Softwr

AR/VR & Metaverse · head to head

8th Wall vs Bigscreen

8

8th Wall

AR/VR & Metaverse

WebAR platform for browser-based AR experiences

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Bigscreen logo

Bigscreen

AR/VR & Metaverse

Watch movies and hang out in VR

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • They diverge on capability: 8th Wall covers SLAM tracking, Bigscreen covers Virtual theaters.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 8th Wall and Bigscreen actually diverge.

Attributes where 8th Wall and Bigscreen differ
Attribute8th WallBigscreen
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsWeb (WebXR), Mobile browsers, Open source (local deployment)Vr, Pc, Quest, Psvr
Founded20162014

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (AR/VR & Metaverse).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in 8th Wall

  • SLAM tracking
  • Image targets
  • Face effects
  • World tracking
  • Three.js
  • A-Frame
  • Babylon.js
  • PlayCanvas

Only in Bigscreen

  • Virtual theaters
  • Social viewing
  • Desktop streaming
  • 3D movies
  • Pluto TV
  • Paramount+
  • Desktop apps
  • Vr support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

8th Wall

  • VR Gaming
  • AR Marketing
  • Virtual Training
  • 3D Visualization
  • Immersive Experiences

Bigscreen

  • VR Gaming
  • AR Marketing
  • Virtual Training
  • 3D Visualization
  • Immersive Experiences

Both are used for vr gaming, ar marketing, virtual training, 3d visualization, immersive experiences, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

8th Wall

  • Platform shutdown as of February 2026, with hosted services ending
  • WebAR performance limitations compared to native app AR experiences
  • Requires internet connection for all AR experiences to function
  • Limited browser support; Firefox and Safari do not support WebXR on desktop and mobile

Bigscreen

Nothing recorded yet. See the Bigscreen review.

Pricing, plan by plan

8th Wall

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the 8th Wall review.

Bigscreen

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Social viewing
    • Private rooms
    • Desktop streaming

Which should you pick?

Choose 8th Wall if

  • You need slam tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web (WebXR), Mobile browsers, Open source (local deployment).
  • You also want image targets.
8th Wall review

Choose Bigscreen if

  • You need virtual theaters.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Vr, Pc, Quest, Psvr.
  • You also want social viewing.
Bigscreen review

Questions people ask

Is 8th Wall or Bigscreen better?
Neither clearly leads. 8th Wall starts at Free and Bigscreen at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 8th Wall or Bigscreen?
8th Wall starts at Free and Bigscreen at Free.
Does 8th Wall or Bigscreen run on more platforms?
8th Wall runs on Web (WebXR), Mobile browsers, Open source (local deployment). Bigscreen runs on Vr, Pc, Quest, Psvr.
Can I use 8th Wall for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is 8th Wall best used for?
8th Wall is most often used for vr gaming, ar marketing, virtual training, 3d visualization.
What can 8th Wall do that Bigscreen cannot?
8th Wall covers SLAM tracking, Image targets, Face effects, World tracking. Bigscreen covers Virtual theaters, Social viewing, Desktop streaming, 3D movies.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

8th Wall: What is 8th Wall and how does it work?

8th Wall was a WebAR platform enabling AR experiences in web browsers without native app installation. As of February 2026, it transitioned to open source at 8thwall.org with free MIT-licensed technology.

Source
8th Wall: Is 8th Wall still available?

The paid hosted platform shut down February 28, 2026. The core technology was released as open source at 8thwall.org. Existing published projects remain online until February 28, 2027, when all hosted content will be permanently deleted.

Source
8th Wall: What licensing is available for 8th Wall?

8th Wall is now released under the MIT open source license at no cost for commercial use. Previously, commercial licensing started at $700 per month per project.

Source
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on 8th Wall

More on Bigscreen

Keep looking

Other head to heads