AR/VR & Metaverse · head to head
Gravity Sketch vs Spark AR Studio
Spark AR Studio
AR/VR & Metaverse
Professional AR effect creation for Meta platforms
- 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; Spark AR Studio 4MB file size limit compared to Lens Studio's 8MB
- They diverge on capability: Gravity Sketch covers VR design, Spark AR Studio covers Visual programming.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Gravity Sketch and Spark AR Studio actually diverge.
| Attribute | Gravity Sketch | Spark AR Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | Unknown |
| Platforms | VR (Meta Quest, Steam, Web) | Desktop |
| Founded | 2014 | 2004 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (AR/VR & Metaverse).
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 Spark AR Studio
- Visual programming
- Face tracking
- World effects
- Scripting API
- Messenger
- Meta Quest
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 Spark AR Studio
- Collaborative product design sessionsnot Spark AR Studio
- Conceptual model generationnot Spark AR Studio
- Engineering and design team collaboration in immersive environmentnot Spark AR Studio
Spark AR Studio
- 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
Spark AR Studio
- 4MB file size limit compared to Lens Studio's 8MB
- No 3D body tracking capability unlike competing platforms
- Limited to Instagram and Facebook ecosystem
Pricing, plan by plan
Gravity Sketch
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Gravity Sketch review.
Spark AR Studio
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Spark AR Studio review.
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 Spark AR Studio if
- You need visual programming.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Desktop.
- You also want face tracking.
Questions people ask
- Is Gravity Sketch or Spark AR Studio better?
- Neither clearly leads. Gravity Sketch starts at Free and Spark AR Studio at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Gravity Sketch or Spark AR Studio?
- Gravity Sketch starts at Free and Spark AR Studio at Free.
- Does Gravity Sketch or Spark AR Studio run on more platforms?
- Gravity Sketch runs on VR (Meta Quest, Steam, Web). Spark AR Studio runs on Desktop.
- 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 Spark AR Studio is typically brought in for.
- What can Gravity Sketch do that Spark AR Studio cannot?
- Gravity Sketch covers VR design, Desktop app, Surface modeling, Collaboration. Spark AR Studio covers Visual programming, Face tracking, World effects, Scripting API.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Spark AR Studio: Is Spark AR Studio still available?
No. Meta announced it would shutter Spark AR at the start of 2026, ending support for new effect submissions.
SourceSpark AR Studio: Was Spark AR Studio free?
Yes. Meta Spark Studio was available as a free download for creating AR effects.
Spark AR Studio: What platforms did Spark AR support?
Spark AR Studio enabled building AR effects for Instagram and Facebook with optional code-based scripting.
Related pages
More on Gravity Sketch
More on Spark AR Studio
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