Top 16 AR and VR SDKs Used in iOS Apps on the Apple App Store
We at 42matters have identified the 16 most popular AR and VR SDKs leveraged by iOS apps available on the iOS app market.
AR and VR SDKs enable app deverlopers to integrate augmented and virtual reality elements into their mobile apps, without having to build them from scratch. These SDKs offer features like 3D object rendering, spatial mapping, motion tracking, gesture recognition, and more.
This list is based on our analysis of the millions of mobile applications – and the 2,300+ SDKs they use – that constitute the vast inventory of the Apple App Store. The accompanying data provides readers with a glimpse into the rich mobile application insights generated by the 42matters technology. This data is also available via our APIs, file dumps, Explorer, and SDK Explorer.
The intended purpose of this article is to assist app builders in their search for the perfect AR and VR SDK to leverage in their app, as well as to give SDK developers insight into their biggest competitors and potential customers. This data collected by our technology may also serve as a useful tool for folks researching the wider mobile app market.
The 16 most widely-integrated ar and vr SDKs:
Apple ARKit
Check “Apple ARKit” SDK InsightsAmong all apps utilizing ar and vr SDKs, 71.93% have integrated Apple ARKit. This accounts for 79.60% of app downloads within the ar and vr SDK category.
Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Apple ARKit.
Vuforia
Check “Vuforia” SDK InsightsAmong all apps utilizing ar and vr SDKs, 16.43% have integrated Vuforia. This accounts for <1% of app downloads within the ar and vr SDK category.
Vuforia is a comprehensive, scalable enterprise AR platform. Our wide-ranging SDK suite ensures that we can provide the right AR technology to every customer based on their business needs.
Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Vuforia.
Snapchat Snap Kit
Check “Snapchat Snap Kit” SDK InsightsAmong all apps utilizing ar and vr SDKs, 5.39% have integrated Snapchat Snap Kit. This accounts for 20.73% of app downloads within the ar and vr SDK category.
The Snapchat SDK that lets you easily talk with friends, view Live Stories from around the world, and explore news in Discover.
Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Snapchat Snap Kit.
Among all apps utilizing ar and vr SDKs, 2.86% have integrated EasyAR. This accounts for <1% of app downloads within the ar and vr SDK category.
EasyAR Sense is a standalone SDK. It provides a flexible, dataflow-oriented, component-based API that does not depend on any non-system libraries.
Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use EasyAR.
Google VR Cardboard
Check “Google VR Cardboard” SDK InsightsAmong all apps utilizing ar and vr SDKs, 2.59% have integrated Google VR Cardboard. This accounts for <1% of app downloads within the ar and vr SDK category.
The open-source Cardboard SDK allows you to build immersive cross-platform VR experiences for Android and iOS. With essential VR features such as motion tracking, stereoscopic rendering, and user interaction, you can build entirely new VR experiences or enhance existing apps that support VR.
Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Google VR Cardboard.
Faceunity
Check “Faceunity” SDK InsightsAmong all apps utilizing ar and vr SDKs, 2.03% have integrated Faceunity. This accounts for 1.34% of app downloads within the ar and vr SDK category.
Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Faceunity.
Wikitude
Check “Wikitude” SDK InsightsAmong all apps utilizing ar and vr SDKs, 1.23% have integrated Wikitude. This accounts for <1% of app downloads within the ar and vr SDK category.
Wikitude is the leading cross-platform augmented reality SDK for phones, tablets, and smart glasses.
Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Wikitude.
Google AR Core
Check “Google AR Core” SDK InsightsAmong all apps utilizing ar and vr SDKs, <1% have integrated Google AR Core. This accounts for <1% of app downloads within the ar and vr SDK category.
Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Google AR Core.
ARToolKit
Check “ARToolKit” SDK InsightsAmong all apps utilizing ar and vr SDKs, <1% have integrated ARToolKit. This accounts for <1% of app downloads within the ar and vr SDK category.
ARToolKit+ is an open source augmented reality SDK based on ARToolkit. It is a collection of software tools to help solve some of the fundamental problems in augmented reality, including geometric and photometric registration.
Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use ARToolKit.
Among all apps utilizing ar and vr SDKs, <1% have integrated DeepAR. This accounts for <1% of app downloads within the ar and vr SDK category.
Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use DeepAR.
Banuba AR
Check “Banuba AR” SDK InsightsAmong all apps utilizing ar and vr SDKs, <1% have integrated Banuba AR. This accounts for <1% of app downloads within the ar and vr SDK category.
Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Banuba AR.
Catchoom CraftAR
Check “Catchoom CraftAR” SDK InsightsAmong all apps utilizing ar and vr SDKs, <1% have integrated Catchoom CraftAR. This accounts for <1% of app downloads within the ar and vr SDK category.
The Catchoom CraftAR SDK offers image recognition and augmented reality tools.
Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Catchoom CraftAR.
Among all apps utilizing ar and vr SDKs, <1% have integrated Kudan. This accounts for <1% of app downloads within the ar and vr SDK category.
Kudan's Artificial Perception SDK fills a critical gap to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence. Kudan provides sensory functions to the brains of machines.
Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Kudan.
Aurasma
Check “Aurasma” SDK InsightsAmong all apps utilizing ar and vr SDKs, <1% have integrated Aurasma. This accounts for <1% of app downloads within the ar and vr SDK category.
Aurasma is an augmented reality SDK. It is available as a software development kit or as a free app for iOS and Android-based mobile devices. Aurasma's image recognition technology uses a smartphone's or tablet's camera to recognize real world images and then overlay media on top of them in the form of animations, videos, 3D models and web pages.
Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Aurasma.
Blippar
Check “Blippar” SDK InsightsAmong all apps utilizing ar and vr SDKs, <1% have integrated Blippar. This accounts for <1% of app downloads within the ar and vr SDK category.
Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Blippar.
Among all apps utilizing ar and vr SDKs, <1% have integrated Layar. This accounts for <1% of app downloads within the ar and vr SDK category.
Layar is an SDK that allows you to turn flat two-dimensional images into augmented reality.
Use the 42matters SDK Explorer to find all apps that use Layar.
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