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AR/VR & Metaverse · head to head

8th Wall vs Defold

8

8th Wall

AR/VR & Metaverse

WebAR platform for browser-based AR experiences

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Defold logo

Defold

Game Development

The game engine for the creators of King

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 8th Wall platform shutdown as of February 2026, with hosted services ending; Defold the Defold License requires you to include the Defold license and copyright notice in any work you create with the engine
  • They diverge on capability: 8th Wall covers SLAM tracking, Defold covers Lua scripting.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where 8th Wall and Defold differ
Attribute8th WallDefold
Pricing modelUnknownfree
PlatformsWeb (WebXR), Mobile browsers, Open source (local deployment)Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web
CategoryAR/VR & MetaverseGame Development
Founded20162005

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Defold

  • Lua scripting
  • Physics engine
  • Sprite system
  • Particle effects
  • Sound management
  • Collection editor
  • Mobile optimization
  • Lightweight

Both cover

  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

8th Wall

  • VR Gamingnot Defold
  • AR Marketingnot Defold
  • Virtual Trainingnot Defold
  • 3D Visualizationnot Defold
  • Immersive Experiencesnot Defold

Defold

  • Building 2D games for mobile, desktop, web and console from a single projectnot 8th Wall
  • Shipping small-footprint HTML5 gamesnot 8th Wall
  • Teams wanting a free engine with no revenue share on gamesnot 8th Wall

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

Defold

  • The Defold License requires you to include the Defold license and copyright notice in any work you create with the engine
  • The licence forbids commercialising original or modified versions of the Defold editor or engine itself
  • Significant changes made to the Defold source must be documented under the licence terms

Pricing, plan by plan

8th Wall

Free

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

Defold

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full editor
    • Lua scripting
    • Physics engine

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 Defold if

  • You need lua scripting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want physics engine.
Defold review

Questions people ask

Is 8th Wall or Defold better?
Neither clearly leads. 8th Wall starts at Free and Defold at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 8th Wall or Defold?
8th Wall starts at Free and Defold at Free.
Does 8th Wall or Defold run on more platforms?
8th Wall runs on Web (WebXR), Mobile browsers, Open source (local deployment). Defold runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
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. Of those, vr gaming and ar marketing are not what Defold is typically brought in for.
What can 8th Wall do that Defold cannot?
8th Wall covers SLAM tracking, Image targets, Face effects, World tracking. Defold covers Lua scripting, Physics engine, Sprite system, Particle effects. Both handle Ios support, Android support.

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
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