25 Augmented Reality Software Tools (2023)

Augmented Reality Development Software

Augmented reality (AR) development platforms enable the creation of AR products that overlays computer-generated images in the real world. Developers can use AR software development tools to design, position, orient, and track virtual objects and their relationships to the real world.

The object appears to be part of a real-world scene to the viewer. Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) play important roles in advanced AR, but the development platforms effectively shield AR developers from interacting with those components.

This composite view is created by AR products using software and hardware devices such as headsets and smartphones with cameras, sensors, and digital projectors. Real-time data can be overlaid into the scene, providing the user with contextually relevant information.

Vuforia

Vuforia Engine is an Augmented Reality (AR) software development kit (SDK). It is one of the most extensively used AR development platforms.

This technology is compatible with a wide range of phones, tablets, and eyewear. Developers can quickly an easily add powerful computer vision features to apps using the Vuforia engines. Type of softwares for apps to which the technological features can be added are diverse, and include the following:

• Android
• iOS
• UWP

Professional developers can use the Vuforia engine to develop AR experiences that interact realistically with items and the surroundings. Developers can incorporate advanced computer vision technology to any programme, allowing it to recognise images and objects as well as interact with real-world spaces.

The Vuforia Engine 10 SDK can be used to construct AR applications. The Vuforia Engine Library contains the newest technical documentation for constructing AR applications and guiding users in the process. It is updated on a regular basis with tutorials and information on the latest features and services that are available to developers.

The Vuforia Engine and Unity Package

The Vuforia Engine exists as a “.unitypackage” that users can import into their Unity Editor project. The Unity Editor is a commonly used system adapted to mobile phones and digital eyewear. 

It is an effective authoring environment for creating cutting-edge augmented reality experiences for hand help devices, and those constructed for use as eye-wear.

The Vuforia Engine can be incorporated into any project, and it comes with certain “Core Samples” that can be found in the Unity Asset Store to get developers started on their projects.

The Vuforia Engine and Object Tracking

Vuforia Engine offers the ability to track a wide range of items and environments, which are divided into three categories: Images, Objects, and Environments.

It’s critical for users to understand how to get started with the solution and which Vuforia capabilities are most suited to their needs. When it comes to object tracking, it’s important to remember that the Vuforia Engine allows users to recognize items based on their shape using pre-existing 3D models.

For the purpose of object tracking, the AR material is placed on a wide variety of items for this purpose, which may include:

• Industrial equipment
• Vehicles
• Toys
• Home appliances

To use this feature properly, the user must select the appropriate tracking technology, one of which is “Model Target.”

ARKit

The ARKit is Apple’s software development kit that allows app developers to add augmented reality to their apps. ARKit simplifies the process for developers to place virtual objects in common scenes by handling many of the difficult tasks connected with AR.

The ARKit makes it easy for developers to incorporate challenging aspects of AR into their apps. Some of these difficult processes simplified by the ARKit include:

• Detecting movement
• Detecting immediate environment

Developers use Apple’s ARKit framework and software development kit to create augmented reality games and utilities. Developers were first introduced to ARKit at the 2017 WWDC, where demos demonstrated how to create AR experiences for their apps.

A number of precise systems are added to the ARKit to allow its functionality. Development of such is necessitated to allow users an enhanced perception of reality.

It is important that when apps that incorporate AR are utilised, a dynamic perception of the external environment is made possible. For this reason, systems that adequately pick up signals from the surroundings, and detect the movement of the user are important.

One system that allows movement and environment detection, for instance, is Visual Inertial Odometry (VIO). Through the Visual Inertial Odometry (VIO) system, camera sensor data is combined with CoreMotion data to precisely track the world in ARKit.

The iOS smartphone can correctly perceive how it moves inside a room due to the superimposition of data created due to this information input. Through this system, users are able to receive an improved perception of stimuli in the external environment, especially when they relocate from one location to another.

With advancements in its development, the ARKit team of developers has been able to introduce a new product to consumer attention, known as the ARKit 6. With this unique piece of technology, users can gain access to 4K video support.

4K video support allows users to capture spectacular high-resolution movies of AR experiences. With such a system, a number of applications for the ARKit 6 are made possible, such as: which is ideal for

• Professional video editing
• Filmmaking
• Social media apps

With the development of the ARKit 6, support for HDR video and high-resolution background picture capture has been added to the video feature. In addition to these features, the system for Motion Capture has also been improved alongside that for capture capabilities.

