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ShapesXR vs Vuforia

ShapesXR logo

ShapesXR

Software

Collaborative XR prototyping platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Vuforia logo

Vuforia

Software

Enterprise AR platform for industrial applications

From
$99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ShapesXR has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: ShapesXR the free Starter plan allows only 1 editable Space, 10 Frames per Space and 1 Viewpoint; Vuforia image target recognition requires training images and performs poorly with low lighting
  • They diverge on capability: ShapesXR covers XR prototyping, Vuforia covers Image recognition.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ShapesXR and Vuforia actually diverge.

Attributes where ShapesXR and Vuforia differ
AttributeShapesXRVuforia
Starting priceFree$99/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsVr, Ar, Quest, WebAndroid, iOS, Magic Leap, UWP, HoloLens
Founded20191985

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 ShapesXR

  • XR prototyping
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Interactions
  • Asset library
  • Figma
  • Sketch
  • Adobe XD
  • Vr support

Only in Vuforia

  • Image recognition
  • Model targets
  • Area targets
  • Cloud recognition
  • Unity
  • ThingWorx
  • Creo
  • Ios support

Both cover

  • Ar support

What people use each for

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

ShapesXR

  • Designing and prototyping spatial and XR interfaces in a headsetnot Vuforia
  • Reviewing 3D product designs in context with a distributed teamnot Vuforia
  • Bringing Figma designs into VR for spatial layoutnot Vuforia

Vuforia

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

Where each one falls short

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

ShapesXR

  • The free Starter plan allows only 1 editable Space, 10 Frames per Space and 1 Viewpoint
  • The free Starter plan caps imports at 20MB and the canvas at 100 square metres
  • The Figma plugin, playable Figma prototypes and 200MB imports require a paid plan
  • Roles, permissions, presentation tools and a shared team asset library require the Business plan
  • Single sign on, multi-factor authentication and premium support are Enterprise only
  • No prices are published for the Professional, Business or Enterprise plans; each is Get a quote
  • The Business trial is 14 days

Vuforia

  • Image target recognition requires training images and performs poorly with low lighting
  • Commercial licensing can be expensive for enterprise deployments
  • Image tracking performance degrades with poor lighting or reflective surfaces
  • Requires integration with Unity or native development environments

Pricing, plan by plan

ShapesXR

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 3 projects
    • Collaboration
    • Basic export

Vuforia

$99/month
  • Basic$99/month
    • Image targets
    • Model targets
    • Cloud recognition

Which should you pick?

Choose ShapesXR if

  • You need xr prototyping.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Vr, Ar, Quest, Web.
  • You also want real-time collaboration.
ShapesXR review

Choose Vuforia if

  • You need image recognition.
  • You work on Android, iOS, Magic Leap, UWP, HoloLens.
  • You also want model targets.
Vuforia review

Questions people ask

Is ShapesXR or Vuforia better?
Neither clearly leads. ShapesXR starts at Free and Vuforia at $99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ShapesXR or Vuforia?
ShapesXR has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for ShapesXR and $99/month for Vuforia.
Does ShapesXR or Vuforia run on more platforms?
ShapesXR runs on Vr, Ar, Quest, Web. Vuforia runs on Android, iOS, Magic Leap, UWP, HoloLens.
Can I use ShapesXR for free?
Yes. ShapesXR has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Vuforia starts at $99/month.
What is ShapesXR best used for?
ShapesXR is most often used for designing and prototyping spatial and xr interfaces in a headset, reviewing 3d product designs in context with a distributed team, bringing figma designs into vr for spatial layout. Of those, designing and prototyping spatial and xr interfaces in a headset and reviewing 3d product designs in context with a distributed team are not what Vuforia is typically brought in for.
What can ShapesXR do that Vuforia cannot?
ShapesXR covers XR prototyping, Real-time collaboration, Interactions, Asset library. Vuforia covers Image recognition, Model targets, Area targets, Cloud recognition. Both handle Ar support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Vuforia: What platforms does Vuforia support?

Vuforia Engine supports AR development for Android, iOS, Magic Leap, and UWP devices. Applications can run on mobile phones, tablets, head-worn AR devices, and mixed reality headsets like HoloLens.

Source
Vuforia: What AR tracking capabilities does Vuforia provide?

Vuforia offers Image Targets for recognizing images, Model Targets for precise 3D object tracking, Area Targets for persistent AR experiences using 3D scans, VuMarks for QR-code-like identification, and Cylinder Targets for tracking cylindrical objects.

Source
Vuforia: Is Vuforia a free or paid product?

Vuforia offers both free development licenses and commercial licensing. The free tier allows development and testing, while commercial use requires appropriate licensing from PTC.

Source
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