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The following is a list of notable augmented reality software including programs for application development, content management, gaming and integrated AR solutions. For a list specifically for AR video games, see List of augmented reality video games.
| Software name | Year of release | Category | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MyWebAR.com | End-to-end Web AR solutions | No-code augmented reality platform for creating, managing and publishing augmented reality. | |
| MAXST AR SDK | 2010 | AR Development Toolkits | |
| 8th Wall | End-to-end Web AR solutions | ||
| ARCore | AR development toolkits | A Google SDK, currently designed exclusively for Android 8.0+ app creation. | |
| ARKit | AR development toolkits | An Apple SDK, currently designed exclusively for iOS 11+ app creation. Formerly Metaio, purchased by Apple in 2015. | |
| Arti AR | Broadcast Media | Cloud-based AR platform for the broadcast media industry from Israeli-based company Arti. [1] [2] | |
| Augment | AR content management systems | A web based platform for managing 3D models and creating augmented reality experiences. | |
| Aurasma (HP Reveal) [3] | 2011 | End-to-end branded app solutions | |
| Blippbuilder | AR content management systems | A web-based system for creating AR experiences with image recognition by Blippar | |
| BUNDLAR | 2020 | AR content management system | BUNDLAR: No-code augmented reality platform for creating, managing and publishing augmented reality. |
| echo3D | 2018 | AR content management systems | 3D asset management platform for managing, updating, and streaming 3D/AR/VR content in real-time |
| Effect House | 2022 [4] | AR development toolkits | TikTok's AR filter creation tool released from Beta in April 2022. [4] |
| Genee | End-to-end Web AR solutions | ||
| Hololink | 2021 | End-to-end Web AR solutions | Web-based editor with Academy and editable templates. Web-based AR viewer based on proprietary image recognition and OpenCV. |
| Layar SDK | AR development toolkits | An augmented reality SDK for iOS and Android apps. [5] [6] | |
| Lens Studio | 2017 [7] | AR development toolkits | Snap Inc.'s AR filter creation tool. [7] |
| Nokia City Lens | End-to-end branded app solutions | ||
| Spark AR Studio | 2019 [8] | AR development toolkits | AR development tool developed by Meta and used to make Instagram filters. |
| Vuforia Augmented Reality SDK | AR development toolkits | Formerly Qualcomm's QCAR, is a Software Development Kit for creating augmented reality applications for mobile devices. [9] [10] | |
| Web-AR.Studio | AR content management systems | a free web-based system for creating WebAR experiences with image and QR recognition with single and multitracking | |
| Webcam Social Shopper | AR content management systems | Web based software for integrating apparel visualization on e-commerce sites. | |
| Wikitude SDK | AR development toolkits | Augmented reality SDK for mobile platforms originated from the works on the Wikitude World Browser app by Wikitude GmbH. [11] | |
| Zappar | End-to-end Web AR solutions | ||
| zSpace for Education | Education | interaction with 3D objects in lesson plans that align with Common Core [12] | |
| ARmony [13] | Software package to help people to learn an instrument | ||
| AR Mixer [14] | app that allows one to select and mix between songs by manipulating real-world objects | ||
| Word Lens [15] [16] | Translation tool | ||
| Talk2Me [17] | Social interaction tool for sharing and viewing others' published information in a shared setting | ||
| MAKAR | 2018 | End-to-end Web AR solutions | No-code AR/VR/MR platform for creating, MAKAR SDK for iOS and Android apps & web |
| Software name | Year of release | License | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-Frame (virtual reality framework) | 2015 [18] | MIT [18] | A framework that adds HTML tags for most of the functionality in three.js and other JavaScript features as a superset of this lower level underlying 3-D framework. |
| ApertusVR | 2016 | MIT | An embeddable, open-source, framework-independent, platform-independent, network-topology-independent, distributed AR /VR/MR engine. Written in C++; with JavaScript and HTTP Rest API (in Node.js). It creates a new abstraction layer over the hardware vendors in order to integrate the virtual and augmented reality technologies into any developments and products. |
| ARToolKit | LGPLv3 | An open source C-library to create augmented reality applications; was ported to many different languages and platforms like Android, Flash or Silverlight; very widely used in augmented reality related projects. | |