OpenSpace3D

OpenSpace3D is an online platform for creating and publishing augmented reality applications. With OpenSpace3D, you don’t need to download or configure any software or SDKs; everything is done through a web browser, including installing apps on your device. 

OpenSpace3D supports 2 different augmented reality techniques, which developers can use to create AR applications. The feature marker detection enables the detection of an image on the camera, as well as the Aruco fiducial marker detection that enables the creation of quick applications using multiple markers.

Although OpenSpace3D doesn’t have quite as many features as some of its competitors, it has a very clean interface and makes it easy to get started developing AR applications without having to do much setup work first.

echo3D

echo3D is a cloud platform for 3D/AR/VR content, providing the tools and network infrastructure that allows developers to build 3D games, apps, and other content quickly. The company’s SDKs are compatible with Unity, Unreal Engine 4, Android Studio, and more. The company also provides its own editing suite called Storyteller which features an intuitive interface that helps users create interactive VR stories without any coding knowledge or prior experience.

 The tool can be used on its own or as part of a larger development environment like Unity or Unreal Engine 4. echo3D uses advanced technologies such as AI-based deep learning algorithms to convert 2D images into lifelike 3D scenes with accurate lighting effects and natural shadows.

Streem

The AR-powered video conferencing tool offered by Streem gives your teams the ability to sell to and service customers from a remote location.

With Steem, your team has the ability to guide, capture, and record the necessary details thanks to the combined power of live video support, machine learning (ML), and Augmented Reality/Artificial Intelligence (AR/AI) technology. There is no need for customers to download anything.

Streem’s in-video customer service tools empower your teams to increase first call resolution by:

• Guiding customers in the right direction.
• Recording project specifics, such as the manufacturer, model, and serial number, in an automated fashion
• Taking screenshots of important information from a remote location
• Producing a record of the project that is simple to consult and distribute

With Steem, you can improve time-consuming tasks such as quoting, retail consultations, troubleshooting, warranties, returns, and more by digitising your workflows and using live video support.

AR-Media

The AR-media Player app, sometimes known as AR-media, is a software that allows users to visualise and engage with Augmented and Virtual Reality experiences. The AR-media Studio platform is used to create experiences that improves the users’ insight of the external environment.

The app allows users to see publicly or privately shared AR-media material. Furthermore, the AR-media Gallery allows users to explore through public projects. Customers can also use the Private Share option to gain access to private material. One can also download their software projects to their devices for offline use using AR-media.

Although software projects are often used with connection to AR-media, other forms of work can also be carried through effectively using this technology. It is to be noted that every kind of project that can be accessed with an AR-media app comes with a set of description and instructions to allow the user to visualise it. The app will assist the user in visualising and interacting with the project’s material.

Using the AR-media app, it can be easier to gain a better insight into the content of one’s project. Content can take a variety of forms, some of which include:

• Interactive plans
• Geolocated content
• Spatial content

Architectural projects, for example, can be linked to project designs, specific sites, or any setting. Users can be prompted to use the AR-media player to:

• Scan the project blueprint,
• Move closer to a specific spot
• Scan any region

By accessing the project onto the AR-media player, the user can begin experiencing the project content in a manner that enhances their perception of its details.

Spark AR Studio

Spark AR is an augmented reality platform that can be used as a marketing tool by businesses. The software lets businesses and individuals create and publish AR effects and share them on Instagram, Facebook, Facebook Lite, and Messenger.

Individuals and design experts use Spark AR to create and develop AR ideas. AR effects can be created with or without code using the Spark AR Studio, depending on the creator’s level of expertise. Users can import 3D objects, audio files, high-fidelity models, and script packages directly from the AR Library, as well as use a library of free assets from Facebook.

The ability to interact with the AR, animate otherwise static objects, create textures and materials, and generate effects with real-life, understandable logic are among the Spark AR features. The tracking feature can track and follow a specific target, body, or hand, and it also includes high-fidelity face tracking. AR can be contextually aware using Spark AR’s semantic scene understanding, which means the effects will be visually appropriate for the scene in the viewfinder.

