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Buildbox vs Wikitude

Buildbox logo

Buildbox

Game Development

Game creation platform for everyone

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Wikitude logo

Wikitude

AR VR

Cross-platform AR SDK for mobile applications

From
€2490/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Buildbox has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Buildbox buildbox splits its editor into two separate paid product lines, Buildbox Classic and Buildbox 3, priced and sold as different products rather than tiers of one app (archived pricing page, 8 March 2026); Wikitude service discontinued September 21, 2024 - no longer available for purchase or use
  • They diverge on capability: Buildbox covers Visual game builder, Wikitude covers Image tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Buildbox and Wikitude actually diverge.

Attributes where Buildbox and Wikitude differ
AttributeBuildboxWikitude
Starting priceFree€2490/year
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsIos, Android, Windows, MacosAr, Ios, Android, Smart-glasses
CategoryGame DevelopmentAR VR
Founded20152008

Identical on both: 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 Buildbox

  • Visual game builder
  • Drag-and-drop interface
  • Physics engine
  • Animation system
  • Monetization SDK
  • Analytics integration
  • Cloud compilation
  • Template library

Only in Wikitude

  • Image tracking
  • Instant tracking
  • Object recognition
  • Geo AR
  • Unity
  • Cordova
  • Xamarin
  • Flutter

Both cover

  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Buildbox

  • Mobile game creationnot Wikitude
  • Casual gamesnot Wikitude
  • Monetized gamesnot Wikitude

Wikitude

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

Where each one falls short

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

Buildbox

  • Buildbox splits its editor into two separate paid product lines, Buildbox Classic and Buildbox 3, priced and sold as different products rather than tiers of one app (archived pricing page, 8 March 2026)
  • Buildbox Classic Plus is $57.99 USD per year and Buildbox Classic Pro is $137.99 USD per year; Buildbox 3 Plus is $97.99 USD per year and Buildbox 3 Pro is $297.99 USD per year, with a companion audio tool Soundbox sold separately at $49.99 USD per year (archived pricing page, 8 March 2026)
  • The only bundle combining Buildbox 3 Pro, Buildbox Classic Pro, and Soundbox is a separate $447.99 USD per year Ultimate Bundle rather than a natural upgrade path (archived pricing page, 8 March 2026)

Wikitude

  • Service discontinued September 21, 2024 - no longer available for purchase or use
  • All developer and cloud services shut down permanently
  • Apps built with Wikitude lost backend functionality after shutdown
  • No migration path provided to successor platform

Pricing, plan by plan

Buildbox

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic game creation
    • Mobile export
    • Community support
  • Premium$19.99/month
    • Advanced features
    • Monetization tools
    • Custom integrations

Wikitude

€2490/year
  • Pro$2490/year
    • All tracking features
    • Cloud recognition
    • Support

Which should you pick?

Choose Buildbox if

  • You need visual game builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Windows, Macos.
  • You also want drag-and-drop interface.
Buildbox review

Choose Wikitude if

  • You need image tracking.
  • You work on Ar, Ios, Android, Smart-glasses.
  • You also want instant tracking.
Wikitude review

Questions people ask

Is Buildbox or Wikitude better?
Neither clearly leads. Buildbox starts at Free and Wikitude at €2490/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Buildbox or Wikitude?
Buildbox has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Buildbox and €2490/year for Wikitude.
Does Buildbox or Wikitude run on more platforms?
Buildbox runs on Ios, Android, Windows, Macos. Wikitude runs on Ar, Ios, Android, Smart-glasses.
Can I use Buildbox for free?
Yes. Buildbox has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Wikitude starts at €2490/year.
What is Buildbox best used for?
Buildbox is most often used for mobile game creation, casual games, monetized games. Of those, mobile game creation and casual games are not what Wikitude is typically brought in for.
What can Buildbox do that Wikitude cannot?
Buildbox covers Visual game builder, Drag-and-drop interface, Physics engine, Animation system. Wikitude covers Image tracking, Instant tracking, Object recognition, Geo AR. Both handle Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Wikitude: Is Wikitude AR SDK still available?

No. Wikitude services were permanently shut down on September 21, 2024. All Wikitude mobile SDK, Studio, Cloud, and API services are no longer available, and stored data became inaccessible.

Source
Wikitude: Why did Wikitude shut down?

Qualcomm, which acquired Wikitude in 2021, decided to retire the Wikitude brand and consolidate AR development into Snapdragon Spaces XR Developer Platform, focusing exclusively on headworn AR experiences.

Source
Wikitude: What happened to apps built with Wikitude?

More than 40,000 mobile apps were created using Wikitude SDK and delivered to millions of users. After the September 2024 shutdown, these apps no longer have access to Wikitude backend services, though the apps themselves may continue functioning with local features.

Source
Wikitude: When was Wikitude acquired by Qualcomm?

Qualcomm acquired Wikitude in 2021. The acquisition consolidated Qualcomm's AR strategy, leading to the 2024 decision to discontinue mobile AR services.

Source
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