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AR VR · head to head

Unreal Engine VR vs Varjo

Unreal Engine VR logo

Unreal Engine VR

AR VR

AAA-quality VR development with Unreal Engine

From
Free
Rated
-
Varjo logo

Varjo

AR VR

Human-eye resolution VR/XR headsets

From
$2495/one-time
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Unreal Engine VR has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Unreal Engine VR steep system requirements with demanding GPU and CPU for rendering high-quality VR experiences; Varjo high cost enterprise XR solutions
  • They diverge on capability: Unreal Engine VR covers Photorealistic rendering, Varjo covers Human-eye resolution.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Unreal Engine VR and Varjo actually diverge.

Attributes where Unreal Engine VR and Varjo differ
AttributeUnreal Engine VRVarjo
Starting priceFree$2495/one-time
Pricing modelUnknownone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxXR headsets, Windows
Founded19952016

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 Unreal Engine VR

  • Photorealistic rendering
  • Physics simulation
  • Blueprint scripting
  • Motion controllers
  • Oculus
  • PSVR
  • Console support
  • Mobile support

Only in Varjo

  • Human-eye resolution
  • Mixed reality
  • Eye tracking
  • Hand tracking
  • Unity
  • Unreal
  • Xr support

Both cover

  • SteamVR
  • OpenXR
  • Vr support
  • Pc support

What people use each for

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

Unreal Engine VR

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

Varjo

  • Military flight simulation and pilot trainingnot Unreal Engine VR
  • Vehicle operation and weapons trainingnot Unreal Engine VR
  • Maritime navigation trainingnot Unreal Engine VR
  • High-fidelity professional VR simulationnot Unreal Engine VR

Where each one falls short

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

Unreal Engine VR

  • Steep system requirements with demanding GPU and CPU for rendering high-quality VR experiences
  • Only free with 5% royalty after $1 million in revenue, which may impact indie developers at scale

Varjo

  • High cost enterprise XR solutions
  • Specialized for military and simulation training use cases only

Pricing, plan by plan

Unreal Engine VR

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Unreal Engine VR review.

Varjo

$2495/one-time
  • Varjo XR-4$3990/one-time
    • Human-eye resolution
    • Mixed reality
    • Eye tracking

Which should you pick?

Choose Unreal Engine VR if

  • You need photorealistic rendering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want physics simulation.

Choose Varjo if

  • You need human-eye resolution.
  • You work on XR headsets, Windows.
  • You also want mixed reality.

Questions people ask

Is Unreal Engine VR or Varjo better?
Neither clearly leads. Unreal Engine VR starts at Free and Varjo at $2495/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Unreal Engine VR or Varjo?
Unreal Engine VR has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Unreal Engine VR and $2495/one-time for Varjo.
Does Unreal Engine VR or Varjo run on more platforms?
Unreal Engine VR runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Varjo runs on XR headsets, Windows.
Can I use Unreal Engine VR for free?
Yes. Unreal Engine VR has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Varjo starts at $2495/one-time.
What is Unreal Engine VR best used for?
Unreal Engine VR is most often used for vr gaming, ar marketing, virtual training, 3d visualization. Of those, vr gaming and ar marketing are not what Varjo is typically brought in for.
What can Unreal Engine VR do that Varjo cannot?
Unreal Engine VR covers Photorealistic rendering, Physics simulation, Blueprint scripting, Motion controllers. Varjo covers Human-eye resolution, Mixed reality, Eye tracking, Hand tracking. Both handle SteamVR, OpenXR, Vr support, Pc support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Unreal Engine VR: Does Unreal Engine support VR and AR development?

Yes. Unreal Engine provides the highest-quality solution for creating augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR) experiences, supporting development for VR, AR, gaming consoles, PCs, and mobile devices.

Source
Varjo: Does Varjo publish pricing information on their website?

No. Varjo does not publish specific pricing on their website and directs interested customers to contact their sales team or book a demo.

Source
Unreal Engine VR: Is Unreal Engine 5 free to use?

Unreal Engine 5 is free for most uses with no upfront cost. If a project earns over $1 million, a 5% royalty applies to future sales.

Source
Varjo: How can I get pricing information from Varjo?

Varjo requires direct contact with their sales team. Customers can either request a demo or fill out a contact form to discuss pricing with a representative.

Source
Unreal Engine VR: What platforms does Unreal Engine support for VR development?

Unreal Engine supports macOS and Linux development with some limitations, though Windows 10 (64-bit) is the primary development platform. It supports VR development targeting various VR headsets.

Source
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