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Software · head to head

8th Wall vs Virbela

8

8th Wall

Software

WebAR platform for browser-based AR experiences

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Virbela logo

Virbela

Software

Enterprise virtual world platform

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; Virbela cloud-only version (Virbela Go) limited to small-to-medium scale events
  • They diverge on capability: 8th Wall covers SLAM tracking, Virbela covers 3D virtual campuses.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where 8th Wall and Virbela differ
Attribute8th WallVirbela
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb (WebXR), Mobile browsers, Open source (local deployment)Web, Desktop (downloadable application)
Founded20162012

Identical on both: 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 Virbela

  • 3D virtual campuses
  • Event venues
  • Collaboration tools
  • Custom branding
  • Zoom
  • Calendar systems
  • LMS platforms
  • Pc support

What people use each for

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

8th Wall

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

Virbela

  • Virtual office environment for remote teamsnot 8th Wall
  • Enterprise virtual events and conferencesnot 8th Wall
  • Immersive collaboration at scalenot 8th Wall
  • Virtual workspace for distributed organisationsnot 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

Virbela

  • Cloud-only version (Virbela Go) limited to small-to-medium scale events
  • Specific feature limitations and pricing not clearly documented on main website
  • Pricing structure requires sales contact for enterprise deployment

Pricing, plan by plan

8th Wall

Free

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

Virbela

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Virbela 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 Virbela if

  • You need 3d virtual campuses.
  • You work on Web, Desktop (downloadable application).
  • You also want event venues.
Virbela review

Questions people ask

Is 8th Wall or Virbela better?
Neither clearly leads. 8th Wall starts at Free and Virbela at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 8th Wall or Virbela?
8th Wall has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for 8th Wall and On request for Virbela.
Does 8th Wall or Virbela run on more platforms?
8th Wall runs on Web (WebXR), Mobile browsers, Open source (local deployment). Virbela runs on Web, Desktop (downloadable application).
Can I use 8th Wall for free?
Yes. 8th Wall has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Virbela 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 Virbela is typically brought in for.
What can 8th Wall do that Virbela cannot?
8th Wall covers SLAM tracking, Image targets, Face effects, World tracking. Virbela covers 3D virtual campuses, Event venues, Collaboration tools, Custom branding.

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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