AR VR · head to head
Gravity Sketch vs Instagram AR Effects

Instagram AR Effects
AR VR
Creative AR effects for Instagram Stories and Reels
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Gravity Sketch free plan limited to 150MB cloud storage and 3 simultaneous users per room; Instagram AR Effects no pricing information published on Instagram's official pages
- They diverge on capability: Gravity Sketch covers VR design, Instagram AR Effects covers Face effects.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Gravity Sketch and Instagram AR Effects actually diverge.
| Attribute | Gravity Sketch | Instagram AR Effects |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | free |
| Platforms | VR (Meta Quest, Steam, Web) | Ar, Ios, Android |
| Founded | 2014 | 2004 |
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 Gravity Sketch
- VR design
- Desktop app
- Surface modeling
- Collaboration
- Import/export
- Presentation mode
- Rhino
- Alias
Only in Instagram AR Effects
- Face effects
- World effects
- Interactive filters
- Beauty effects
- Spark AR Studio
- Instagram Stories
- Reels
- Ar support
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 Instagram AR Effects
- Collaborative product design sessionsnot Instagram AR Effects
- Conceptual model generationnot Instagram AR Effects
- Engineering and design team collaboration in immersive environmentnot Instagram AR Effects
Instagram AR Effects
- 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
Instagram AR Effects
- no pricing information published on Instagram's official pages
- pricing model not disclosed on vendor sites
Pricing, plan by plan
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
Instagram AR Effects
Free- FreeFree
- AR effects library
- Effect creation
- Publishing
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 Instagram AR Effects if
- You need face effects.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Ar, Ios, Android.
- You also want world effects.
Questions people ask
- Is Gravity Sketch or Instagram AR Effects better?
- Neither clearly leads. Gravity Sketch starts at Free and Instagram AR Effects at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Gravity Sketch or Instagram AR Effects?
- Gravity Sketch starts at Free and Instagram AR Effects at Free.
- Does Gravity Sketch or Instagram AR Effects run on more platforms?
- Gravity Sketch runs on VR (Meta Quest, Steam, Web). Instagram AR Effects runs on Ar, Ios, Android.
- 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 Instagram AR Effects is typically brought in for.
- What can Gravity Sketch do that Instagram AR Effects cannot?
- Gravity Sketch covers VR design, Desktop app, Surface modeling, Collaboration. Instagram AR Effects covers Face effects, World effects, Interactive filters, Beauty effects.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
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.
SourceInstagram AR Effects: How much does it cost to create AR effects on Instagram?
Instagram does not publish pricing information for creating or using AR effects. Creation and usage appear to be free for Instagram users, but comprehensive pricing details are not officially documented.
SourceGravity 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.
SourceGravity 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.
SourceRelated pages
More on Gravity Sketch
More on Instagram AR Effects
Other head to heads
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- Instagram AR Effects vs Meta Quest
- Instagram AR Effects vs Apple Vision Pro
- Instagram AR Effects vs ARCore
- Instagram AR Effects vs HTC Vive
- Instagram AR Effects vs PlayStation VR2
- Instagram AR Effects vs Unreal Engine VR
- Instagram AR Effects vs SteamVR
- Instagram AR Effects vs Lens Studio
- Instagram AR Effects vs Medium by Adobe
- Instagram AR Effects vs Frame VR
- Instagram AR Effects vs Glue
- Instagram AR Effects vs vSpatial
- Instagram AR Effects vs WebXR Device API
- Instagram AR Effects vs Xreal Air
- Instagram AR Effects vs Niantic Lightship
- Instagram AR Effects vs Spark AR Studio
- Instagram AR Effects vs ARKit
- Instagram AR Effects vs Snapchat AR
- Instagram AR Effects vs TikTok Effect House
- Instagram AR Effects vs Unity AR Foundation
- Instagram AR Effects vs Vuforia
- Instagram AR Effects vs Microsoft HoloLens 2
- Instagram AR Effects vs Magic Leap 2
- Instagram AR Effects vs Bigscreen
- Instagram AR Effects vs Engage VR
- Instagram AR Effects vs Immersed
- Instagram AR Effects vs MeetinVR
- Instagram AR Effects vs 8th Wall

