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Software · head to head

8th Wall vs Plasticity

8

8th Wall

Software

WebAR platform for browser-based AR experiences

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Plasticity logo

Plasticity

Software

CAD for artists

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only 8th Wall has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 8th Wall platform shutdown as of February 2026, with hosted services ending; Plasticity limited plugin ecosystem compared to Rhino; fewer third-party extensions available
  • They diverge on capability: 8th Wall covers SLAM tracking, Plasticity covers Smooth surface modeling.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where 8th Wall and Plasticity differ
Attribute8th WallPlasticity
Starting priceFreeOn request
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb (WebXR), Mobile browsers, Open source (local deployment)Windows, macOS, Linux, Ubuntu
Founded20162023

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Plasticity

  • Smooth surface modeling
  • Fillet operations
  • Boolean operations
  • Mesh export
  • Fast workflow
  • Artist-friendly
  • Blender
  • Game engines

What people use each for

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

8th Wall

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

Plasticity

  • Concept designnot 8th Wall
  • Hard surface modelingnot 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

Plasticity

  • Limited plugin ecosystem compared to Rhino; fewer third-party extensions available
  • Young product with shorter track record; fewer industry case studies and community resources
  • No parametric history tree; may require different workflow for some users accustomed to feature-based modeling
  • Premium pricing for Indie users despite being positioned as affordable alternative

Pricing, plan by plan

8th Wall

Free

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

Plasticity

On request
  • Indie$149/one-time

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 Plasticity if

  • You need smooth surface modeling.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, Ubuntu.
  • You also want fillet operations.
Plasticity review

Questions people ask

Is 8th Wall or Plasticity better?
Neither clearly leads. 8th Wall starts at Free and Plasticity at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 8th Wall or Plasticity?
8th Wall has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for 8th Wall and On request for Plasticity.
Does 8th Wall or Plasticity run on more platforms?
8th Wall runs on Web (WebXR), Mobile browsers, Open source (local deployment). Plasticity runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Ubuntu.
Can I use 8th Wall for free?
Yes. 8th Wall has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Plasticity starts at On request.
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 Plasticity is typically brought in for.
What can 8th Wall do that Plasticity cannot?
8th Wall covers SLAM tracking, Image targets, Face effects, World tracking. Plasticity covers Smooth surface modeling, Fillet operations, Boolean operations, Mesh export.

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
Plasticity: What is Plasticity designed for?

Plasticity is a NURBS-based 3D modeler designed for concept and product design, prioritizing an artist-friendly workflow over parametric history-based modeling.

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
Plasticity: What platforms does Plasticity support?

Plasticity runs on Windows, macOS (Intel and M-Series), Linux, and Ubuntu using Parasolid's geometric modeling kernel.

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
Plasticity: What is the pricing model for Plasticity?

Plasticity is a one-time purchase: Indie tier costs $149 and Studio tier is available at a higher price point. A 30-day free trial is available.

Source
Plasticity: Does Plasticity integrate with Blender?

Yes. Plasticity includes a Blender Bridge add-on that enables live-linking between Plasticity and Blender, allowing you to preview Plasticity models inside Blender with proper materials and lighting.

Source
Plasticity: What key features distinguish Plasticity from other CAD tools?

Plasticity features streamlined UI with context-sensitive widgets, chordal fillets, key bindings familiar to Blender users, radial menus, Dimension and Measure commands for absolute constraints, and handles complex Boolean operations on dense geometry.

Source
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