals and release documentation.
• DJI Terra support: Zenmuse L1 and L2 processing conditions.
• Zenmuse L3 FAQ: processing and licensing.
• DJI Terra FAQ: updates and licensing guidance.

This article provides original reseller guidance. Drone Emotions Srl operates djiterrasoftware.com as an authorized reseller; this website is independent of DJI’s corporate website. Manufacturer documentation and the conditions of your exact entitlement should be checked alongside this guide.