Augmented Reality (AR) SDK Software

An augmented reality SDK software or AR SDK, allows developers to build digital objects that appear to blend into the real world. These tools enable developers to create digital images by providing functions such as 3D object tracking, image recognition, multi-tracking, and more. AR developers can use these SDKs to create mobile apps, CAD platforms, marketing experiences, and more.

ARCore

ARCore is a mobile application native of Google that is available for Android and iOS. It is a platform that enables the construction of different augmented reality elements through the environmental understanding of the phone camera. ARCore uses a variety of solutions such as APIs to decypher the outside world and scans the receptive data creating and interacting with this information. It’s key capabilities allow the integration of the real world and the virtual reality through motion tracking, light estimation and environment detection. It is also optimized to percieve and process information such as camera orientation, location, size, 3D object recognition, bounds, etc.

This software is capable of detecting flat surfaces such as a table, the floor, and even the vertical limits such as doorways and walls. It is also capable of receiving data to estimate light and combine these two features to use optimized digital information and build a sensible understanding of the physical world. ARCore is capable of understanding and interacting with

real world objects in real time. And it allows you to experience the world around you through a perspective of augmented reality through your mobile phone or other supported softwares such as Unity and Unreal.

Wikitude

Wikitude is an Austrian brand that is part of the company- “Qualcomm”. It is foremost in the development of mobile augmented reality (AR) technology. The company announced its acquisition by Qualcomm in September 2021.

What sets Wikitude apart from other AR tools, is its pioneering role in developing technology suited for mobile usage.Wikitude is noted as the creator of several renowned AR solutions for a number of mobile devices, such as:

• Smartphones
• Tablets
• Smart Glasses

Wikitude, which was founded in 2008, initially focused on offering an augmented reality experience; this would be location-based and derived from an app known as the Wikitude World Browser App.

The business remodelled its offering in 2012 by releasing the Wikitude SDK (Software Development Kit)- a technology that uses picture identification and tracking, as well as geolocation technology to formulate a software platform.

The Wikitude AR SDK and SLAM

Wikitude’s revolutionising AR technology is presented through its main product, the Wikitude AR SDK. This core product is provided with a range of complementary solutions, allowing thousands of apps, brands and developers to attain their project objectives. Wikitude is the leading AR technology supplier, with tens of thousands of developer accounts and published AR apps.

SDK, Wikitude’s main product could be utilised as a development platform for professionals in the field of marketing, consumerism as well as entertainment. This piece of technology and development platform was first brought to consumer attention in October 2008.

The SDK incorporates a plethora of unique technologies, such as:

• Picture recognition
• Picture tracking
• 3D model rendering
• Video overlay
• Location-based AR.

Wikitude introduced its SLAM (Simultaneous Localization And Mapping) technology in 2017, which enables object recognition and tracking as well as immediate tracking which is markerless.

MaxST

MaxST Co., Ltd is a Korean-based company that seeks to create an elevated user experienced. With more than 10 years of innovation, this company has designed tools and solutions that make reality a much more conscious and augmented experience with the principles of fun, inspiration, creativity and innovation present at all times.

Through their services and solutions of augmented reality tools, MAXST aims to maximize the informational potential of a world converted from simple text to a comprehensible, image centered display. They wish to provide the tools to facilitate the decision making process in all different situations, improving the response time and accuracy of future thinking.

MaxST’s technologies connect reality and the virtual space to engage in an interactive way of life. They offer Development and Spatial Platforms as well as Industrial and Device Solutions. Catering to different levels of service, their technologies stretch wide beyond the world as they facilitate the installation, creation and development of new systems to enhance reality.

Companies like Samsung, LG and Hyundai have worked with the Korean-based AR provider to enhance their products and services creating a reality that connects people through sensible displays of perfectly curated images, making regular life enhanced through Augmented Reality.

EasyAR SDK

EasyAR Sense SDK is an augmented reality solution that scans the environment around you to generate three-dimensional real-time mapping structures. It can be installed on any mainstream Android/iOS mobile device and it provides support for re-localization, multiple maps, and multi-player modality. It does not require a 3D sensor and it has an optimized system of collision and occlusion effect that works faster than the average walking speed. Its fast initialization and low-scale drift make it a very ideal software for motion tracking and object tracking.

