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AR/VR & Metaverse · head to head

8th Wall vs ShapesXR

8

8th Wall

AR/VR & Metaverse

WebAR platform for browser-based AR experiences

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ShapesXR logo

ShapesXR

AR/VR & Metaverse

Collaborative XR prototyping platform

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; ShapesXR the free Starter plan allows only 1 editable Space, 10 Frames per Space and 1 Viewpoint
  • They diverge on capability: 8th Wall covers SLAM tracking, ShapesXR covers XR prototyping.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where 8th Wall and ShapesXR differ
Attribute8th WallShapesXR
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsWeb (WebXR), Mobile browsers, Open source (local deployment)Vr, Ar, Quest, Web
Founded20162019

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 ShapesXR

  • XR prototyping
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Interactions
  • Asset library
  • Figma
  • Sketch
  • Adobe XD
  • Vr support

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

8th Wall

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

ShapesXR

  • Designing and prototyping spatial and XR interfaces in a headsetnot 8th Wall
  • Reviewing 3D product designs in context with a distributed teamnot 8th Wall
  • Bringing Figma designs into VR for spatial layoutnot 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

ShapesXR

  • The free Starter plan allows only 1 editable Space, 10 Frames per Space and 1 Viewpoint
  • The free Starter plan caps imports at 20MB and the canvas at 100 square metres
  • The Figma plugin, playable Figma prototypes and 200MB imports require a paid plan
  • Roles, permissions, presentation tools and a shared team asset library require the Business plan
  • Single sign on, multi-factor authentication and premium support are Enterprise only
  • No prices are published for the Professional, Business or Enterprise plans; each is Get a quote
  • The Business trial is 14 days

Pricing, plan by plan

8th Wall

Free

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

ShapesXR

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 3 projects
    • Collaboration
    • Basic export

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 ShapesXR if

  • You need xr prototyping.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Vr, Ar, Quest, Web.
  • You also want real-time collaboration.
ShapesXR review

Questions people ask

Is 8th Wall or ShapesXR better?
Neither clearly leads. 8th Wall starts at Free and ShapesXR at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 8th Wall or ShapesXR?
8th Wall starts at Free and ShapesXR at Free.
Does 8th Wall or ShapesXR run on more platforms?
8th Wall runs on Web (WebXR), Mobile browsers, Open source (local deployment). ShapesXR runs on Vr, Ar, Quest, 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 ShapesXR is typically brought in for.
What can 8th Wall do that ShapesXR cannot?
8th Wall covers SLAM tracking, Image targets, Face effects, World tracking. ShapesXR covers XR prototyping, Real-time collaboration, Interactions, Asset library. Both handle Web 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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