Software · head to head
Gravity Sketch vs ARCore
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Gravity Sketch free plan limited to 150MB cloud storage and 3 simultaneous users per room; ARCore aRCore limited to Android 7.0+, excluding older Android devices
- They diverge on capability: Gravity Sketch covers VR design, ARCore covers Motion tracking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Gravity Sketch and ARCore actually diverge.
| Attribute | Gravity Sketch | ARCore |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | free |
| Platforms | VR (Meta Quest, Steam, Web) | Android, iOS, Web |
| Founded | 2014 | 1998 |
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 Gravity Sketch
- VR design
- Desktop app
- Surface modeling
- Collaboration
- Import/export
- Presentation mode
- Rhino
- Alias
Only in ARCore
- Motion tracking
- Environmental understanding
- Light estimation
- Depth API
- Unreal
- Android Studio
- Ar support
- Android support
Both cover
- Unity
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Gravity Sketch
- Spatial 3D design and conceptualisation in VRnot ARCore
- Collaborative product design sessionsnot ARCore
- Conceptual model generationnot ARCore
- Engineering and design team collaboration in immersive environmentnot ARCore
ARCore
- VR Gamingnot Gravity Sketch
- AR Marketingnot Gravity Sketch
- Virtual Trainingnot Gravity Sketch
- 3D Visualizationnot Gravity Sketch
- Immersive Experiencesnot Gravity Sketch
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Gravity Sketch
- Free plan limited to 150MB cloud storage and 3 simultaneous users per room
- File format support limited to OBJ and STL on free plan; other formats require paid plan
- Evaluation tools (surface contours, viewpoints, section tool) not available on free tier
- VR access requires Meta Quest, Steam, or web app; limited to specific platforms
- Data localisation only available on Enterprise plan
ARCore
- ARCore limited to Android 7.0+, excluding older Android devices
- Requires integration with game engines or frameworks for most applications
- Cloud anchors rely on internet connectivity for shared AR experiences
- Performance varies significantly across different Android device capabilities
Pricing, plan by plan
Gravity Sketch
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Gravity Sketch review.
ARCore
Free- FreeFree
- Full SDK
- Cloud Anchors
- Geospatial API
Which should you pick?
Choose Gravity Sketch if
- You need vr design.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on VR (Meta Quest, Steam, Web).
- You also want desktop app.
Choose ARCore if
- You need motion tracking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Android, iOS, Web.
- You also want environmental understanding.
Questions people ask
- Is Gravity Sketch or ARCore better?
- Neither clearly leads. Gravity Sketch starts at Free and ARCore at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Gravity Sketch or ARCore?
- Gravity Sketch starts at Free and ARCore at Free.
- Does Gravity Sketch or ARCore run on more platforms?
- Gravity Sketch runs on VR (Meta Quest, Steam, Web). ARCore runs on Android, iOS, Web.
- Can I use Gravity Sketch for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Gravity Sketch best used for?
- Gravity Sketch is most often used for spatial 3d design and conceptualisation in vr, collaborative product design sessions, conceptual model generation, engineering and design team collaboration in immersive environment. Of those, spatial 3d design and conceptualisation in vr and collaborative product design sessions are not what ARCore is typically brought in for.
- What can Gravity Sketch do that ARCore cannot?
- Gravity Sketch covers VR design, Desktop app, Surface modeling, Collaboration. ARCore covers Motion tracking, Environmental understanding, Light estimation, Depth API. Both handle Unity.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
ARCore: What platforms does ARCore support?
ARCore supports Android 7.0 (Nougat) and later on qualified Android phones. SDKs are also available for iOS, Unity, Unreal Engine, and Web (WebXR).
SourceARCore: What are the three core capabilities of ARCore?
ARCore provides motion tracking to monitor device position, environmental understanding to detect surfaces like floors and walls, and light estimation to analyze surrounding lighting conditions.
SourceARCore: Can developers build shared AR experiences with ARCore?
Yes, ARCore supports cloud anchors enabling multiple users to see the same virtual objects in the real world, enabling shared AR experiences.
SourceARCore: What programming languages does ARCore support?
ARCore supports Kotlin and Java for Android, C through Android NDK, and provides APIs for Unity, Unreal Engine, iOS, and Web platforms.
Source