Softwr

AR/VR & Metaverse · head to head

Gravity Sketch vs Three.js

Gravity Sketch logo

Gravity Sketch

AR/VR & Metaverse

VR 3D design tool

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Three.js logo

Three.js

AR/VR & Metaverse

JavaScript 3D library for WebGL and WebXR

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Gravity Sketch free plan limited to 150MB cloud storage and 3 simultaneous users per room; Three.js forward rendering pipeline only, no deferred rendering support
  • They diverge on capability: Gravity Sketch covers VR design, Three.js covers WebGL rendering.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Gravity Sketch and Three.js actually diverge.

Attributes where Gravity Sketch and Three.js differ
AttributeGravity SketchThree.js
Pricing modelfreemiumfree
PlatformsVR (Meta Quest, Steam, Web)Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
Founded20142010

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 Three.js

  • WebGL rendering
  • Scene graph
  • Materials system
  • Animation system
  • WebXR
  • Post-processing
  • Physics
  • Loaders

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 Three.js
  • Collaborative product design sessionsnot Three.js
  • Conceptual model generationnot Three.js
  • Engineering and design team collaboration in immersive environmentnot Three.js

Three.js

  • 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

Three.js

  • Forward rendering pipeline only, no deferred rendering support
  • No built-in collision detection or spatial indexing, requiring external physics libraries
  • WebGL dependency means no support for non-WebGL environments

Pricing, plan by plan

Gravity Sketch

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Gravity Sketch review.

Three.js

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full library
    • WebXR module
    • Examples

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.
Gravity Sketch review

Choose Three.js if

  • You need webgl rendering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android.
  • You also want scene graph.
Three.js review

Questions people ask

Is Gravity Sketch or Three.js better?
Neither clearly leads. Gravity Sketch starts at Free and Three.js at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Gravity Sketch or Three.js?
Gravity Sketch starts at Free and Three.js at Free.
Does Gravity Sketch or Three.js run on more platforms?
Gravity Sketch runs on VR (Meta Quest, Steam, Web). Three.js runs on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, 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 Three.js is typically brought in for.
What can Gravity Sketch do that Three.js cannot?
Gravity Sketch covers VR design, Desktop app, Surface modeling, Collaboration. Three.js covers WebGL rendering, Scene graph, Materials system, Animation system.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Three.js: Is Three.js free to use?

Yes. Three.js is released under the MIT license, an open-source license that permits unlimited commercial and personal use with no licensing fees.

Source
Three.js: Does Three.js include physics simulation?

No. Three.js is a rendering library only. Physics, collision detection, and spatial indexing must be implemented with external libraries like Rapier, Ammo, or JoltPhysics.

Source
Three.js: Can I use Three.js for offline development?

Yes. Local development requires a local web server for CORS compliance. You can use npm with a build tool like Vite, or run a local Python server for development.

Source
Three.js: Does Three.js support WebXR for VR/AR?

Yes. Three.js documentation includes WebXR APIs for building VR and AR experiences in web browsers.

Source
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Gravity Sketch

More on Three.js

Keep looking

Other head to heads