AR.js Studio vs MAKAR

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.

MAKAR is a no-code platform for creating and sharing augmented and virtual reality experiences. Its XR Editor supports AR, VR, MR, and 360VR creation without compiling programs. Projects can be presented as WebAR or WebVR in Chrome, Firefox, or Safari, or browsed in the MAKAR mobile app for iOS and Android. An Embedded SDK adds AR/VR functions to Android and iOS apps, with interface, database, and API customization. The editor offers more than 200,000 downloadable 3D models; the site advises checking each platform’s copyright terms before commercial use. GPS positioning can limit visibility to viewers near a chosen location, and Analytics can track engagement for WebAR projects. The free tier allows two projects, two publications, and 10MB of cloud storage, but has ads and a watermark and excludes WebAR and WebVR. Standard costs $245.00 USD once; Advanced costs $405.00 USD once; Studio costs $635.00 USD once. MAKAR lists Windows and Mac editor downloads, online learning courses, tutorials, and a knowledge base. Its WebAR page notes that some materials may not display smoothly because of global technical limitations.