Software · head to head
Unity AR Foundation vs 8th Wall
Unity AR Foundation
Software
Unified AR development framework for Unity
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Unity AR Foundation requires platform-specific plugins (ARCore, ARKit) to actually implement AR features; 8th Wall platform shutdown as of February 2026, with hosted services ending
- They diverge on capability: Unity AR Foundation covers Plane detection, 8th Wall covers SLAM tracking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Unity AR Foundation and 8th Wall actually diverge.
| Attribute | Unity AR Foundation | 8th Wall |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | iOS, Android, visionOS, HoloLens 2, Meta Quest, Unity Editor | Web (WebXR), Mobile browsers, Open source (local deployment) |
| Founded | 2004 | 2016 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), 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 Unity AR Foundation
- Plane detection
- Image tracking
- Face tracking
- Point clouds
- ARKit
- ARCore
- OpenXR
- Magic Leap
Only in 8th Wall
- SLAM tracking
- Image targets
- Face effects
- World tracking
- Three.js
- A-Frame
- Babylon.js
- PlayCanvas
Both cover
- Ios support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Unity AR Foundation
- VR Gaming
- AR Marketing
- Virtual Training
- 3D Visualization
- Immersive Experiences
8th Wall
- 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.
Unity AR Foundation
- Requires platform-specific plugins (ARCore, ARKit) to actually implement AR features
- Performance varies significantly by device, with battery drain and heat generation on mobile
- Emulators cannot accurately test AR experiences due to missing camera and sensor data
- No WebXR support for browser-based AR experiences
- Occlusion features show lower performance at 25-40 FPS compared to other features at 40-60 FPS
- Limited access to latest platform-specific features compared to native ARKit or ARCore
8th Wall
- Platform shutdown as of February 2026, with hosted services ending
- WebAR performance limitations compared to native app AR experiences
- Requires internet connection for all AR experiences to function
- Limited browser support; Firefox and Safari do not support WebXR on desktop and mobile
Pricing, plan by plan
Unity AR Foundation
Free- Included with Unity PersonalFree
- Free for individuals and small teams with under $200K revenue/funding
- AR Foundation package included
- Access to all core AR features
- Included with Unity Pro$185/month
- Professional tier licensing
- AR Foundation package included
- All core AR features plus Pro-level support
8th Wall
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the 8th Wall review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Unity AR Foundation if
- You need plane detection.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android, visionOS, HoloLens 2, Meta Quest, Unity Editor.
- You also want image tracking.
Choose 8th Wall if
- You need slam tracking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web (WebXR), Mobile browsers, Open source (local deployment).
- You also want image targets.
Questions people ask
- Is Unity AR Foundation or 8th Wall better?
- Neither clearly leads. Unity AR Foundation starts at Free and 8th Wall at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Unity AR Foundation or 8th Wall?
- Unity AR Foundation starts at Free and 8th Wall at Free.
- Does Unity AR Foundation or 8th Wall run on more platforms?
- Unity AR Foundation runs on iOS, Android, visionOS, HoloLens 2, Meta Quest, Unity Editor. 8th Wall runs on Web (WebXR), Mobile browsers, Open source (local deployment).
- Can I use Unity AR Foundation for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Unity AR Foundation best used for?
- Unity AR Foundation is most often used for vr gaming, ar marketing, virtual training, 3d visualization.
- What can Unity AR Foundation do that 8th Wall cannot?
- Unity AR Foundation covers Plane detection, Image tracking, Face tracking, Point clouds. 8th Wall covers SLAM tracking, Image targets, Face effects, World tracking. Both handle Ios support, Android support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Unity AR Foundation: Is Unity AR Foundation free?
Yes, AR Foundation is free and included with Unity. It is a package within the Unity engine, though you need a Unity license (available free for personal use with under $200K revenue).
Source8th Wall: What is 8th Wall and how does it work?
8th Wall was a WebAR platform enabling AR experiences in web browsers without native app installation. As of February 2026, it transitioned to open source at 8thwall.org with free MIT-licensed technology.
SourceUnity AR Foundation: What platforms does AR Foundation support?
AR Foundation supports iOS (via ARKit), Android (via ARCore), visionOS, HoloLens 2 (via OpenXR), and Meta Quest (via OpenXR). Testing in the Unity Editor is available through XR Simulation.
Source8th Wall: Is 8th Wall still available?
The paid hosted platform shut down February 28, 2026. The core technology was released as open source at 8thwall.org. Existing published projects remain online until February 28, 2027, when all hosted content will be permanently deleted.
SourceUnity AR Foundation: Do I need additional plugins to use AR Foundation?
Yes. AR Foundation is an abstraction layer and requires platform-specific plugins: ARCore XR Plugin for Android and ARKit XR Plugin for iOS. These plugins implement actual AR features using native SDKs.
Source8th Wall: What licensing is available for 8th Wall?
8th Wall is now released under the MIT open source license at no cost for commercial use. Previously, commercial licensing started at $700 per month per project.
SourceUnity AR Foundation: Can I test AR experiences in the Unity Editor?
AR Foundation supports XR Simulation in the Editor for early testing, but accurate AR testing requires real devices because emulators cannot replicate camera and sensor data accurately.
SourceUnity AR Foundation: Does AR Foundation support web-based AR?
No, AR Foundation does not support WebXR. Unity has stated there are no current plans to add WebXR support to AR Foundation. Web AR requires alternative solutions like 8th Wall.
Source