| OpenIllusionist | Provides software libraries for generating images, interpreting user input, modelling the behaviour of virtual objects (or 'agents'), and threading all of the above to provide the illusion of reality. | ||
| AR.js | MIT | A library to allow development of marker-based, Natural Feature Tracking and location-based AR applications on the web. It can be used in conjunction with A-Frame (virtual reality framework) or three.js | |
| MindAR | 2021 [19] | MIT | A library to allow development of image-tracking and face-tracking types of AR applications on the web. It can be used in conjunction with A-Frame or three.js. |
Augmented reality (AR) is an interactive experience that combines the real world and computer-generated content. The content can span multiple sensory modalities, including visual, auditory, haptic, somatosensory and olfactory. AR can be defined as a system that incorporates three basic features: a combination of real and virtual worlds, real-time interaction, and accurate 3D registration of virtual and real objects. The overlaid sensory information can be constructive, or destructive. This experience is seamlessly interwoven with the physical world such that it is perceived as an immersive aspect of the real environment. In this way, augmented reality alters one's ongoing perception of a real-world environment, whereas virtual reality completely replaces the user's real-world environment with a simulated one.
Computer-mediated reality refers to the ability to add to, subtract information from, or otherwise manipulate one's perception of reality through the use of a wearable computer or hand-held device such as a smartphone.
Unity is a cross-platform game engine developed by Unity Technologies, first announced and released in June 2005 at Apple Worldwide Developers Conference as a Mac OS X game engine. The engine has since been gradually extended to support a variety of desktop, mobile, console and virtual reality platforms. It is particularly popular for iOS and Android mobile game development, is considered easy to use for beginner developers, and is popular for indie game development.
Microsoft engineering groups are the operating divisions of Microsoft. Starting in April 2002, Microsoft organised itself into seven groups, each an independent financial entity. In September 2005, Microsoft announced a reorganization of its then seven groups into three. In July 2013, Microsoft announced another reorganization into five engineering groups and six corporate affairs groups. A year later, in June 2015, Microsoft reformed into three engineering groups. In September 2016, a new group was created to focus on artificial intelligence and research. On March 29, 2018, a new structure merged all of these into three.
Merchlar is an augmented reality (AR) company based in Montreal, NYC, and Paris. It develops mobile applications using AR and VR technology for clients, including Desjardins Group, Ubisoft, and Mohegan Sun. In addition to its agency, Merchlar has a R&D department that creates patented AR technology.
WebAR, previously known as the Augmented Web, is a web technology that allows for augmented reality functionality within a web browser. It is a combination of HTML5, Web Audio, WebGL, and WebRTC. From 2020s more known as web-based Augmented Reality or WebAR, which is about the use of augmented reality elements in browsers.
Far-Play is a software platform developed at the University of Alberta, for creating location-based, scavenger-hunt style games which use the GPS and web-connectivity features of a player's smartphone. According to the development team, "our long-term objective is to develop a general framework that supports the implementation of AARGs that are fun to play and also educational". It utilizes Layar, an augmented reality smartphone application, QR codes located at particular real-world sites, or a phone's web browser, to facilitate games which require players to be in close physical proximity to predefined "nodes". A node, referred to by the developers as a Virtual Point of Interest (vPOI), is a point in space defined by a set of map coordinates; fAR-Play uses the GPS function of a player's smartphone — or, for indoor games, which are not easily tracked by GPS satellites, specially-created QR codes— to confirm that they are adequately near a given node. Once a player is within a node's proximity, Layar's various augmented reality features can be utilized to display a range of extra content overlaid upon the physical play-space or launch another application for extra functionality.
