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ARKit vs Gravity Sketch

ARKit logo

ARKit

AR VR

Apple's framework for iOS AR development

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Gravity Sketch logo

Gravity Sketch

AR VR

VR 3D design tool

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; Gravity Sketch free plan limited to 150MB cloud storage and 3 simultaneous users per room
  • They diverge on capability: ARKit covers World tracking, Gravity Sketch covers VR design.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ARKit and Gravity Sketch actually diverge.

Attributes where ARKit and Gravity Sketch differ
AttributeARKitGravity Sketch
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsiOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOSVR (Meta Quest, Steam, Web)
Founded19762014

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Gravity Sketch

  • VR design
  • Desktop app
  • Surface modeling
  • Collaboration
  • Import/export
  • Presentation mode
  • Rhino
  • Alias

What people use each for

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

ARKit

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

Gravity Sketch

  • Spatial 3D design and conceptualisation in VRnot ARKit
  • Collaborative product design sessionsnot ARKit
  • Conceptual model generationnot ARKit
  • Engineering and design team collaboration in immersive environmentnot 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

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

Pricing, plan by plan

ARKit

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full SDK
    • Documentation
    • Sample code

Gravity Sketch

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Core creation tools: sketching, surfacing, geometry
    • 150MB cloud storage
    • Up to 3 collaborators per room
  • Plus$undefined/mo
    • Full access to creation and evaluation tools
    • Unlimited imports/exports of all formats
    • 3GB cloud storage
  • Team$null/mo
    • 10GB cloud storage per user
    • 10+ people simultaneously in rooms
    • Organization space and user management
  • Enterprise$null/mo
    • All Team features
    • Data localization, backup, security logs
    • Dedicated account manager

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 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.
Gravity Sketch review

Questions people ask

Is ARKit or Gravity Sketch better?
Neither clearly leads. ARKit starts at Free and Gravity Sketch at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ARKit or Gravity Sketch?
ARKit starts at Free and Gravity Sketch at Free.
Does ARKit or Gravity Sketch run on more platforms?
ARKit runs on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOS. Gravity Sketch runs on VR (Meta Quest, Steam, Web).
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 Gravity Sketch is typically brought in for.
What can ARKit do that Gravity Sketch cannot?
ARKit covers World tracking, Face tracking, Body tracking, LiDAR support. Gravity Sketch covers VR design, Desktop app, Surface modeling, Collaboration.

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
Gravity Sketch: Is there a free version of Gravity Sketch?

Yes. The Free tier includes core creation tools, sketching, surfacing, geometry, and up to 3 collaborators with 150MB cloud storage. No credit card required.

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
Gravity Sketch: What is the difference between Gravity Sketch free and paid tiers?

The Free tier has 150MB storage and 3 collaborators. The Plus tier has 3GB storage, 5 collaborators, and unlimited imports/exports. Team and Enterprise tiers offer 10GB+ storage per user and advanced security features.

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
Gravity Sketch: What file formats does Gravity Sketch support?

Free tier exports only OBJ and USDZ formats. Plus, Team, and Enterprise tiers support unlimited imports and exports across all supported file types.

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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