CRITIR Convert vs ThermoConverter: DJI Thermal R-JPEG Converter Compared (2026)

If you shoot thermal with a DJI drone and need the data inside FLIR Tools, FLIR Thermal Studio, Pix4Dmapper, or Metashape, you may need to convert it first: DJI's R-JPEG is not structured like the radiometric JPEG those tools expect. Among the commercial Windows tools that solve this are CRITIR Convert and ThermoConverter. This page compares them fairly, including where ThermoConverter is the better fit.

Short version: CRITIR Convert is a perpetual-license app (or a per-project conversion service) built on the official DJI Thermal SDK, with float32 °C TIFF output for mapping pipelines. ThermoConverter is a longer-established Windows app with annual and perpetual plans and broader Autel support. Which one wins depends on your drone fleet, your budget model, and whether you need float32 °C TIFFs you can measure in mapping tools.

Which DJI thermal converter is right for your workflow?

• You want a one-time cost and no subscription → CRITIR Convert (perpetual license, no annual fee).
• You only have one project to convert → CRITIR Convert conversion service (no license required).
• You need float32 °C TIFFs you can measure in Pix4Dmapper or Metashape → CRITIR Convert.
• You fly Autel as well as DJI → ThermoConverter (it supports Autel; CRITIR Convert is DJI-only).
• You prefer a low annual entry price over an upfront purchase → ThermoConverter annual plan.

Quick comparison

ThermoConverter figures are taken from its public site as of June 2026, which lists prices as ex VAT (VAT 20%). USD equivalents are approximate, using £1 = US$1.35 for readability; the actual amount payable may vary by exchange rate, payment fees, taxes/VAT, and region, so verify current details with the vendor before purchase.

Pricing comparison

CRITIR Convert uses a buy-once model: a perpetual license at US$700 with no annual fee, plus a 7-day free trial. If you only need one batch converted, the conversion service starts at US$45 per project (a US$20 base fee plus a per-image fee) — no license required. You send the R-JPEGs, you receive FLIR-compatible R-JPEGs or float32 TIFFs.

Because the two products are priced in different currencies, this article shows ThermoConverter's GBP prices alongside approximate USD equivalents. For readability we use £1 = US$1.35 as a reference rate as of June 2026; actual amounts vary with exchange rates, payment fees, taxes, VAT, and region.

On that basis, ThermoConverter sells two plans: an annual plan at £355/yr (approx. US$480/yr), unlimited conversions, and a perpetual plan at £1,195 (approx. US$1,610) — one-time, with free upgrades for the first year, after which an optional 20% annual maintenance fee applies. Prices are listed ex VAT, so the effective UK price is higher still.

The practical difference: CRITIR Convert's perpetual license is a lower one-time cost with no maintenance fee. ThermoConverter's public site does not list a license-free per-project conversion service, so if you only need a single batch converted, CRITIR Convert's service is the option to look at. ThermoConverter's annual plan is the cheapest way to start if you would rather not pay upfront.

FLIR Tools / Thermal Studio compatibility

Both tools produce FLIR-compatible R-JPEGs that open directly in FLIR Tools and FLIR Thermal Studio with temperature data intact — that is the core job and both do it. For the full background on why DJI R-JPEGs don't open in FLIR software and how the re-encoding works, see our complete DJI-to-FLIR conversion guide.

TIFF output for Pix4Dmapper and Metashape

For thermal orthomosaics, the output that matters is a TIFF whose pixel values are real temperatures.

CRITIR Convert exports float32 TIFFs in °C, intended for measurement in Pix4Dmapper, Metashape, and QGIS — see our DJI thermal to TIFF guide for the format, and the DJI thermal to Metashape orthomosaic guide for the full orthomosaic workflow.

ThermoConverter also exports TIFF, but its own FAQ states that the temperature values in its exported TIFFs are not currently accurate, with no published fix timeline (as of June 2026). If your TIFF feeds a measurement or orthomosaic workflow, confirm the current status with the vendor before relying on it.

Temperature accuracy and metadata

CRITIR Convert is built on the official DJI Thermal SDK, so the temperature decode matches DJI's own pipeline. The added error from re-encoding into FLIR format is typically under 0.01 °C, and the conversion carries through capture-time measurement parameters — emissivity, reflected temperature, atmospheric temperature, humidity, and distance — along with GPS, capture timestamp, camera and drone model, gimbal angles, and the ICC profile.

