Softwr

AR VR · head to head

ARKit vs Varjo

ARKit logo

ARKit

AR VR

Apple's framework for iOS AR development

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Varjo logo

Varjo

AR VR

Human-eye resolution VR/XR headsets

From
$2495/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ARKit has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: ARKit iOS-only platform, not available for Android or other operating systems; Varjo high cost enterprise XR solutions
  • They diverge on capability: ARKit covers World tracking, Varjo covers Human-eye resolution.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ARKit and Varjo actually diverge.

Attributes where ARKit and Varjo differ
AttributeARKitVarjo
Starting priceFree$2495/one-time
Pricing modelfreeone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOSXR headsets, Windows
Founded19762016

Identical on both: 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 ARKit

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

Only in Varjo

  • Human-eye resolution
  • Mixed reality
  • Eye tracking
  • Hand tracking
  • Unity
  • Unreal
  • OpenXR
  • SteamVR

What people use each for

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

ARKit

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

Varjo

  • Military flight simulation and pilot trainingnot ARKit
  • Vehicle operation and weapons trainingnot ARKit
  • Maritime navigation trainingnot ARKit
  • High-fidelity professional VR simulationnot 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

Varjo

  • High cost enterprise XR solutions
  • Specialized for military and simulation training use cases only

Pricing, plan by plan

ARKit

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full SDK
    • Documentation
    • Sample code

Varjo

$2495/one-time
  • Varjo XR-4$3990/one-time
    • Human-eye resolution
    • Mixed reality
    • Eye tracking

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 Varjo if

  • You need human-eye resolution.
  • You work on XR headsets, Windows.
  • You also want mixed reality.
Varjo review

Questions people ask

Is ARKit or Varjo better?
Neither clearly leads. ARKit starts at Free and Varjo at $2495/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ARKit or Varjo?
ARKit has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for ARKit and $2495/one-time for Varjo.
Does ARKit or Varjo run on more platforms?
ARKit runs on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOS. Varjo runs on XR headsets, Windows.
Can I use ARKit for free?
Yes. ARKit has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Varjo starts at $2495/one-time.
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 Varjo is typically brought in for.
What can ARKit do that Varjo cannot?
ARKit covers World tracking, Face tracking, Body tracking, LiDAR support. Varjo covers Human-eye resolution, Mixed reality, Eye tracking, Hand tracking.

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
Varjo: Does Varjo publish pricing information on their website?

No. Varjo does not publish specific pricing on their website and directs interested customers to contact their sales team or book a demo.

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
Varjo: How can I get pricing information from Varjo?

Varjo requires direct contact with their sales team. Customers can either request a demo or fill out a contact form to discuss pricing with a representative.

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
Share

Related pages

More on ARKit

More on Varjo

Keep looking

Other head to heads