ARKitvs
ARCore
ARCore: Google's AR framework for Android with similar core features to ARKit but cross-platform support for Android devices.
ARKit
Apple's framework for iOS AR development
As of 30 August 2026, ARKit is free to use. ARKit is Apple's augmented reality framework for iOS and iPadOS that enables developers to create AR experiences. Softwr lists it under AR VR. ARKit is made by Apple Inc., launched in 1976, available on iOS, macOS, VR and AR.
Overview
What ARKit does
ARKit is Apple's augmented reality framework for iOS and iPadOS that enables developers to create AR experiences. It provides world tracking, scene understanding, face tracking, and integration with RealityKit for high-quality AR applications.
What people use it for
- VR Gaming
- AR Marketing
- Virtual Training
- 3D Visualization
- Immersive Experiences
The honest half
Where it falls short
Concrete and checkable, so you can decide whether any of them matter to you. This is the half of a review a vendor will not write about ARKit.
- iOS-only platform, not available for Android or other operating systems
- Location-based AR accuracy limited to 3-5 meters, insufficient for precise applications
- Cannot handle very fast motion capture
- Accuracy varies with lighting conditions and surface characteristics
- Requires iOS 11 or later and specific device hardware
Cross-shopped
What people choose instead of ARKit
Each pairing was judged by two reviewers asking whether a buyer would genuinely weigh the two against each other. The ones that failed were deleted rather than published.
- ARKitvsVuforia
Vuforia: Cross-platform AR SDK supporting iOS, Android, and UWP with robust image-based and object recognition features.
- ARKitvsWikitude
Wikitude: Web-based and mobile AR SDK with WebAR capabilities and cross-platform support for both iOS and Android.
- ARKitvsUnity AR Foundation
Unity AR Foundation: Unity's cross-platform AR framework that abstracts ARKit and ARCore, enabling single codebase for iOS and Android development.
Pricing
What ARKit costs
Taken from the vendor's own pricing page. Prices move, so check before you buy.
Free
Free
- Full SDK
- Documentation
- Sample code
Capabilities
Features
World tracking
Face tracking
Body tracking
LiDAR support
RealityKit
Integration with RealityKit
Reality Composer
Integration with Reality Composer
SceneKit
Integration with SceneKit
Ar support
Available on ar
Ios support
Available on ios
Ipados support
Available on ipados
Visionos support
Available on visionos
Answered, with sources
Questions people ask
Each answer names the page it came from, so you can check it rather than take our word for it.
Is ARKit free to use?
Yes, ARKit is free to use. It is included in Apple's iOS SDK and requires only Xcode and a Mac to start building AR apps. There are no licensing fees or subscription costs.
SourceWhat iOS devices support ARKit?
ARKit is supported on iPhone 6s and later, iPad Pro models, and the latest iPad models. It requires iOS 11 or later. Apple Vision Pro also supports ARKit with enhanced capabilities through visionOS.
SourceCan ARKit work offline?
ARKit can function offline for tracking and scene understanding since these operations run locally on the device. However, multiplayer AR features and cloud-based object detection require internet connectivity.
SourceDoes ARKit integrate with game engines?
Yes, ARKit integrates with Unity through the Unity ARKit Plugin and with Unreal Engine. Developers can also use it with Metal, SceneKit, and Apple's RealityKit framework.
SourceWhat are ARKit's limitations with location-based AR?
ARKit's location-based positioning has accuracy limitations. Image-based positioning is primarily useful in urban areas, and beacon-based navigation provides accuracy of 3-5 meters, which is insufficient for precise AR applications requiring 1-meter accuracy or better.
SourceBehind it
Who makes ARKit
- Company
- Apple Inc.
- Based in
- Cupertino, California
Timeline
ARKit over time
- Milestone2024-06-10
ARKit presented for visionOS 2 with enhanced spatial experiences on Apple Vision Pro
Source - Milestone2020-06-22
ARKit 4 announced with LiDAR support for depth information from iPad Pro and iPhone sensors
Source - Milestone2019-06-03
ARKit 3 announced at WWDC 2019 with improved motion tracking and environmental lighting
Source - Launch2018-09-17
iOS 12 released with ARKit 2.0 featuring improved face tracking and 3D object detection
Source - Launch2017-09-19
iOS 11 released with ARKit framework
Source - Launch2017-06-05
ARKit announced at WWDC 2017 as part of iOS 11
Source
Keep looking
Where to go from ARKit
- ARKit alternativesEvery product people weigh against it
- ARKit pricingPlans, floors and what the tiers exclude
- ARKit badgesWhich rules it meets, and the figure behind each
- All AR VR softwareThe full category
- Best AR VR softwareThe shortlist, and how it was cut
Best AR VR software for
Compare ARKit with
- ARCore
- Unity AR Foundation
- Niantic Lightship
- Wikitude
- Vuforia
- A-Frame
- Lens Studio
- TikTok Effect House
- Instagram AR Effects
- Virbela
- AltspaceVR
- Engage VR
- Masterpiece VR
- Medium by Adobe
- Quill
- Three.js
- Unreal Engine VR
- Wikitude
Other AR VR software
Softwr does not host reviews and shows no star rating for ARKit, because a rating we did not collect is not ours to publish. What is here is the pricing and platform detail from the vendor’s own pages, limitations we could state concretely, and alternatives a reviewer confirmed people weigh against it. Tell us if any of it is wrong.
More on ARKit
ARKit alternatives
What people switch to, and what they give up
ARKit pricing
Every tier, and where the cost actually lands
Compare ARKit
Put it head to head with anything we hold
ARKit badge
Its rating, and an embed for your own site
Best AR VR software alternatives
Powerful 3D engine for the web with WebXR