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Unity AR Foundation vs vSpatial

Unity AR Foundation logo

Unity AR Foundation

AR VR

Unified AR development framework for Unity

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
vSpatial logo

vSpatial

AR VR

VR workspace for remote productivity

From
$10/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Unity AR Foundation has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Unity AR Foundation requires platform-specific plugins (ARCore, ARKit) to actually implement AR features; vSpatial the free Remote tier limits sessions to 45 minutes before reconnecting
  • They diverge on capability: Unity AR Foundation covers Plane detection, vSpatial covers Virtual monitors.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Unity AR Foundation and vSpatial actually diverge.

Attributes where Unity AR Foundation and vSpatial differ
AttributeUnity AR FoundationvSpatial
Starting priceFree$10/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Android, visionOS, HoloLens 2, Meta Quest, Unity EditorVr, Pc, Quest
Founded20042016

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (AR VR).

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 vSpatial

  • Virtual monitors
  • Desktop streaming
  • Collaboration rooms
  • Spatial audio
  • Windows desktop
  • Video conferencing
  • Cloud storage
  • Vr support

What people use each for

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

Unity AR Foundation

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

vSpatial

  • Working on remote desktops inside a VR headsetnot Unity AR Foundation
  • Adding virtual monitors around a single physical machinenot Unity AR Foundation
  • Accessing a work PC from a browser or headsetnot Unity AR Foundation

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

vSpatial

  • The free Remote tier limits sessions to 45 minutes before reconnecting
  • The free tier allows only 1 remote, 1 simultaneous remote session and 1 virtual monitor
  • Free users see only their physical monitors and cannot add virtual monitors
  • The free tier is not licensed for business use
  • Remote Pro is $20 per year and is described as an introductory price
  • Remote Pro caps virtual monitors at up to 4
  • Supported remote machines require Windows 10 version 1809 or newer, Windows 11, or macOS 13 and newer
  • Collaboration and screen control sharing are listed as coming soon

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

vSpatial

$10/month
  • Pro$10/month
    • Virtual monitors
    • Collaboration
    • Cloud sync

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.
Unity AR Foundation review

Choose vSpatial if

  • You need virtual monitors.
  • You work on Vr, Pc, Quest.
  • You also want desktop streaming.
vSpatial review

Questions people ask

Is Unity AR Foundation or vSpatial better?
Neither clearly leads. Unity AR Foundation starts at Free and vSpatial at $10/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Unity AR Foundation or vSpatial?
Unity AR Foundation has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Unity AR Foundation and $10/month for vSpatial.
Does Unity AR Foundation or vSpatial run on more platforms?
Unity AR Foundation runs on iOS, Android, visionOS, HoloLens 2, Meta Quest, Unity Editor. vSpatial runs on Vr, Pc, Quest.
Can I use Unity AR Foundation for free?
Yes. Unity AR Foundation has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. vSpatial starts at $10/month.
What is Unity AR Foundation best used for?
Unity AR Foundation is most often used for vr gaming, ar marketing, virtual training, 3d visualization. Of those, vr gaming and ar marketing are not what vSpatial is typically brought in for.
What can Unity AR Foundation do that vSpatial cannot?
Unity AR Foundation covers Plane detection, Image tracking, Face tracking, Point clouds. vSpatial covers Virtual monitors, Desktop streaming, Collaboration rooms, Spatial audio.

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).

Source
vSpatial: What authentication method does vSpatial use for account security?

vSpatial uses "password-less" authentication via "2FA and globally accepted OpenID Connect Standards" rather than traditional passwords for enhanced safety.

Source
Unity 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.

Source
vSpatial: How is my data encrypted when using vSpatial?

The platform employs "TLS, PKE, WebRTC encryption standards" to ensure "nothing traverses the network unencrypted" across all network communications.

Source
Unity 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.

Source
vSpatial: Is there a self-hosted option available for privacy-conscious businesses?

Yes, vSpatial offers businesses the ability to "self-host your own vSpatial XR Cloud" as an alternative to traditional cloud-based service models.

Source
Unity 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.

Source
vSpatial: What is the cost to get started with vSpatial?

vSpatial offers a free tier to begin using the service immediately. Visit the pricing page for details on paid tier options and features.

Source
Unity 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
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