TL;DR: Kespry's drone analytics platform belongs to Firmatek since 2021 and is still sold as Kespry Cloud, often alongside Firmatek's survey services. Aggregates teams look at alternatives when they want to choose their own drone and software separately, measure by phone, use one platform beyond stockpiles, or compare published prices. Each reason points to a different option.
Key takeaways
- Kespry is part of Firmatek. According to Aggregates Business, Firmatek acquired Kespry's drone-based aerial intelligence solution in October 2021.
- Kespry Cloud is still offered. According to Firmatek, it serves 14 of the top 15 aggregates producers, a vendor claim.
- The stakes per ton are high. According to the US Geological Survey, about 1.5 billion tons of crushed stone were produced in the US in 2025, averaging $18.50 a ton.
- Phone measurement is a real alternative. According to Stockpile Reports, an iPhone scan is accurate to within 5% of stockpile volume.
- Drone accuracy depends on ground control. According to the help center of Birdi (birdi.io), drone maps reach 2 to 4 cm vertical accuracy with RTK and good ground control.
What happened to Kespry?
Firmatek, an inventory and drone survey company, acquired Kespry's drone-based aerial intelligence solution in October 2021, without Kespry's insurance and roofing business. Firmatek now offers it as Kespry Cloud, a drone data and analytics platform for aggregates, mining, construction and solid waste, often alongside its own survey services, and runs Kilowatt by Kespry for electric utilities.
So "Kespry alternatives" today means alternatives to Kespry Cloud as Firmatek sells it, not to a company that has disappeared. Some producers look elsewhere when their needs change, for example when they want a different capture method or one platform for more than inventory.
What Kespry users say
There are too few public reviews to draw themes from. Kespry has 4 reviews on G2, rated 4.4, which praise its interface, support and the speed of stockpile data, with one wish for better report design. That is too small a pool to show a pattern, so this guide compares documented capabilities.
How did we choose the alternatives?
We chose alternatives that aggregates producers use for repeat stockpile volumes and inventory, and compared them on capture method, volumes and tonnage, moving historic data, access for people outside the paid team, and pricing. Birdi is listed first, and the order is not a ranking. Facts were checked on October 8, 2026.
We also say when staying with Kespry Cloud is the better choice, and where each alternative fits a different way of working. None of the alternatives offers a dedicated Kespry migration tool in the documentation we read.
The best Kespry alternatives in 2026
The Kespry alternatives compared here are Birdi, Propeller, Stockpile Reports, DroneDeploy and Pix4D. Two are drone platforms built around sharing or survey-grade capture, one is phone-first, one is a broad drone platform, and one is processing software. Each entry carries the same fields, checked on October 8, 2026.
1. Birdi
Best for: Quarries that want volumes, tonnage and the change since last month in one map shared with site, finance and operations.
Typical customer size / segment: Mid-sized quarry, mining and construction teams of roughly 30 to 500 staff.
Key strengths:
- AI Detect outlines stockpiles for a person to check, then calculates volumes.
- Tonnage from a material library or custom densities saved for the team, on Growth and Ultimate.
- The Base DEM method shows material added or removed since the last survey.
Capture method: Drone surveys you fly, or processed outputs you bring in. In Australia, Birdi's capture network is available to Ultimate customers, paid per capture.
Moving historic data: Processed orthomosaics and elevation models can be uploaded; no dedicated Kespry migration tool.
Access for people outside the paid team: Guests view and download without a paid seat.
Watch-outs: Not for a surveyor who wants hands-on control of photogrammetry processing. It also does not suit a sole operator shopping on price.
Pricing: Growth is $287 USD a month, billed annually. Ultimate is priced by quote (checked October 8, 2026).
2. Propeller
Best for: Survey-led quarries that want survey-grade capture with ground control hardware, reconciliation and fleet data.
Typical customer size / segment: Quarry, mining and earthworks operators with a survey team.
Key strengths:
- AeroPoints ground control and PPK.
- Stockpile volumes with material properties for mass and value.
- Imports surveys processed elsewhere through Bring Your Own Data credits.
Capture method: Your own drone with Propeller's hardware, or data processed elsewhere.
Moving historic data: Bring Your Own Data credits for imported surveys.
Access for people outside the paid team: View-only by default; 40 standard users on the annual fee.
Watch-outs: Pricing is by quote, and the platform centers on the survey team. Its Capterra reviews are strongly positive (4.8 from 20).
Pricing: Contact for pricing.
3. Stockpile Reports
Best for: Aggregates producers who want to measure piles often with phones, without a pilot.
Typical customer size / segment: From single yards to producers with more than 200 piles across several countries.
Key strengths:
- Measures freestanding piles with a phone, plus drones and installed cameras.
- Volume, tonnage, site and product on each timestamped report.
- Unlimited users on Business plans.
Capture method: Phone, drone or installed camera.
Moving historic data: Not described in the material we read.
Access for people outside the paid team: Unlimited users on Business plans.
Watch-outs: It is built around stockpiles, not the whole site. Its App Store reviews include mid-2026 crash reports the developer says an Apple update fixed.
Pricing: Business plans from $100 a month for up to 10 piles (checked October 8, 2026).
4. DroneDeploy
Best for: Producers who fly drones for many purposes and want stockpile reports in a broad platform.
Typical customer size / segment: Individual pilots through to enterprises.
Key strengths:
- Stockpile reports and volume tools.
