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ARKit vs Spatial

ARKit logo

ARKit

Software

Apple's framework for iOS AR development

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Spatial logo

Spatial

Software

3D spaces for collaboration and commerce

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; Spatial pricing page shows no plan tiers or figures; the only actions offered are Try for Free and Contact Sales, gating price behind a sales conversation
  • They diverge on capability: ARKit covers World tracking, Spatial covers 3D space creation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ARKit and Spatial actually diverge.

Attributes where ARKit and Spatial differ
AttributeARKitSpatial
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsiOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOSWeb, Mobile, Vr
Founded19762016

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 Spatial

  • 3D space creation
  • NFT display
  • Events
  • Commerce
  • Web3 wallets
  • NFT marketplaces
  • Streaming
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

ARKit

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

Spatial

  • Teams wanting virtual/AR meeting spaces who are prepared to contact sales for pricingnot 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

Spatial

  • Pricing page shows no plan tiers or figures; the only actions offered are Try for Free and Contact Sales, gating price behind a sales conversation

Pricing, plan by plan

ARKit

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full SDK
    • Documentation
    • Sample code

Spatial

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Space creation
    • NFT galleries
    • Social features

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 Spatial if

  • You need 3d space creation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Vr.
  • You also want nft display.
Spatial review

Questions people ask

Is ARKit or Spatial better?
Neither clearly leads. ARKit starts at Free and Spatial at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ARKit or Spatial?
ARKit starts at Free and Spatial at Free.
Does ARKit or Spatial run on more platforms?
ARKit runs on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOS. Spatial runs on Web, Mobile, Vr.
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 Spatial is typically brought in for.
What can ARKit do that Spatial cannot?
ARKit covers World tracking, Face tracking, Body tracking, LiDAR support. Spatial covers 3D space creation, NFT display, Events, Commerce.

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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