Another of their products is EasyAR CRS, an innovative cloud recognition service that allows the tracking and analyzing of massive pools of collected data as well as the managing and creation of cloud form images. Cloud computing is made easy with its offline cache, large capacity, and fast and accurate recognition. As fast as 0.1s and with up to 98% as accurate, EasyAR CRS is an AR solution that features an efficient API and a smooth, user-friendly management interface that allows easy cloud management.

Their newest and most innovative AR solution, EasyAR MEGA – A city-scale cloud solution that boosts the potential of tourism, business, and education while celebrating all the wonders of the local culture. This augmented reality solution provides an experience for a very large space bringing virtual content through the infrastructure of the internet into the reality of all humankind.

With all these augmented reality solutions, EasyAR seeks to seamlessly connect the reality and the virtual space into a single enhanced experience of world exploration.

Kudan

Kudan is a well-known company with reach all around the globe. With their business philosophy, they seek to provide eyes for all future machines through augmented reality and map localization. Their expertise extends from autonomous driving to virtual reality and even robotics. Although they provide many different services and offer solutions to many different fields, Kudan excels in commercial-grade Localization and Mapping software.

This company offers a service of Artificial Perception that works with multiple future technologies by developing algorithms. Using the principles of artificial intelligence, Kudan is able to provide an augmented reality solution that artificially learns from the enviroment, collecting real-world data in an instinctive way.

They seek to use this service to make machines see and understand the world like humans do. They also offer commercial-grade localization software aimed at mapping. They employ a SLAM (Simultaneous localization and mapping) technology to help the AI learn about its environment and map out its surroundings.

With a wide array of very respectable collaborators, Kudan makes its way to the top as a really good AR provider. Through the years they have worked alongside big companies such as Sony, Unisys and ADLINK to further boost and enhance their development.

ARToolKit

ARToolKit is an open-source platform that is supported by Realmax Inc, an augmented reality company originated in China. Due to its growing community and abundance of users, the owners made the decision to keep ARToolKit as inclusive as possible, permitting users from all over the world to employ its AR solutions. Also offering an enveloping experience to their community, to put it simply, ARToolKit is a compilation of developing solutions for those who wish to create augmented reality software. Everything from utilities, SDK libraries, and even a general public license is compiled within the ARToolKit package.

This project seeks to ensure the quality in all future augmented reality creations. Designed to support the build on Windows, Macintosh OS X, Linux, iOS, and Android, the creators of ARToolKit make it easy to obtain access to a top-notch pre-built binary platform with a comprehensive user guide to further facilitate the creation of augmented reality software. They actively provide community support and provide a live binary build that is available at all times. The solutions also include a number of structures based to design the functioning and frame of high-fidelity augmented reality programs.

DeepAR

DeepAR is a playful invention made by the digital products team of I Love Ice Cream Ltd. With headquarters in London and Zagreb, this company manages a global reach and offers a Software Developing Kit specially designed for 3D face masks, filters, and segmentation.

DeepAR is an augmented reality software creation tool that allows the live capture of video and provides a smart infrastructure of powerful AI. Built to be compatible with iOS, Android, HTML5, and macOS, their augmented reality SDK provides creators with the full array of solutions to meet the popular demands of video capture and facial recognition.

This technology facilitates the creation of an augmented reality experience that feels personal and fun. DeepAR achieves its purpose by facilitating the creation of face masks and other 3D facial recognition software such as body tracking, emotion detection, hair, and background segmentation.

With over 60 million users every month and has worked alongside big company names like Google, LUSH, and Coca-Cola, I Love Ice Cream Ltd. Is committed to making all its products live up to their reputation and popularity.

PlugXR

PlugXR is a cloud-based AR platform that makes it possible to create and publish sophisticated augmented reality apps and experiences.

You are able to build an augmented reality application by selecting any one of the available augmented reality software development kits (SDKs), such as ARCore, ARKit, Vuforia, and many others. Doing so will enable you to migrate from one SDK to another SDK without losing any of your data.

PlugXR offers a drag-and-drop interface with the option to use it without having to write a single line of code. It offers a cross-SDK feature that enables users to switch from one software development kit (SDK) to another without losing any data in the process.

