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Software · head to head

A-Frame vs Quill

A-Frame logo

A-Frame

Software

Web framework for building VR experiences

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Quill logo

Quill

Software

VR illustration and animation tool

From
$24.99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only A-Frame has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: A-Frame requires WebXR-capable browser; not supported on older browsers or devices without WebXR implementation; Quill quill.art, run by Smoothstep LLC, discloses no pricing anywhere on its own site (confirmed by direct fetch); Quill was originally a Facebook/Meta product and was handed to its creator Inigo Quilez in 2021 when Meta open-sourced the Quill file format and stopped supporting the original Oculus Store listing, so buyers today are dealing with a small independent studio rather than a large platform vendor.
  • They diverge on capability: A-Frame covers Declarative HTML, Quill covers VR illustration.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which A-Frame and Quill actually diverge.

Attributes where A-Frame and Quill differ
AttributeA-FrameQuill
Starting priceFree$24.99/one-time
Pricing modelopen-sourceone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb (via WebXR), VR headsets, AR-capable mobile devicesVr, Quest
Founded20152021

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 A-Frame

  • Declarative HTML
  • Entity-component system
  • WebXR support
  • Cross-platform
  • Three.js
  • AR.js
  • Physics engines
  • Networking

Only in Quill

  • VR illustration
  • Animation timeline
  • Layers
  • Brushes
  • FBX export
  • Video export
  • Alembic
  • Vr support

What people use each for

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

A-Frame

  • Virtual reality web experiencesnot Quill
  • Augmented reality applicationsnot Quill
  • 3D web visualisationsnot Quill
  • Interactive 3D content for web browsersnot Quill

Quill

  • VR Gamingnot A-Frame
  • AR Marketingnot A-Frame
  • Virtual Trainingnot A-Frame
  • 3D Visualizationnot A-Frame
  • Immersive Experiencesnot A-Frame

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

A-Frame

  • Requires WebXR-capable browser; not supported on older browsers or devices without WebXR implementation

Quill

  • quill.art, run by Smoothstep LLC, discloses no pricing anywhere on its own site (confirmed by direct fetch); Quill was originally a Facebook/Meta product and was handed to its creator Inigo Quilez in 2021 when Meta open-sourced the Quill file format and stopped supporting the original Oculus Store listing, so buyers today are dealing with a small independent studio rather than a large platform vendor.

Pricing, plan by plan

A-Frame

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the A-Frame review.

Quill

$24.99/one-time
  • Quill$24.99/one-time
    • VR illustration
    • Animation
    • Export

Which should you pick?

Choose A-Frame if

  • You need declarative html.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web (via WebXR), VR headsets, AR-capable mobile devices.
  • You also want entity-component system.
A-Frame review

Choose Quill if

  • You need vr illustration.
  • You work on Vr, Quest.
  • You also want animation timeline.
Quill review

Questions people ask

Is A-Frame or Quill better?
Neither clearly leads. A-Frame starts at Free and Quill at $24.99/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, A-Frame or Quill?
A-Frame has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for A-Frame and $24.99/one-time for Quill.
Does A-Frame or Quill run on more platforms?
A-Frame runs on Web (via WebXR), VR headsets, AR-capable mobile devices. Quill runs on Vr, Quest.
Can I use A-Frame for free?
Yes. A-Frame has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Quill starts at $24.99/one-time.
What is A-Frame best used for?
A-Frame is most often used for virtual reality web experiences, augmented reality applications, 3d web visualisations, interactive 3d content for web browsers. Of those, virtual reality web experiences and augmented reality applications are not what Quill is typically brought in for.
What can A-Frame do that Quill cannot?
A-Frame covers Declarative HTML, Entity-component system, WebXR support, Cross-platform. Quill covers VR illustration, Animation timeline, Layers, Brushes.
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