ThermoConverter's public site does not detail which temperature engine it uses. CRITIR Convert, by contrast, uses the official DJI Thermal SDK and is designed to preserve capture-time measurement parameters and metadata through the conversion.

CRITIR Convert also includes a built-in verification step that automatically checks whether each converted file preserves its temperature accuracy and metadata. Every conversion is cross-checked against the original DJI file, so the round-trip error is reported as a concrete number rather than assumed.

When to choose CRITIR Convert

• You want a one-time purchase with no subscription or maintenance fee.
• You have a single project and don't want to buy a license — use the conversion service.
• You need float32 °C TIFFs intended for measurement in Pix4Dmapper, Metashape, or QGIS.
• You value an official DJI Thermal SDK decode and full metadata retention.
• You'd like a path to skip conversion entirely later — the sister app CRITIR reads DJI thermal natively for overlay analysis and reporting.

When to choose ThermoConverter

• You fly Autel thermal hardware as well as DJI — ThermoConverter supports both brands; CRITIR Convert is DJI-only today.
• You prefer a low annual entry price (£355/yr) over an upfront perpetual purchase.
• You are already embedded in ThermoConverter's workflow and don't need accurate TIFF measurement.

A third option: skip conversion entirely with CRITIR

Both tools on this page solve the same problem by converting DJI R-JPEGs into a FLIR-readable format. But conversion is still an extra step in the post-flight pipeline. If your team's end goal is measurement, orthomosaics, and inspection reports — rather than specifically staying inside FLIR Tools — there is a third path: the sister app CRITIR reads DJI thermal R-JPEGs directly, with no conversion at all. It loads the paired wide/zoom visible images alongside the thermal, handles measurement and orthomosaic generation, and produces inspection reports in a single application.

In short: choose CRITIR Convert (or ThermoConverter) when you need to keep working inside FLIR Tools / Thermal Studio; choose CRITIR when you'd rather drop the conversion step and analyze DJI files natively. For more on the no-conversion approach, see CRITIR's article Analyze DJI thermal images directly in CRITIR, no conversion needed. For the full conversion walkthrough instead, see how to open DJI thermal images in FLIR Tools.

FAQ

Is CRITIR Convert a good ThermoConverter alternative?

Yes. CRITIR Convert is a Windows app and managed conversion service that converts DJI thermal R-JPEGs into FLIR-compatible R-JPEGs (for FLIR Tools and FLIR Thermal Studio) and float32 °C TIFFs (for Pix4Dmapper and Metashape). It offers a perpetual license with no subscription, a per-project conversion service with no license required, and temperature decoding based on the official DJI Thermal SDK.

How does the price compare to ThermoConverter?

CRITIR Convert is a US$700 perpetual license with no annual fee, or a per-project conversion service from US$45. ThermoConverter offers a £355/yr annual plan (approx. US$480/yr) or a £1,195 perpetual plan (approx. US$1,610, ex VAT) with an optional 20% annual maintenance fee after the first year.

Does CRITIR Convert support Autel cameras like ThermoConverter?

No. CRITIR Convert currently supports DJI thermal hardware only (Matrice 4T, Matrice 30T, Mavic 3T, Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced, Zenmuse H30T, H20T, H20N, XT S, and others). If you need Autel support, ThermoConverter covers both DJI and Autel.

Which converter produces accurate TIFFs for Pix4Dmapper and Metashape?

CRITIR Convert exports float32 TIFFs with real °C values for measurement in Pix4Dmapper, Metashape, and QGIS. ThermoConverter's own FAQ notes that temperature values in its exported TIFFs are not currently accurate (as of June 2026), so verify the current status before relying on it for measurement.

Can I convert just one project without buying a license?

Yes, with CRITIR Convert. Its conversion service starts at US$45 per project — you send your DJI R-JPEGs and receive FLIR-compatible R-JPEGs or float32 TIFFs, with no license purchase required. ThermoConverter's public site lists installed software only.

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Ready to try it on your own files? See the CRITIR Convert product page — there's a 7-day free trial, or send us a project through the conversion service.