AR/VR & Metaverse · head to head
Quill vs Babylon.js
Babylon.js
AR/VR & Metaverse
Powerful 3D engine for the web with WebXR
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Babylon.js 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.; Babylon.js javaScript-only framework; requires developer expertise to implement and maintain
- They diverge on capability: Quill covers VR illustration, Babylon.js covers WebGL/WebGPU rendering.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Quill and Babylon.js actually diverge.
| Attribute | Quill | Babylon.js |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $24.99/one-time | Free |
| Pricing model | one-time | Unknown |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Vr, Quest | Web, Native (via Babylon Native Runtime), React Native |
| Founded | 2021 | 1975 |
Identical on both: 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 Quill
- VR illustration
- Animation timeline
- Layers
- Brushes
- FBX export
- Video export
- Alembic
- Vr support
Only in Babylon.js
- WebGL/WebGPU rendering
- Physics engines
- GUI system
- Node material editor
- WebXR
- glTF
- Havok physics
- Azure
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Quill
- VR Gamingnot Babylon.js
- AR Marketingnot Babylon.js
- Virtual Trainingnot Babylon.js
- 3D Visualizationnot Babylon.js
- Immersive Experiencesnot Babylon.js
Babylon.js
- Web 3D rendering engine for games, e-commerce product configuration, and interactive experiencesnot Quill
- Cross-platform 3D development with native runtime and React Native supportnot Quill
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.
Babylon.js
- JavaScript-only framework; requires developer expertise to implement and maintain
Pricing, plan by plan
Quill
$24.99/one-time- Quill$24.99/one-time
- VR illustration
- Animation
- Export
Babylon.js
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Babylon.js review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Quill if
- You need vr illustration.
- You work on Vr, Quest.
- You also want animation timeline.
Choose Babylon.js if
- You need webgl/webgpu rendering.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Native (via Babylon Native Runtime), React Native.
- You also want physics engines.
Questions people ask
- Is Quill or Babylon.js better?
- Neither clearly leads. Quill starts at $24.99/one-time and Babylon.js at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Quill or Babylon.js?
- Babylon.js has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $24.99/one-time for Quill and Free for Babylon.js.
- Does Quill or Babylon.js run on more platforms?
- Quill runs on Vr, Quest. Babylon.js runs on Web, Native (via Babylon Native Runtime), React Native.
- Can I use Babylon.js for free?
- Yes. Babylon.js 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. Of those, vr gaming and ar marketing are not what Babylon.js is typically brought in for.
- What can Quill do that Babylon.js cannot?
- Quill covers VR illustration, Animation timeline, Layers, Brushes. Babylon.js covers WebGL/WebGPU rendering, Physics engines, GUI system, Node material editor.