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Software · head to head

8th Wall vs Tandem

8

8th Wall

Software

WebAR platform for browser-based AR experiences

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Tandem logo

Tandem

Software

Virtual office for remote and hybrid teams

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; Tandem limited offline functionality - requires internet connectivity for core features
  • They diverge on capability: 8th Wall covers SLAM tracking, Tandem covers Team presence.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where 8th Wall and Tandem differ
Attribute8th WallTandem
PlatformsWeb (WebXR), Mobile browsers, Open source (local deployment)Web, macOS, Windows
Founded20162019

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), 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 Tandem

  • Team presence
  • One-click calls
  • Screen sharing
  • Virtual rooms
  • Status indicators
  • Slack
  • Google Calendar
  • Notion

What people use each for

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

8th Wall

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

Tandem

  • Remote worknot 8th Wall
  • Team collaborationnot 8th Wall
  • Quick huddlesnot 8th Wall
  • Pair programmingnot 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

Tandem

  • Limited offline functionality - requires internet connectivity for core features
  • Dashboard user experience needs improvement for better feature utilization
  • Market adoption challenge - most remote workers value autonomy over spontaneous collaboration
  • Feature complexity is high relative to actual usage frequency
  • Reduced feature development velocity after company restructuring

Pricing, plan by plan

8th Wall

Free

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

Tandem

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Tandem review.

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 Tandem if

  • You need team presence.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want one-click calls.
Tandem review

Questions people ask

Is 8th Wall or Tandem better?
Neither clearly leads. 8th Wall starts at Free and Tandem at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 8th Wall or Tandem?
8th Wall starts at Free and Tandem at Free.
Does 8th Wall or Tandem run on more platforms?
8th Wall runs on Web (WebXR), Mobile browsers, Open source (local deployment). Tandem runs on Web, macOS, Windows.
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 Tandem is typically brought in for.
What can 8th Wall do that Tandem cannot?
8th Wall covers SLAM tracking, Image targets, Face effects, World tracking. Tandem covers Team presence, One-click calls, Screen sharing, Virtual rooms.

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
Tandem: Does Tandem have a free tier?

Yes. Tandem offers a free plan supporting up to 4 team members with access to video calls, screen sharing, and messaging features.

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
Tandem: What integrations does Tandem support?

Tandem integrates with Slack, Notion, GitHub, Trello, and over 40 other apps, displaying which applications team members are currently using.

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
Tandem: How many users can I add to each plan?

Tandem's free plan supports up to 4 members, Small Teams up to 10, Medium Teams up to 50, and Large Teams supports unlimited members.

Source
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