Software · head to head
Quill vs AltspaceVR
The short version
- Only AltspaceVR has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Quill quill.art, run by Smoothstep LLC, discloses no pricing anywhere on its own site (confirmed by direct fetch); Quill was originally a Facebook/Meta product and was handed to its creator Inigo Quilez in 2021 when Meta open-sourced the Quill file format and stopped supporting the original Oculus Store listing, so buyers today are dealing with a small independent studio rather than a large platform vendor.; AltspaceVR shut down permanently on 10 March 2023. Microsoft closed it to concentrate on Microsoft Mesh, and altvr.com now redirects to microsoft.com
- They diverge on capability: Quill covers VR illustration, AltspaceVR covers Event hosting.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Quill and AltspaceVR actually diverge.
| Attribute | Quill | AltspaceVR |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $24.99/one-time | Free |
| Pricing model | one-time | free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Vr, Quest | Vr, Pc, Quest |
| Founded | 2021 | 1975 |
Identical on both: 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 Quill
- VR illustration
- Animation timeline
- Layers
- Brushes
- FBX export
- Video export
- Alembic
Only in AltspaceVR
- Event hosting
- World building
- Avatar system
- Spatial audio
- Microsoft accounts
- Streaming
- Custom content
- Pc support
Both cover
- Vr support
- Quest support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Quill
- VR Gaming
- AR Marketing
- Virtual Training
- 3D Visualization
- Immersive Experiences
AltspaceVR
- VR Gaming
- AR Marketing
- Virtual Training
- 3D Visualization
- Immersive Experiences
Both are used for vr gaming, ar marketing, virtual training, 3d visualization, immersive experiences, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Quill
- quill.art, run by Smoothstep LLC, discloses no pricing anywhere on its own site (confirmed by direct fetch); Quill was originally a Facebook/Meta product and was handed to its creator Inigo Quilez in 2021 when Meta open-sourced the Quill file format and stopped supporting the original Oculus Store listing, so buyers today are dealing with a small independent studio rather than a large platform vendor.
AltspaceVR
- Shut down permanently on 10 March 2023. Microsoft closed it to concentrate on Microsoft Mesh, and altvr.com now redirects to microsoft.com
- Microsoft acquired it in 2017 and the closure came alongside wider cuts, so there is no path back
- Mesh is aimed at business use rather than the consumer social VR AltspaceVR offered
Pricing, plan by plan
Quill
$24.99/one-time- Quill$24.99/one-time
- VR illustration
- Animation
- Export
AltspaceVR
Free- FreeFree
- Event hosting
- World creation
- Social features
Which should you pick?
Choose Quill if
- You need vr illustration.
- You work on Vr, Quest.
- You also want animation timeline.
Choose AltspaceVR if
- You need event hosting.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Vr, Pc, Quest.
- You also want world building.
Questions people ask
- Is Quill or AltspaceVR better?
- Neither clearly leads. Quill starts at $24.99/one-time and AltspaceVR at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Quill or AltspaceVR?
- AltspaceVR has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $24.99/one-time for Quill and Free for AltspaceVR.
- Does Quill or AltspaceVR run on more platforms?
- Quill runs on Vr, Quest. AltspaceVR runs on Vr, Pc, Quest.
- Can I use AltspaceVR for free?
- Yes. AltspaceVR has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Quill starts at $24.99/one-time.
- What is Quill best used for?
- Quill is most often used for vr gaming, ar marketing, virtual training, 3d visualization.
- What can Quill do that AltspaceVR cannot?
- Quill covers VR illustration, Animation timeline, Layers, Brushes. AltspaceVR covers Event hosting, World building, Avatar system, Spatial audio. Both handle Vr support, Quest support.