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Bevy vs Unity AR Foundation

Bevy logo

Bevy

Game Development

A refreshingly simple data-driven game engine built in Rust

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Unity AR Foundation logo

Unity AR Foundation

AR/VR & Metaverse

Unified AR development framework for Unity

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Bevy rust only, so it assumes a language most game teams do not already use; Unity AR Foundation requires platform-specific plugins (ARCore, ARKit) to actually implement AR features
  • They diverge on capability: Bevy covers Entity Component System, Unity AR Foundation covers Plane detection.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bevy and Unity AR Foundation actually diverge.

Attributes where Bevy and Unity AR Foundation differ
AttributeBevyUnity AR Foundation
Pricing modelfreeUnknown
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, WebgliOS, Android, visionOS, HoloLens 2, Meta Quest, Unity Editor
CategoryGame DevelopmentAR/VR & Metaverse
Founded20202004

Identical on both: starting price (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 Bevy

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

Only in Unity AR Foundation

  • Plane detection
  • Image tracking
  • Face tracking
  • Point clouds
  • ARKit
  • ARCore
  • OpenXR
  • Magic Leap

What people use each for

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

Bevy

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

Unity AR Foundation

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

Where each one falls short

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

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

Unity AR Foundation

  • Requires platform-specific plugins (ARCore, ARKit) to actually implement AR features
  • Performance varies significantly by device, with battery drain and heat generation on mobile
  • Emulators cannot accurately test AR experiences due to missing camera and sensor data
  • No WebXR support for browser-based AR experiences
  • Occlusion features show lower performance at 25-40 FPS compared to other features at 40-60 FPS
  • Limited access to latest platform-specific features compared to native ARKit or ARCore

Pricing, plan by plan

Bevy

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

Unity AR Foundation

Free
  • Included with Unity PersonalFree
    • Free for individuals and small teams with under $200K revenue/funding
    • AR Foundation package included
    • Access to all core AR features
  • Included with Unity Pro$185/month
    • Professional tier licensing
    • AR Foundation package included
    • All core AR features plus Pro-level support

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Unity AR Foundation if

  • You need plane detection.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, visionOS, HoloLens 2, Meta Quest, Unity Editor.
  • You also want image tracking.
Unity AR Foundation review

Questions people ask

Is Bevy or Unity AR Foundation better?
Neither clearly leads. Bevy starts at Free and Unity AR Foundation at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bevy or Unity AR Foundation?
Bevy starts at Free and Unity AR Foundation at Free.
Does Bevy or Unity AR Foundation run on more platforms?
Bevy runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Webgl. Unity AR Foundation runs on iOS, Android, visionOS, HoloLens 2, Meta Quest, Unity Editor.
Can I use Bevy for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Bevy best used for?
Bevy is most often used for 2d and 3d game development in rust, data-driven design using an entity component system, shipping to windows, macos, linux, web, ios and android from one codebase, projects wanting a permissive licence with no royalties or fees. Of those, 2d and 3d game development in rust and data-driven design using an entity component system are not what Unity AR Foundation is typically brought in for.
What can Bevy do that Unity AR Foundation cannot?
Bevy covers Entity Component System, 2D/3D rendering, Audio system, Asset pipeline. Unity AR Foundation covers Plane detection, Image tracking, Face tracking, Point clouds.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Unity AR Foundation: Is Unity AR Foundation free?

Yes, AR Foundation is free and included with Unity. It is a package within the Unity engine, though you need a Unity license (available free for personal use with under $200K revenue).

Source
Unity AR Foundation: What platforms does AR Foundation support?

AR Foundation supports iOS (via ARKit), Android (via ARCore), visionOS, HoloLens 2 (via OpenXR), and Meta Quest (via OpenXR). Testing in the Unity Editor is available through XR Simulation.

Source
Unity AR Foundation: Do I need additional plugins to use AR Foundation?

Yes. AR Foundation is an abstraction layer and requires platform-specific plugins: ARCore XR Plugin for Android and ARKit XR Plugin for iOS. These plugins implement actual AR features using native SDKs.

Source
Unity AR Foundation: Can I test AR experiences in the Unity Editor?

AR Foundation supports XR Simulation in the Editor for early testing, but accurate AR testing requires real devices because emulators cannot replicate camera and sensor data accurately.

Source
Unity AR Foundation: Does AR Foundation support web-based AR?

No, AR Foundation does not support WebXR. Unity has stated there are no current plans to add WebXR support to AR Foundation. Web AR requires alternative solutions like 8th Wall.

Source
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