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Wikitude vs AltspaceVR

Wikitude logo

Wikitude

Software

Cross-platform AR SDK for mobile applications

From
€2490/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
A

AltspaceVR

Software

Social VR platform for events and meetups

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only AltspaceVR has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Wikitude service discontinued September 21, 2024 - no longer available for purchase or use; AltspaceVR shut down permanently on 10 March 2023. Microsoft closed it to concentrate on Microsoft Mesh, and altvr.com now redirects to microsoft.com
  • They diverge on capability: Wikitude covers Image tracking, AltspaceVR covers Event hosting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Wikitude and AltspaceVR actually diverge.

Attributes where Wikitude and AltspaceVR differ
AttributeWikitudeAltspaceVR
Starting price€2490/yearFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsAr, Ios, Android, Smart-glassesVr, Pc, Quest
Founded20081975

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 Wikitude

  • Image tracking
  • Instant tracking
  • Object recognition
  • Geo AR
  • Unity
  • Cordova
  • Xamarin
  • Flutter

Only in AltspaceVR

  • Event hosting
  • World building
  • Avatar system
  • Spatial audio
  • Microsoft accounts
  • Streaming
  • Custom content
  • Vr support

What people use each for

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

Wikitude

  • VR Gaming
  • AR Marketing
  • Virtual Training
  • 3D Visualization
  • Immersive Experiences

AltspaceVR

  • 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.

Wikitude

  • Service discontinued September 21, 2024 - no longer available for purchase or use
  • All developer and cloud services shut down permanently
  • Apps built with Wikitude lost backend functionality after shutdown
  • No migration path provided to successor platform

AltspaceVR

  • Shut down permanently on 10 March 2023. Microsoft closed it to concentrate on Microsoft Mesh, and altvr.com now redirects to microsoft.com
  • Microsoft acquired it in 2017 and the closure came alongside wider cuts, so there is no path back
  • Mesh is aimed at business use rather than the consumer social VR AltspaceVR offered

Pricing, plan by plan

Wikitude

€2490/year
  • Pro$2490/year
    • All tracking features
    • Cloud recognition
    • Support

AltspaceVR

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Event hosting
    • World creation
    • Social features

Which should you pick?

Choose Wikitude if

  • You need image tracking.
  • You work on Ar, Ios, Android, Smart-glasses.
  • You also want instant tracking.
Wikitude review

Choose AltspaceVR if

  • You need event hosting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Vr, Pc, Quest.
  • You also want world building.
AltspaceVR review

Questions people ask

Is Wikitude or AltspaceVR better?
Neither clearly leads. Wikitude starts at €2490/year and AltspaceVR at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Wikitude or AltspaceVR?
AltspaceVR has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at €2490/year for Wikitude and Free for AltspaceVR.
Does Wikitude or AltspaceVR run on more platforms?
Wikitude runs on Ar, Ios, Android, Smart-glasses. AltspaceVR runs on Vr, Pc, Quest.
Can I use AltspaceVR for free?
Yes. AltspaceVR has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Wikitude starts at €2490/year.
What is Wikitude best used for?
Wikitude is most often used for vr gaming, ar marketing, virtual training, 3d visualization.
What can Wikitude do that AltspaceVR cannot?
Wikitude covers Image tracking, Instant tracking, Object recognition, Geo AR. AltspaceVR covers Event hosting, World building, Avatar system, Spatial audio.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Wikitude: Is Wikitude AR SDK still available?

No. Wikitude services were permanently shut down on September 21, 2024. All Wikitude mobile SDK, Studio, Cloud, and API services are no longer available, and stored data became inaccessible.

Source
Wikitude: Why did Wikitude shut down?

Qualcomm, which acquired Wikitude in 2021, decided to retire the Wikitude brand and consolidate AR development into Snapdragon Spaces XR Developer Platform, focusing exclusively on headworn AR experiences.

Source
Wikitude: What happened to apps built with Wikitude?

More than 40,000 mobile apps were created using Wikitude SDK and delivered to millions of users. After the September 2024 shutdown, these apps no longer have access to Wikitude backend services, though the apps themselves may continue functioning with local features.

Source
Wikitude: When was Wikitude acquired by Qualcomm?

Qualcomm acquired Wikitude in 2021. The acquisition consolidated Qualcomm's AR strategy, leading to the 2024 decision to discontinue mobile AR services.

Source
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