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AR VR · head to head

ARCore vs LÖVE

ARCore logo

ARCore

AR VR

Google's platform for building AR experiences

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
LÖVE logo

LÖVE

Game Development

Framework for making 2D games in Lua

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: ARCore aRCore limited to Android 7.0+, excluding older Android devices; LÖVE lOVE is a 2D-only framework, with no 3D pipeline
  • They diverge on capability: ARCore covers Motion tracking, LÖVE covers Lua scripting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ARCore and LÖVE actually diverge.

Attributes where ARCore and LÖVE differ
AttributeARCoreLÖVE
PlatformsAndroid, iOS, WebWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web
CategoryAR VRGame Development
Founded19982008

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 ARCore

  • Motion tracking
  • Environmental understanding
  • Light estimation
  • Depth API
  • Unity
  • Unreal
  • Android Studio
  • Ar support

Only in LÖVE

  • Lua scripting
  • Graphics rendering
  • Physics engine (Box2D)
  • Audio support
  • Input handling
  • File I/O
  • Vector math
  • Animation support

Both cover

  • Android support
  • Ios support

What people use each for

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

ARCore

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

LÖVE

  • Making 2D games in Luanot ARCore
  • Rapid prototyping of 2D gameplaynot ARCore
  • Shipping small 2D games to desktop and mobile from one Lua codebasenot ARCore

Where each one falls short

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

ARCore

  • ARCore limited to Android 7.0+, excluding older Android devices
  • Requires integration with game engines or frameworks for most applications
  • Cloud anchors rely on internet connectivity for shared AR experiences
  • Performance varies significantly across different Android device capabilities

LÖVE

  • LOVE is a 2D-only framework, with no 3D pipeline
  • Games must be written in Lua, with no other supported scripting language
  • Supported platforms are limited to Windows Vista and later, macOS 10.11 and later, Linux, Android and iOS
  • The iOS build is distributed as source and libraries rather than a ready installer
  • There is no commercial support offering; help is through community forums, Discord and a subreddit

Pricing, plan by plan

ARCore

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full SDK
    • Cloud Anchors
    • Geospatial API

LÖVE

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full framework
    • Lua scripting
    • Cross-platform support

Which should you pick?

Choose ARCore if

  • You need motion tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Android, iOS, Web.
  • You also want environmental understanding.
ARCore review

Choose LÖVE if

  • You need lua scripting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want graphics rendering.
LÖVE review

Questions people ask

Is ARCore or LÖVE better?
Neither clearly leads. ARCore starts at Free and LÖVE at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ARCore or LÖVE?
ARCore starts at Free and LÖVE at Free.
Does ARCore or LÖVE run on more platforms?
ARCore runs on Android, iOS, Web. LÖVE runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
Can I use ARCore for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is ARCore best used for?
ARCore is most often used for vr gaming, ar marketing, virtual training, 3d visualization. Of those, vr gaming and ar marketing are not what LÖVE is typically brought in for.
What can ARCore do that LÖVE cannot?
ARCore covers Motion tracking, Environmental understanding, Light estimation, Depth API. LÖVE covers Lua scripting, Graphics rendering, Physics engine (Box2D), Audio support. Both handle Android support, Ios support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ARCore: What platforms does ARCore support?

ARCore supports Android 7.0 (Nougat) and later on qualified Android phones. SDKs are also available for iOS, Unity, Unreal Engine, and Web (WebXR).

Source
ARCore: What are the three core capabilities of ARCore?

ARCore provides motion tracking to monitor device position, environmental understanding to detect surfaces like floors and walls, and light estimation to analyze surrounding lighting conditions.

Source
ARCore: Can developers build shared AR experiences with ARCore?

Yes, ARCore supports cloud anchors enabling multiple users to see the same virtual objects in the real world, enabling shared AR experiences.

Source
ARCore: What programming languages does ARCore support?

ARCore supports Kotlin and Java for Android, C through Android NDK, and provides APIs for Unity, Unreal Engine, iOS, and Web platforms.

Source
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