Softwr

Software · head to head

ARKit vs Mozilla Hubs

ARKit logo

ARKit

Software

Apple's framework for iOS AR development

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Mozilla Hubs logo

Mozilla Hubs

Software

Open-source social VR platform for the web

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; Mozilla Hubs the Internet Archive's capture of Mozilla Hubs' homepage on 31 December 2022 priced the Early Access Hub at $20 USD/month for unlimited spaces, 25 online guest capacity, and 2GB asset storage; the product's own support URL now redirects to a page titled 'end-support-mozilla-hubs', indicating the service has since been discontinued.
  • They diverge on capability: ARKit covers World tracking, Mozilla Hubs covers Browser-based VR.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ARKit and Mozilla Hubs actually diverge.

Attributes where ARKit and Mozilla Hubs differ
AttributeARKitMozilla Hubs
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsiOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOSWebvr, Web, Vr, Mobile
Founded19761998

Identical on both: starting price (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 Mozilla Hubs

  • Browser-based VR
  • Room creation
  • Avatar system
  • Spatial audio
  • Spoke editor
  • Custom assets
  • Webhooks
  • Webvr support

What people use each for

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

ARKit

  • VR Gaming
  • AR Marketing
  • Virtual Training
  • 3D Visualization
  • Immersive Experiences

Mozilla Hubs

  • VR Gaming
  • AR Marketing
  • Virtual Training
  • 3D Visualization
  • Immersive Experiences

Both are used for vr gaming, ar marketing, virtual training, 3d visualization, immersive experiences, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

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

Mozilla Hubs

  • The Internet Archive's capture of Mozilla Hubs' homepage on 31 December 2022 priced the Early Access Hub at $20 USD/month for unlimited spaces, 25 online guest capacity, and 2GB asset storage; the product's own support URL now redirects to a page titled 'end-support-mozilla-hubs', indicating the service has since been discontinued.

Pricing, plan by plan

ARKit

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full SDK
    • Documentation
    • Sample code

Mozilla Hubs

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Public rooms
    • Avatar customization
    • Screen sharing

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 Mozilla Hubs if

  • You need browser-based vr.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Webvr, Web, Vr, Mobile.
  • You also want room creation.
Mozilla Hubs review

Questions people ask

Is ARKit or Mozilla Hubs better?
Neither clearly leads. ARKit starts at Free and Mozilla Hubs at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ARKit or Mozilla Hubs?
ARKit starts at Free and Mozilla Hubs at Free.
Does ARKit or Mozilla Hubs run on more platforms?
ARKit runs on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOS. Mozilla Hubs runs on Webvr, Web, Vr, Mobile.
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.
What can ARKit do that Mozilla Hubs cannot?
ARKit covers World tracking, Face tracking, Body tracking, LiDAR support. Mozilla Hubs covers Browser-based VR, Room creation, Avatar system, Spatial audio.

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
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on ARKit

More on Mozilla Hubs

Keep looking

Other head to heads