PlugXR is a platform that is hosted in the cloud and can be accessed from virtually any location with internet connectivity. With PlugXR, there is no need to install Android Studio, XCODE, or Unity3D in order to get files that are compatible with the App Store and the Play Store.

It offers a vast selection of multimedia content including Video, Audio, Text, 3D/ 2D Images, Links to Social Media, HTML Pages, and Weblinks. You also have the ability to publish your own white label app through this platform, or you can convert it into a PlugXR App and incorporate it into an already existing app.

ZapWorks

ZapWorks is a specialized platform solution that aims to accelerate the adoption of Augmented Reality (AR) content creation.

ZapWorks includes the necessary authoring software for producing immersive and interactive short-form AR, Virtual Reality, and Mixed Reality content experiences on handheld devices, promising an easier, entry-level approach with the richness of experience and robustness required.

Its suite of online tools and SaaS-based pricing plans are purposefully designed to meet the needs of novice makers at a variety of scales, including individuals, non-commercial users, educators, businesses, enterprises, and app designers.

Amazon Sumerian

No matter how hard anyone tries, virtual reality is never going to be completely seamless. But Amazon Sumerian hopes to come pretty close with a browser-based tool that lets you create your own VR and AR experiences without having to write any code.

Even better: It’s free for developers, so if you have a great idea for an experience but don’t have time to get bogged down in technical details, Sumerian could get you up and running very quickly. (Amazon Web Services) 

Augmented Reality (AR) Visualization Software

VR visualization software lets users experience aggregated data in a virtual environment and see analytics presented visually so that they can fully understand what the data is communicating. VR data visualization is used in a variety of industries, allowing engineers, designers, and other professionals to work with real-time data and study it from every angle.

Aryel

Aryel is a marketing platform that enables brands and creative agencies to easily launch engaging WebAR marketing campaigns using drag and drop builder, publish them via a simple custom URL, track goals and conversions, and connect the campaign to the most commonly used marketing tools.

The Aryel product visualization software lets you boost sales by allowing you to visualize your products in a real-life context while emerging additional information, directly to your eCommerce store.

With Aryel, you can enjoy access to its third-parties libraries and add ready-to-use photos, videos, 3D models, and music created and shared by skillful creators worldwide.

Aryel’s engine allows you to reach 3.5 billion global smartphone users by instantly delivering AR experiences to their web browsers.

ATLATL

ATLATL’s is an eCommerce platform powered by AI technology. Its 3D product visualization platform lets you show off your products that are fully three-dimensional and go beyond the capabilities of still imagery and video.

The eCommerce experience comes to life thanks to visualization giving your customers the opportunity to interact and engage with the products you sell, which will make it easier for them to make purchasing decisions at key moments along the customer journey.

Augmented Reality (AR) Game Engine

An augmented reality game engine, also known as an AR game engine, provides a framework for game developers to create AR video game experiences. An augmented reality SDK is frequently included with an AR game engine, allowing developers to design, build, and test their games. Developers can use these tools to create and edit 3D characters that interact with the real world. Developers can use these platforms to assign behaviors to 3D objects and upload them for display in a camera view. AR game engines perform similar functions to game engine software, but are distinguished by the fact that they support AR operating systems and hardware directly or via an API.

Unity

Developers now have the ability to create games and experiences that are one of a kind thanks to Unity, which is a game engine that is both powerful and flexible. The engine receives regular updates that include both new features and improvements, which helps to maintain its status as one of the most adaptable and user-friendly game engines currently on the market.

With Unity, you can create two dimensions, three dimensions, virtual reality, and augmented reality games, in addition to other simulations and experiences of various kinds. The fact that major companies in a wide variety of industries, such as gaming, automotive, film and television, architectural design, engineering, construction, and manufacturing, all put their faith in it is the best part.

This software has been implemented by numerous companies, including Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Facebook, and Intel, amongst others. Unity is one of the best options for both seasoned programmers and those just starting out in the industry. It is intuitive to use and gives developers access to a plethora of features and tools, which enables them to create games and experiences that are truly unique.

Unreal Engine

Unreal Engine 4 is a remarkable game engine that delivers high-fidelity graphics as well as a comprehensive and immersive experience for the player. Unreal Engine 4 is user-friendly and simple to learn for developers of all skill levels, despite the power it provides.

