FARO Sphere XG Review 2026: 360 Capture, Laser Scans and BIM in One Platform

Updated October 13, 2026 – Tested Intelligence

Quick verdict: Sphere XG is the platform most teams first met as HoloBuilder, now owned by FARO and broadened into a full digital-reality hub: 360 photo walks from the JobWalk app sit alongside measurable point clouds from FARO’s own Blink and Orbis scanners, overlaid on your BIM, with TimeTravel to compare any two dates. FARO does not publish full pricing; directory listings (GetApp) put entry plans from $125 per month, with enterprise deals quoted.

What it is

HoloBuilder built its name on fast 360 photo documentation: walk the job with a consumer 360 camera, and photos land pinned to the floor plan, organised by location and time. FARO acquired the company in 2021, folded it into its Sphere ecosystem and renamed it FARO Sphere XG, keeping the HoloBuilder workflow and JobWalk app intact.

The strategic difference from photo-only rivals is hardware depth. Sphere XG is the software home for FARO’s imaging laser scanner (Blink) and SLAM-based mobile scanner (Orbis), so one project can hold quick 360 walks for weekly progress and survey-grade point clouds where dimensions matter. FARO’s 4D progress layer adds ProgressAI, which detects and reports site progress from the combined data, and a Robotics API whose first integration is Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot.

Key features

• JobWalk app: fast 360 photo capture pinned to floor plans, plus VideoMode that builds a dense capture from a single walk-through video
• TimeTravel: jump between capture dates and compare 360 photos and point clouds side by side to follow progress
• One platform for 360 photos, FARO Blink and Orbis point clouds, and uploaded 3D/BIM models in a shared coordinate system
• ProgressAI: AI-based progress detection and reporting within FARO’s 4D construction progress solution on Sphere
• Remote verification workflows for change orders, deviations and issue spotting before they escalate
• Integrations listed by directories include Procore, Autodesk, Revit, Navisworks, Egnyte and RAKEN

Pricing

FARO does not publish a full price list. Directory listings (GetApp) show subscriptions starting from $125 per month with a free trial – treat that as a directory-sourced entry point, not a quote, because project scale, capture volume and hardware bundles move the real number substantially. Enterprise agreements are negotiated. If you are also buying FARO scanners, push for the bundle price in the same conversation.

Who it’s for

GCs and owners who want one system of record for visual progress across many projects – especially teams already invested in FARO scanning hardware, where Sphere XG removes the seam between capture device and platform.

Who should skip it

Teams who want automated percent-complete analytics as the headline should compare dedicated progress-analytics platforms; Sphere XG leads with documentation and visual verification. And if you will never use laser scanning, a photo-only tool may cost less.

Pros

• Widest capture range in its class: phone-pace 360 walks up to FARO laser scans, one platform
• TimeTravel makes before/after progress checks trivial for owners and PMs
• Mature, widely adopted product (ex-HoloBuilder) with enterprise rollout references
• Robot capture path via Spot for repeatable, hands-free documentation routes

Cons

• Full pricing not published; the $125/month directory figure is an entry point only
• Best value shows up inside the FARO hardware ecosystem – a soft form of lock-in
• ProgressAI sits in the 4D solution layer, so confirm what your plan actually includes
• Name changes (HoloBuilder to Sphere XG) mean older docs and reviews use both names

FAQ

Is Sphere XG the same as HoloBuilder?

Yes – Sphere XG is the current name for the platform formerly sold as HoloBuilder. FARO acquired HoloBuilder in 2021 and rebranded the product under its Sphere digital-reality platform.

How much does FARO Sphere XG cost?

FARO does not publish full pricing. GetApp directory listings show subscriptions starting from $125 per month with a free trial; enterprise and hardware-bundled deals are quoted individually.

What can you capture with Sphere XG?

360 photos and video via the JobWalk app and consumer cameras, measurable point clouds from FARO’s Blink imaging laser scanner and Orbis mobile scanner, and data from Boston Dynamics Spot through FARO’s robotics integration.

Bottom line

Sphere XG is the safe, broad buy in reality capture: proven 360 documentation, a genuine upgrade path into laser scanning and AI progress reporting, and FARO’s weight behind it. Confirm exactly which layers your subscription includes, and negotiate it together with any hardware – that is where the real price is set.