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Software · head to head

Lens Studio vs Make

Lens Studio logo

Lens Studio

Software

Create AR experiences for Snapchat and beyond

From
Free
Rated
-
Make logo

Make

Software

The platform for the new way of working

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Lens Studio performance limited to 10,000 triangles maximum for reliable cross-device rendering; Make free tier limited to 1,000 credits per month
  • They diverge on capability: Lens Studio covers Visual scripting, Make covers Visual workflow builder.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Lens Studio and Make actually diverge.

Attributes where Lens Studio and Make differ
AttributeLens StudioMake
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsWeb (Lens Studio editor), iOS (via Snapchat), Android (via Snapchat), Web (via Camera Kit), Spectacles AR glassesWeb
Founded20112013

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 Lens Studio

  • Visual scripting
  • ML templates
  • 3D tracking
  • Hand tracking
  • Snapchat
  • Spectacles
  • Camera Kit
  • Ar support

Only in Make

  • Visual workflow builder
  • Webhooks
  • API connectors
  • Conditional logic
  • Data transformation
  • Error handling
  • Scheduling
  • Team collaboration

What people use each for

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

Lens Studio

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

Make

  • Automating integrations between 3,000+ pre-built applicationsnot Lens Studio
  • Building AI agents and workflow automation without extensive codingnot Lens Studio
  • Enterprise automation with GDPR, SOC 2 Type II compliancenot Lens Studio
  • Rapid deployment of automations from concept to livenot Lens Studio

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Lens Studio

  • Performance limited to 10,000 triangles maximum for reliable cross-device rendering
  • File size capped at 8 MB restricting content complexity and asset quantity
  • Lens activation time must stay under 650 ms for ad deployment on Snapchat
  • Memory constraints limit number of segmentation and ML effects per Lens
  • Particle effects and scripts using Update Event require careful optimization to avoid exceeding device capabilities

Make

  • Free tier limited to 1,000 credits per month
  • Free tier restricted to 2 active scenarios maximum
  • Free tier enforces 15-minute minimum scheduling interval
  • Credit-based model means costs scale with usage volume, not just features

Pricing, plan by plan

Lens Studio

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Lens Studio review.

Make

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Make review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Lens Studio if

  • You need visual scripting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web (Lens Studio editor), iOS (via Snapchat), Android (via Snapchat), Web (via Camera Kit), Spectacles AR glasses.
  • You also want ml templates.

Choose Make if

  • You need visual workflow builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want webhooks.

Questions people ask

Is Lens Studio or Make better?
Neither clearly leads. Lens Studio starts at Free and Make at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Lens Studio or Make?
Lens Studio starts at Free and Make at Free.
Does Lens Studio or Make run on more platforms?
Lens Studio runs on Web (Lens Studio editor), iOS (via Snapchat), Android (via Snapchat), Web (via Camera Kit), Spectacles AR glasses. Make runs on Web.
Can I use Lens Studio for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Lens Studio best used for?
Lens Studio is most often used for vr gaming, ar marketing, virtual training, 3d visualization. Of those, vr gaming and ar marketing are not what Make is typically brought in for.
What can Lens Studio do that Make cannot?
Lens Studio covers Visual scripting, ML templates, 3D tracking, Hand tracking. Make covers Visual workflow builder, Webhooks, API connectors, Conditional logic.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Lens Studio: Is Lens Studio free to download and use?

Yes, Lens Studio is completely free to download and use for creating and publishing Lenses on Snapchat. Creators can distribute Lenses via Snapcode with no payment required. Paid advertising options are available starting at $50 per day for promoted distribution.

Source
Lens Studio: What platforms can Lens Studio Lenses be deployed to?

Lens Studio supports deployment to Snapchat mobile apps on iOS and Android, web and third-party apps via the Camera Kit SDK, and AR glasses via Spectacles. Developers build once and deploy to all platforms from the same project.

Source
Lens Studio: Does Lens Studio support AI and generative features?

Yes, Lens Studio 5.0 includes the GenAI Suite for generating 2D and 3D assets from text or image prompts. It also supports SnapML for running custom machine learning models directly in AR experiences without additional coding.

Source
Lens Studio: What are Lens Studio's technical performance requirements?

Lens Studio recommends maximum 10,000 triangles rendered for best cross-device performance, Lens files must be under 8 MB, and Lens activation time must be under 650 ms for ads on Snapchat.

Source
Lens Studio: Does Lens Studio support version control and collaboration?

Yes, Lens Studio 5.0 Beta supports Git version control tools, enabling multiple developers to work on projects simultaneously.

Source

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