The platform’s Blueprint visual scripting system is widely considered to be one of its most important features. Without having to write any code, Blueprint makes it possible for you to rapidly create and prototype game mechanics. This makes it simple for game designers and artists to create gameplay without requiring them to have knowledge of coding.

The Unreal Engine editor is capable of generating intricate materials that include a number of different texture layers, Physically Based Rendering (PBR) maps, and sophisticated shading models. Because the material editor is deeply integrated with the game engine, it is possible to preview how your materials will appear in-game without having to first compile or launch the game.

In addition, Unreal Engine 4 comes equipped with a robust physics engine. This enables you to create interactive elements in your games, such as ragdolls, simulations of cloth, and liquid simulations, among other things. The AI (artificial intelligence) system of the engine relies on the physics engine in order to function properly.

LiveAvatar

LiveAvatar is an easy-to-use system for controlling 3D characters that connect to BroadcastAR to provide a one-of-a-kind augmented reality experience within a fully gamified augmented reality environment that is ideal for both education and entertainment.

Using the BroadcastAR platform, you can project a custom or ready-made character onto a large-format screen and controlled in real-time by an actor through the use of live gestures and speech control providing a fully gamified and immersive augmented reality environment.

With a system that can operate on any screen, whether it be indoors or outdoors, digital signage, or a LED/plasma screen, LiveAvatar has one of the most adaptable footprints of any augmented reality product.

Augmented Reality (AR) WYSIWYG Editor Software

A WYSIWYG augmented reality editor enables users with little to no coding knowledge to create AR experiences. AR WYSIWYG editors provide drag-and-drop functionality, allowing AR developers to upload 3D objects, known as target images, and drop them directly into previously designed scenes. They should be tracked and detected by the camera’s view so that HTML content can be overlaid on top of them. An AR WYSIWYG editor saves these target images and allows users to edit them later. These tools are ideal for those looking to create an augmented reality mobile application.

Adobe Aero

Adobe Aero is an augmented reality solution that allows users to complete a variety of assignments related to creative work.

Adobe Aero simplifies creative ventures and allows users greater access to AR tools in their creative projects. With this programme, users may add AR elements to 2D photos created with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, as well as 3D models created with Adobe Substance 3D Stager.

This technology can be used to:

• Expand an art gallery
• Provide a virtual tour
• Supplement a book

Adobe Aero can also be used with many other third-party software like Cinema 4D or asset libraries like TurboSquid. Aero optimizes a wide range of assets so that they can be visualized in real time by the user.

Adobe Aero in Education and Commercial Settings

Aero gives designers a whole new perspective on how they communicate stories. Artists, for example, can utilise this technology to bring museum sculptures to life.

Furthermore, special effects can be included in dynamic images. For example, a teacher can use 2-D media and technology to make it appear as if they are launching a rocket into orbit around their classroom.

Furthermore, developers can employ the technology in commercial contexts to make it appear as if mascots and celebrities have entered a retail store. In a nutshell, Adobe Aero allows users to create stunning augmented reality experiences using simple tools.

Bundlar

Bundlar enables you to create and manage AR content with its intuitive no-code development CMS platform giving you the ability to choose, edit and design the best fit for your AR project needs and then publish them right away to any supported iOS or Android mobile device without having to know how to code.

Bundlar technology makes sure that its AR experiences are reliable by bundling many AR experiences in the cloud and then downloading them to a user’s device. This allows a user to engage with multiple related AR experiences without having to constantly connect to the cloud or rely on an internet connection.

Vuforia Studio

Vuforia Studio allows technical content creators the ability to convert existing 3D CAD or scan data into detailed augmented reality experiences that can be customized to different product models and configurations.

These experiences may include animations in three dimensions (3D), data from the internet of things (IoT), and information from business systems to assist customers and employees in gaining a better understanding of how to operate and demonstrate complicated pieces of equipment in their real-world work environments.

The platform lets you distribute AR content across your entire company using a single viewer app on your preferred mobile device or headset such as Realwear and HoloLens and create an intuitive assembly, and operating instructions by repurposing existing 3D CAD data and animated sequences and

You can also incorporate actionable insights into AR experiences by integrating sensor and contextualized IoT data from the ThingWorx platform with data from enterprise systems.