Tango was an augmented reality computing platform, developed and authored by the Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP), a skunkworks division of Google. It used computer vision to enable mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, to detect their position relative to the world around them without using GPS or other external signals. This allowed application developers to create user experiences that include indoor navigation, 3D mapping, physical space measurement, environmental recognition, augmented reality, and windows into a virtual world.
Reality Labs is a business and research unit of Meta Platforms that produces virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) hardware and software, including virtual reality headsets such as Quest, and online platforms such as Horizon Worlds. In June 2022, several artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives that were previously a part of Meta AI were transitioned to Reality Labs. This also includes Meta's fundamental AI Research laboratory FAIR which is now part of the Reality Labs - Research (RLR) division.
Google Cardboard is a discontinued virtual reality (VR) platform developed by Google. Named for its fold-out cardboard viewer into which a smartphone is inserted, the platform was intended as a low-cost system to encourage interest and development in VR applications. Users can either build their own viewer from simple, low-cost components using specifications published by Google, or purchase a pre-manufactured one. To use the platform, users run Cardboard-compatible mobile apps on their phone, place it into the back of the viewer, and view content through the lenses.
Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) is a discontinued platform by Microsoft which provides augmented reality and virtual reality experiences with compatible head-mounted displays.
Microsoft HoloLens is an augmented reality (AR)/mixed reality (MR) headset developed and manufactured by Microsoft. HoloLens runs the Windows Mixed Reality platform under the Windows 10 operating system. Some of the positional tracking technology used in HoloLens can trace its lineage to the Microsoft Kinect, an accessory for Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Xbox One game consoles that was introduced in 2010.
Daydream is a discontinued virtual reality (VR) platform which was developed by Google, primarily for use with a headset into which a smartphone is inserted. It is available for select phones running the Android mobile operating system that meet the platform's software and hardware requirements. Daydream was announced at the Google I/O developer conference in May 2016, and the first headset, the Daydream View, was released on November 10, 2016. To use the platform, users place their phone into the back of a headset, run Daydream-compatible mobile apps, and view content through the viewer's lenses.
OpenXR is an open-source, royalty-free standard for access to virtual reality and augmented reality platforms and devices. It is developed by a working group managed by the Khronos Group consortium. OpenXR was announced by the Khronos Group on February 27, 2017, during GDC 2017. A provisional version of the standard was released on March 18, 2019, to enable developers and implementers to provide feedback on it. On July 29, 2019, OpenXR 1.0 was released to the public by Khronos Group at SIGGRAPH 2019.
WayRay is a deep-tech company with offices in Switzerland, United States, China, Hong Kong, and Germany. It develops holographic AR technologies for connected cars. WayRay's in-house R&D center and prototyping facilities create holographic optical systems, complex mechanics, electronics, and software.
GoMeta is an American software company headquartered in San Diego. The company was founded by Dmitry Shapiro, Sean Thielen, and Jonathan Miller in September 2016. GoMeta's Koji platform lets non-technical individuals create and publish mini apps, progressive web applications that run on all devices and operating systems, and embed inside of social networks and messengers.
Commercial augmented reality (CAR) describes augmented reality (AR) applications that support various B2B (Business-to-Business) and B2C (Business-to-Consumer) commercial activities, particularly for the retail industry. The use of CAR started in 2010 with virtual dressing rooms for E-commerce.
Vergence-accommodation conflict (VAC), also known as accommodation-vergence conflict, is a visual phenomenon that occurs when the brain receives mismatching cues between vergence and accommodation of the eye. This commonly occurs in virtual reality devices, augmented reality devices, 3D movies, and other types of stereoscopic displays and autostereoscopic displays. The effect can be unpleasant and cause eye strain.
The Meta Quest Pro is a mixed reality (MR) headset developed by Reality Labs, a division of Meta Platforms.
Apple Vision Pro is an upcoming mixed reality headset developed by Apple Inc. It was announced on June 5, 2023, at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, to launch on February 2nd, 2024 in the United States and later that year internationally. It is Apple's first new major product category since the Apple Watch in 2015.