Softwr

AR VR · head to head

AltspaceVR vs ShapesXR

AltspaceVR logo

AltspaceVR

AR VR

Social VR platform for events and meetups

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ShapesXR logo

ShapesXR

AR VR

Collaborative XR prototyping platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: AltspaceVR shut down permanently on 10 March 2023. Microsoft closed it to concentrate on Microsoft Mesh, and altvr.com now redirects to microsoft.com; ShapesXR the free Starter plan allows only 1 editable Space, 10 Frames per Space and 1 Viewpoint
  • They diverge on capability: AltspaceVR covers Event hosting, ShapesXR covers XR prototyping.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AltspaceVR and ShapesXR actually diverge.

Attributes where AltspaceVR and ShapesXR differ
AttributeAltspaceVRShapesXR
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsVr, Pc, QuestVr, Ar, Quest, Web
Founded19752019

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (AR VR).

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 AltspaceVR

  • Event hosting
  • World building
  • Avatar system
  • Spatial audio
  • Microsoft accounts
  • Streaming
  • Custom content
  • Pc support

Only in ShapesXR

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

Both cover

  • Vr support
  • Quest support

What people use each for

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

AltspaceVR

  • 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 AltspaceVR
  • Reviewing 3D product designs in context with a distributed teamnot AltspaceVR
  • Bringing Figma designs into VR for spatial layoutnot AltspaceVR

Where each one falls short

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

AltspaceVR

  • Shut down permanently on 10 March 2023. Microsoft closed it to concentrate on Microsoft Mesh, and altvr.com now redirects to microsoft.com
  • Microsoft acquired it in 2017 and the closure came alongside wider cuts, so there is no path back
  • Mesh is aimed at business use rather than the consumer social VR AltspaceVR offered

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

AltspaceVR

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Event hosting
    • World creation
    • Social features

ShapesXR

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 3 projects
    • Collaboration
    • Basic export

Which should you pick?

Choose AltspaceVR if

  • You need event hosting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Vr, Pc, Quest.
  • You also want world building.
AltspaceVR 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 AltspaceVR or ShapesXR better?
Neither clearly leads. AltspaceVR 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, AltspaceVR or ShapesXR?
AltspaceVR starts at Free and ShapesXR at Free.
Does AltspaceVR or ShapesXR run on more platforms?
AltspaceVR runs on Vr, Pc, Quest. ShapesXR runs on Vr, Ar, Quest, Web.
Can I use AltspaceVR for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is AltspaceVR best used for?
AltspaceVR 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 AltspaceVR do that ShapesXR cannot?
AltspaceVR covers Event hosting, World building, Avatar system, Spatial audio. ShapesXR covers XR prototyping, Real-time collaboration, Interactions, Asset library. Both handle Vr support, Quest support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ShapesXR: How much does ShapesXR cost?

ShapesXR offers a free Starter tier and paid Professional, Business, and Enterprise tiers. Specific pricing for paid tiers is not published and requires requesting a quote from ShapesXR's sales team.

Source
ShapesXR: What is included in ShapesXR's free Starter plan?

The free Starter tier includes 1 editable space, 10 frames per space, 20 MB imports, and access to all creation tools. This allows discovery of ShapesXR's core capabilities at no cost.

Source
ShapesXR: Is there a free trial for ShapesXR's paid plans?

Yes, Business plan includes a 14-day free trial with no credit card required, allowing evaluation of team collaboration and permissions features before purchasing.

Source
ShapesXR: What are the differences between ShapesXR's paid tiers?

Professional offers unlimited creation with higher import limits (50 MB). Business adds unlimited spaces/frames (200 MB imports) with team collaboration. Enterprise includes all Business features plus SSO, MFA, advanced security, premium support, and a dedicated consultant.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on AltspaceVR

More on ShapesXR

Keep looking

Other head to heads