- Docked drone capture for frequent flights.
- Wide integrations.
Capture method: Drones, including docked drones.
Moving historic data: Map uploads; not described as a migration service.
Access for people outside the paid team: View-only links; tools need a paid account.
Watch-outs: Team plans are by quote. Cost appears in 2 of 9 Capterra reviews.
Pricing: Flight & Analysis is $4,188 USD billed annually for one pilot (checked October 8, 2026).
5. Pix4D
Best for: Quarry surveyors who want to control processing and export to their own tools.
Typical customer size / segment: Survey teams and consultants.
Key strengths:
- Desktop processing in PIX4Dmapper and PIX4Dmatic.
- PIX4Dcloud for volume comparison over time.
- Wide export formats, including LAS, GeoTIFF and DXF contours.
Capture method: Your own drone, or phone with PIX4Dcatch.
Moving historic data: Processes raw images you hold.
Access for people outside the paid team: Unlimited users per organization on PIX4Dcloud.
Watch-outs: In 3 of 4 Pix4D community threads we read, users struggled to measure stockpiles against a custom or earlier base.
Pricing: PIX4Dcloud from $1,290 USD a year (read September 21, 2026).
When is staying with Kespry Cloud the better choice?
Staying with Kespry Cloud is the better choice if you want Firmatek's survey services and software from one provider, your inventory process already runs on it, and your auditors and finance team are used to its reports. A turnkey service relationship is worth a lot to producers without their own drone program.
The case for an alternative is strongest when you want to run your own drone program with software chosen separately, measure by phone between flights, use one platform for more than stockpiles, or compare published prices. For the questions to ask any vendor, see our guide to choosing stockpile volume software.
Moving historic surveys to a new platform
- Export what you can: orthomosaics, elevation models and stockpile reports, with their dates.
- Keep the same ground control and coordinate system, so new surveys line up with old ones.
- Run one survey in both systems and compare the volumes before switching.
- Record the densities you used, so tonnage stays consistent after the move.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kespry still available?
Yes. Firmatek acquired Kespry's drone-based aerial intelligence solution in October 2021 and offers it as Kespry Cloud, a drone data and analytics platform for aggregates, mining, construction and solid waste. Firmatek also runs Kilowatt by Kespry for electric utilities. Kespry's insurance and roofing business was not part of the deal.
Who owns Kespry?
Firmatek, an inventory and drone survey company, owns Kespry's drone analytics platform after acquiring it in October 2021. Firmatek offers Kespry Cloud alongside its own survey services, and says it serves 14 of the top 15 aggregates producers in stockpile measurement and inventory management.
What is the best Kespry alternative for quarries?
It depends on how you want to measure. Propeller suits survey-led quarries with ground control hardware. Stockpile Reports suits frequent phone measurement. DroneDeploy suits producers flying for many purposes. Birdi suits quarries sharing volumes and tonnage with finance and operations in one map. Pix4D suits surveyors who want processing control.
Can I move my Kespry data?
Ask Firmatek which processed outputs, such as orthomosaics, elevation models and reports, can be exported from your account, then upload them to the new platform. We did not find Kespry Cloud's export formats documented publicly. Keep the same ground control and coordinate system afterward, so new surveys line up with the old ones.
How accurate are drone stockpile volumes?
With good ground control, drone stockpile volumes usually land within a few percent of the true volume. Birdi publishes 2 to 4 cm vertical accuracy with RTK and three to five well-distributed ground control points, and notes that repeat surveys vary more than single ones. Test on a pile of known quantity.
About the author
This guide was written by the Birdi team. Birdi (birdi.io) is a geospatial AI workspace that quarry, mining and construction teams use to share drone surveys, volumes and site data in one map. We checked every product fact against each vendor's own website or help center on October 8, 2026, and looked for Kespry reviews on G2 and TrustRadius.
Related reading
- Stockpile volume software: the wider set of stockpile platforms.
- Birdi vs Propeller: two platforms compared for mine and quarry sites.
- Reconciling stockpile volumes: the month-end routine.
Sources
Independent
- Aggregates Business. "Firmatek acquires Kespry solution." https://www.aggbusiness.com/firmatek-acquires-kespry-solution
- Pit & Quarry. "Firmatek acquires Kespry." https://www.pitandquarry.com/firmatek-acquires-kespry/
- U.S. Geological Survey. "Stone (Crushed)." Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026. https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-stone-crushed.pdf
Vendor documentation and reviews (read October 8, 2026 unless stated)
- Firmatek. Homepage and "Firmatek + Kespry Cloud, Part 1" (May 2022). https://firmatek.com/
- G2. "Kespry reviews" (4 reviews). https://www.g2.com/products/kespry/reviews
- Birdi Help Center. "How to calculate stockpile tonnage in Birdi," "How to compare stockpile volumes between two surveys in Birdi" and "How accurate are my maps?" https://help.birdi.io/en/articles/16590329
- Birdi. "Pricing." https://www.birdi.io/pricing
- Propeller Help Center. Annual Platform Access Fee (2026). https://help.propelleraero.com
- Stockpile Reports. "Plans and Pricing" and "Stockpile Measurement FAQ." https://www.stockpilereports.com/faq/
- DroneDeploy. "Pricing." https://www.dronedeploy.com/pricing
- Pix4D. "PIX4Dcloud" and support outputs (pricing read September 21, 2026). https://www.pix4d.com/product/pix4dcloud/
