Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Google ARCore VS ZapWorks

Compare Google ARCore VS ZapWorks and see what are their differences

Google ARCore logo Google ARCore

Google Augmented Reality SDK

ZapWorks logo ZapWorks

ZapWorks is the complete augmented reality toolkit for agencies and businesses who want to push the boundaries of creativity and storytelling.
  • Google ARCore Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-07
  • ZapWorks Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-27

Google ARCore features and specs

  • Wide Device Compatibility
    ARCore supports a wide range of Android devices, making it accessible to a large user base.
  • High-Quality Tracking
    ARCore provides high-precision tracking and environmental understanding, enhancing the user experience in AR applications.
  • Cross-Platform
    ARCore supports not only Android but also iOS through the ARCore SDK for iOS, allowing developers to reach users on both platforms.
  • Integration with Google Services
    ARCore can be easily integrated with other Google services like Maps, enabling developers to create location-based AR experiences.
  • User-Friendly SDK
    Offers a comprehensive SDK with extensive documentation, tutorials, and community support, which eases the development process for beginners and experts alike.

Possible disadvantages of Google ARCore

  • Performance Variability
    Performance and capabilities can vary significantly across different Android devices, potentially leading to inconsistent user experiences.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    While ARCore provides the basic functionalities required for AR, it may lack some of the advanced features available in more specialized AR platforms.
  • Battery Consumption
    ARCore applications can be resource-intensive, leading to higher battery consumption on mobile devices.
  • iOS Limitations
    Although ARCore supports iOS, it may not be as deeply integrated or optimized as native ARKit applications, potentially limiting performance.
  • Dependency on Google Play Services
    ARCore relies on Google Play Services for AR, which may not be available in certain regions or on devices without Google Play support.

ZapWorks features and specs

  • Comprehensive AR Tools
    ZapWorks offers a wide range of tools for creating augmented reality (AR) experiences, including support for 3D models, 360-degree panoramas, and animation sequences, allowing creators to produce intricate and detailed AR experiences.
  • WebAR Support
    ZapWorks provides WebAR functionality, enabling users to experience AR content directly through web browsers without needing a dedicated app, which increases accessibility and user reach.
  • Ease of Use
    With an intuitive interface and a variety of templates, ZapWorks makes it easier for newcomers to AR to start creating engaging content, reducing the learning curve typically associated with AR design.
  • Multiplatform Outputs
    ZapWorks outputs can be viewed across multiple platforms and devices, increasing the versatility and applicability of the AR content created within the platform.
  • Active Community and Support
    ZapWorks boasts a robust support system including tutorials, guides, and a community forum, which provides users with extensive resources for troubleshooting and learning advanced techniques.

Possible disadvantages of ZapWorks

  • Pricing Model
    The pricing model for ZapWorks can be considered high for individual users or small businesses, which may restrict access to all features, especially for those with limited budgets.
  • Complexity in Advanced Features
    While ZapWorks is designed to be user-friendly, implementing more complex AR features may require a steeper learning curve and technical understanding, which can be a barrier for non-technical users.
  • Performance Limitations
    High-quality AR experiences can be resource-intensive, and some users might experience performance issues on less powerful devices when using high-end features.
  • Limited Offline Functionality
    ZapWorks primarily relies on cloud-based services, meaning that offline functionality is limited, which can be inconvenient for users looking to work without a constant internet connection.
  • Customization Constraints
    While adequate for most standard AR applications, some developers may find the platform's customization options limited when trying to implement highly specialized or non-standard features.

Analysis of Google ARCore

Overall verdict

  • Google ARCore is a solid choice for developers looking to create high-quality AR experiences on Android devices. It continuously receives updates and support from Google, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of devices and keeping up with technological advancements in augmented reality.

Why this product is good

  • Google ARCore is considered good due to its robust set of features that enable developers to create immersive augmented reality experiences. It provides accurate motion tracking, environmental understanding, and light estimation, making it a powerful tool for AR applications on Android devices. Its integration with standard development environments like Unity and Unreal Engine also allows for seamless cross-platform development.

Recommended for

    Developers who are interested in creating interactive AR applications and experiences specifically for Android platforms will find ARCore particularly useful. It's also recommended for those who want to leverage existing mobile devices' capabilities without needing specialized hardware.

Google ARCore videos

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ZapWorks videos

ZapWorks Space Competition | Creative Review

More videos:

  • Review - ZapWorks 'Ancient History' Competition | Creative Review
  • Review - ZapWorks AR Portal Competition | Creative Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Google ARCore and ZapWorks)
Augmented Reality
69 69%
31% 31
Development
62 62%
38% 38
Online Services
60 60%
40% 40
Communication
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Google ARCore should be more popular than ZapWorks. It has been mentiond 9 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Google ARCore mentions (9)

  • We're accelerating the Android XR platform with a new agreement with HTC
    - There was the AR (https://developers.google.com/ar). - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • App to get height of object.
    I don't know houw you would do it on ios but you should be able to do it on android if the phone supports it with.this library from google: https://developers.google.com/ar. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Tracking of an exact point of an object
    If you have any control on the choice of the source/webcam, I'd recommend using a camera that can sense depth from the start (lidar cameras, like Intel RealSense if you are building something like a commercial robot; or a consumer device with lidar capabilities like iPad Pros since 2020, because they come with SDKs to do what you want from the start. E.g. https://developer.apple.com/augmented-reality/arkit/ or... Source: about 3 years ago
  • Is it possible to run an AR application on a raspberry pi 4 Model B
    You guys are right that Unity doesn't support building for arm64 Linux. It looks like the op could potentially install Android on the Raspberry Pi, which may allow them to run Android APKs built with Unity. However, AR Core is needed in order for Unity's AR functionality to work, and I suspect it would take additional work to get AR Core working on the Pi with an external camera and gyroscope. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Is Arcore required to build ar apps with unity?
    If the phone doesn't support ARCore, then you would have to implement all of the world / surface detection yourself inside your application code, which is very difficult problem to solve. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

ZapWorks mentions (4)

  • End to end distribution of AR files.
    Not affiliated, engineers I work with deploy here: https://zap.works/ for webAR. You scan a QR code and animation plays - say on pointing your phone camera at a poster on the wall. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Learning some AR
    I've created a few branded AR experiences for clients and I've mostly used a dedicated app like ZappWorks. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Best AR glasses?
    If you are looking for something more accessible, I haven't tested it yet, but zap.works offers this: Https://www.zappar.com/zapbox/. Source: over 3 years ago
  • AR & AI Technologies For Virtual Fitting Room Development
    Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, ZapWorks launched the AR-based educational app aimed to instruct users on how to wear surgical masks properly. Technically, this app is also based on a 3D facial landmark detection method. Like the glasses try-on app, this method allows receiving information about facial features and further mask rendering. - Source: dev.to / about 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Google ARCore and ZapWorks, you can also consider the following products

Apple ARKit - A framework to create Augmented Reality experiences for iOS

Vuforia SDK - Vuforia is a vision-based augmented reality software platform.

ARToolKit - The world's most widely used tracking library for augmented reality.

AR SDK - Augmented Reality SDK

Vuforia - Leading Augmented Rreality platform.

8th Wall - Cross-Platform Mobile AR