AR.js Studio vs Lens Studio

AR.js Studio is a free, open-source web authoring platform for building augmented reality experiences without coding. It supports location-based projects, which place AR content at GPS coordinates, and marker-based projects, which anchor content to a black-and-white visual marker. Location projects can use a dropped pin or entered coordinates for up to 10 locations. Marker projects can use a premade marker or an uploaded image; simple, high-contrast, rotationally asymmetric markers are recommended. Uploadable content includes GLTF, GLB, or ZIP 3D objects, JPG, PNG, or GIF images, and MP4 videos. Maximum upload sizes are 50 MB for 3D objects, 15 MB for images, and 25 MB for videos. Published experiences run on the web without requiring viewers to install another app. Publishing requires a GitHub login and depends on a privately hosted OAuth server that may become unavailable. The documented fallback is self-hosting a fork and Gatekeeper. The repository is MIT licensed.

Lens Studio is a free desktop application for artists and developers building augmented-reality experiences on Windows 11 (64 bit) or macOS 12.0 and later. It includes a visual editor with face, image and world tracking, plus plugins, JavaScript, TypeScript and package management. The GenAI Suite can produce custom machine-learning models and 2D or 3D assets from text or image prompts without coding, while an AI Assistant answers development questions using Snap’s learning materials. Shared Spectacles projects can use Connected Lenses, Sync Framework and multiple preview windows. The Connected Framework SDK adds matchmaking, shared sessions, state synchronization, networked prefab spawning and multiplayer testing in Preview. Finished Lenses can go to Snapchat and Spectacles, or to web and mobile apps through Camera Kit. Minimum hardware includes 8 GB RAM, listed processors, specified graphics hardware and a 1280×768 display. Spectacles (2024) developers are directed to version 5.15.4. Version 5.24 Leaderboard projects and templates require Snapchat Mobile 14.23.