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ARKit vs Bevy

ARKit logo

ARKit

Software

Apple's framework for iOS AR development

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Bevy logo

Bevy

Software

A refreshingly simple data-driven game engine built in Rust

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: ARKit iOS-only platform, not available for Android or other operating systems; Bevy rust only, so it assumes a language most game teams do not already use
  • They diverge on capability: ARKit covers World tracking, Bevy covers Entity Component System.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ARKit and Bevy actually diverge.

Attributes where ARKit and Bevy differ
AttributeARKitBevy
PlatformsiOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOSWindows, Macos, Linux, Webgl
Founded19762020

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (free), 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 ARKit

  • World tracking
  • Face tracking
  • Body tracking
  • LiDAR support
  • RealityKit
  • Reality Composer
  • SceneKit
  • Ar support

Only in Bevy

  • Entity Component System
  • 2D/3D rendering
  • Audio system
  • Asset pipeline
  • Hot reloading
  • Cross-platform
  • Modular architecture
  • Parallel systems

What people use each for

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

ARKit

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

Bevy

  • 2D and 3D game development in Rustnot ARKit
  • Data-driven design using an entity component systemnot ARKit
  • Shipping to Windows, macOS, Linux, web, iOS and Android from one codebasenot ARKit
  • Projects wanting a permissive licence with no royalties or feesnot ARKit

Where each one falls short

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

ARKit

  • iOS-only platform, not available for Android or other operating systems
  • Location-based AR accuracy limited to 3-5 meters, insufficient for precise applications
  • Cannot handle very fast motion capture
  • Accuracy varies with lighting conditions and surface characteristics
  • Requires iOS 11 or later and specific device hardware

Bevy

  • Rust only, so it assumes a language most game teams do not already use
  • No visual editor of the kind Unity or Godot provide, so scenes and logic are written in code
  • Built around ECS, which is a different mental model from the scene-graph engines most developers come from

Pricing, plan by plan

ARKit

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full SDK
    • Documentation
    • Sample code

Bevy

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Full engine access
    • ECS architecture
    • Hot reloading

Which should you pick?

Choose ARKit if

  • You need world tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOS.
  • You also want face tracking.
ARKit review

Choose Bevy if

  • You need entity component system.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Webgl.
  • You also want 2d/3d rendering.
Bevy review

Questions people ask

Is ARKit or Bevy better?
Neither clearly leads. ARKit starts at Free and Bevy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ARKit or Bevy?
ARKit starts at Free and Bevy at Free.
Does ARKit or Bevy run on more platforms?
ARKit runs on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOS. Bevy runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Webgl.
Can I use ARKit for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is ARKit best used for?
ARKit is most often used for vr gaming, ar marketing, virtual training, 3d visualization. Of those, vr gaming and ar marketing are not what Bevy is typically brought in for.
What can ARKit do that Bevy cannot?
ARKit covers World tracking, Face tracking, Body tracking, LiDAR support. Bevy covers Entity Component System, 2D/3D rendering, Audio system, Asset pipeline.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ARKit: Is ARKit free to use?

Yes, ARKit is free to use. It is included in Apple's iOS SDK and requires only Xcode and a Mac to start building AR apps. There are no licensing fees or subscription costs.

Source
ARKit: What iOS devices support ARKit?

ARKit is supported on iPhone 6s and later, iPad Pro models, and the latest iPad models. It requires iOS 11 or later. Apple Vision Pro also supports ARKit with enhanced capabilities through visionOS.

Source
ARKit: Can ARKit work offline?

ARKit can function offline for tracking and scene understanding since these operations run locally on the device. However, multiplayer AR features and cloud-based object detection require internet connectivity.

Source
ARKit: Does ARKit integrate with game engines?

Yes, ARKit integrates with Unity through the Unity ARKit Plugin and with Unreal Engine. Developers can also use it with Metal, SceneKit, and Apple's RealityKit framework.

Source
ARKit: What are ARKit's limitations with location-based AR?

ARKit's location-based positioning has accuracy limitations. Image-based positioning is primarily useful in urban areas, and beacon-based navigation provides accuracy of 3-5 meters, which is insufficient for precise AR applications requiring 1-meter accuracy or better.

Source
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