Software · head to head
Virtual Desktop vs ARCore
The short version
- Only ARCore has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Virtual Desktop requires 5 GHz Wi-Fi connection for optimal performance; ARCore aRCore limited to Android 7.0+, excluding older Android devices
- They diverge on capability: Virtual Desktop covers Wireless PC VR, ARCore covers Motion tracking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Virtual Desktop and ARCore actually diverge.
| Attribute | Virtual Desktop | ARCore |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $19.99/one-time | Free |
| Pricing model | one-time | free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Meta Quest, Pico, HTC Vive, Valve Index, Windows Mixed Reality, Samsung Galaxy XR | Android, iOS, Web |
| Founded | 2016 | 1998 |
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 Virtual Desktop
- Wireless PC VR
- Desktop streaming
- Virtual environments
- Low latency
- SteamVR
- Oculus PC
- Windows desktop
- Vr support
Only in ARCore
- Motion tracking
- Environmental understanding
- Light estimation
- Depth API
- Unity
- Unreal
- Android Studio
- Ar support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Virtual Desktop
- Streaming PC desktop to VR headsetsnot ARCore
- Playing games in virtual cinema environmentnot ARCore
- Watching movies on giant virtual screensnot ARCore
- Browsing web content in VRnot ARCore
ARCore
- VR Gamingnot Virtual Desktop
- AR Marketingnot Virtual Desktop
- Virtual Trainingnot Virtual Desktop
- 3D Visualizationnot Virtual Desktop
- Immersive Experiencesnot Virtual Desktop
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Virtual Desktop
- Requires 5 GHz Wi-Fi connection for optimal performance
- VR-ready GPU needed for high-quality game streaming
ARCore
- ARCore limited to Android 7.0+, excluding older Android devices
- Requires integration with game engines or frameworks for most applications
- Cloud anchors rely on internet connectivity for shared AR experiences
- Performance varies significantly across different Android device capabilities
Pricing, plan by plan
Virtual Desktop
$19.99/one-time- Virtual Desktop$19.99/one-time
- PC streaming
- VR gaming
- Virtual screens
ARCore
Free- FreeFree
- Full SDK
- Cloud Anchors
- Geospatial API
Which should you pick?
Choose Virtual Desktop if
- You need wireless pc vr.
- You work on Meta Quest, Pico, HTC Vive, Valve Index, Windows Mixed Reality, Samsung Galaxy XR.
- You also want desktop streaming.
Choose ARCore if
- You need motion tracking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Android, iOS, Web.
- You also want environmental understanding.
Questions people ask
- Is Virtual Desktop or ARCore better?
- Neither clearly leads. Virtual Desktop starts at $19.99/one-time and ARCore at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Virtual Desktop or ARCore?
- ARCore has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $19.99/one-time for Virtual Desktop and Free for ARCore.
- Does Virtual Desktop or ARCore run on more platforms?
- Virtual Desktop runs on Meta Quest, Pico, HTC Vive, Valve Index, Windows Mixed Reality, Samsung Galaxy XR. ARCore runs on Android, iOS, Web.
- Can I use ARCore for free?
- Yes. ARCore has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Virtual Desktop starts at $19.99/one-time.
- What is Virtual Desktop best used for?
- Virtual Desktop is most often used for streaming pc desktop to vr headsets, playing games in virtual cinema environment, watching movies on giant virtual screens, browsing web content in vr. Of those, streaming pc desktop to vr headsets and playing games in virtual cinema environment are not what ARCore is typically brought in for.
- What can Virtual Desktop do that ARCore cannot?
- Virtual Desktop covers Wireless PC VR, Desktop streaming, Virtual environments, Low latency. ARCore covers Motion tracking, Environmental understanding, Light estimation, Depth API.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
ARCore: What platforms does ARCore support?
ARCore supports Android 7.0 (Nougat) and later on qualified Android phones. SDKs are also available for iOS, Unity, Unreal Engine, and Web (WebXR).
SourceARCore: What are the three core capabilities of ARCore?
ARCore provides motion tracking to monitor device position, environmental understanding to detect surfaces like floors and walls, and light estimation to analyze surrounding lighting conditions.
SourceARCore: Can developers build shared AR experiences with ARCore?
Yes, ARCore supports cloud anchors enabling multiple users to see the same virtual objects in the real world, enabling shared AR experiences.
SourceARCore: What programming languages does ARCore support?
ARCore supports Kotlin and Java for Android, C through Android NDK, and provides APIs for Unity, Unreal Engine, iOS, and Web platforms.
Source