MAXST is listed with Vuforia, Apple ARKit, and Google ARCore in AR POST!
The Most Frequently Used Augmented Reality SDKs
The following list does not ennumerate the best SDKs per se. The order we used in presenting these AR SDKs does not represent a ranking, but is purely for convenience.
1. Vuforia
Vuforia is extremely popular among augmented reality app developers because it offers a wide range of functions, such as:
Text recognition for over 100,000 words in the English vocabulary
2D and 3D object recognition (geometric shapes and consumer products)
On-device and cloud recognition
Video playback
Virtual buttons which turn various surfaces into touch screens
The basic functions are available for free, but with the Vuforia watermark applied on each developed app. The Classic license has a one-time fee of $499, and the Cloud license costs $99 per month.
2. Apple ARKit
Apple has shown a huge interest in augmented reality and it is not surprising that the company wanted to make its own contribution to augmented reality SDKs. Apple ARKit is completely free and comes as a part of iOS 11+.
Some of the most important features it offers developers are:
Stable and fast motion tracking
SLAM tracking
Support for Unity, Unreal and SceneKit
Plane estimation with basic boundaries
Scene understanding, such as placing virtual objects on vertical surfaces with the newest iOS 11.3 update, and light estimation
As a free, open-source AR SDK, Apple ARKit already has an active community of developers who contribute to make the platform more stable, efficient and useful.
3. Google ARCore
Google came up with its own AR SDK when it launched Android SDK 7.0. Thus, their augmented reality app development platform is open-source and free to use, and is currently compatible with approximately 100 million devices running on Android.
The top features of this augmented reality SDK are:
Support for Unity, Unreal, and Java/OpenGL
Environmental understanding
Motion tracking
Light estimation
And, of course, developers can find an added benefit in the support of the thriving community growing around Google ARCore.
4. MAXST
MAXST is one of the most comprehensive augmented reality SDKs, offering different tools for image and object recognition.
The top features developers appreciate in this software development kit are:
Multi-platform support: Android, iOS, Windows, Mac OS
Visual SLAM
Object Tracker
QR/Barcode scanner
Easy implementation of various visual effects
Support for various brands of smart glasses
MAXST is free to try for an unlimited period, but with the watermark applied on each project. The Pro One Time license costs $499 and the Pro Subscription license costs $599 per year.
5. EasyAR SDK
EasyAR SDK is a commercial augmented reality SDK that offers lots of useful functionalities in its free version, without a watermark.
Some of these features are:
Support for Android, iOS, Windows and Mac OS
QR code scanning
Support for Unity
Planar image tracking
3D engine plugin ready
Multi-target simultaneous detection and tracking
The Pro version, which has a one-time fee of $499, offers the following extra features:
SLAM
3D object tracking
Multi type of target simultaneous detection and tracking
Screen recording
5. Wikitude Slam SDK
Winner of the Auggie Award for the best AR development tool, Wikitude SDK is a cross-platform augmented reality SDK, capable of developing complex apps for Android and iOS.
It also includes support for smart glasses.
Some of its top features include:
object recognition (SLAM based)
markerless instant tracking
simultaneous recognition of multiple images
extended tracking beyond the target
location based services with geo tracking
3D augmentations
Slam SDK is compatible with multiple app development platforms:
Unity 3D
Cordova/ Phonegap
Appcelerator Titanium
Xamarin
Wikitude SDK can be used both on-premise and in the cloud. It does not come cheap, but cutting edge quality has its price. Annual subscription starts from $2,490; you can also choose to pay a one-time fee of $1,990 for a single product, which does not include future updates and other online services. You can try Wikitude SDK before you buy: the trial version has all the core functionalities and does not expire, but it places a watermark over the projects you are working on.