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Top 5 Augmented Reality SDK’s

By Mark Baldwin | on November 1, 2017 | 39 Comments
AR SDK
Top 5 Augmented Reality SDK's

So you’re going to get into augmented reality but in order to do that, you must first pick an SDK. This is not only a starting point but a big first step in your augmented reality venture. It’s imperative that you pick carefully because you could be married to it.

Each AR SDK, like all SDK’s, are not created equally. They all have their advantages and disadvantages. Make sure you conduct research on your project and the available SDK’s. Once you have determined your needs, you will be in the best position to pick.

I picked the top 5 augmented reality SDK providers and listed them below. I have based the ranking below on how much search demand each SDK receives along with how long they have been around. ARKit by Apple & ARCore by Google are the new kids on the block. Whereas Vuforia, Kudan, and Wikitude have been around for years.



1. Vuforia

The Vuforia platform uses superior, stable and technically efficient computer vision-based image recognition and offers the widest set of features and capabilities, giving developers the freedom to extend their visions without technical limitations. With support for iOS, Android, and Unity 3D, the Vuforia platform allows you to write a single native app that can reach the most users across the widest range of smartphones and tablets.
https://developer.vuforia.com/downloads/sdk

Read our Vuforia Review

2. Kudan

If you are looking for a professional AR SDK to develop compelling applications for mobile devices – you’ve come to the right place. Kudan AR SDK is chosen by professional developers looking for an all-in-one SDK that can support marker or markerless tracking and location requirements. Its fast and light and ready to be ported into any platforms with any peripherals as well.
https://www.kudan.eu/kudan-sdk-features

3. Wikitude

Wikitude’s cross-platform augmented reality SDK combines 3D Markerless Tracking technology (SLAM), Object Recognition and Tracking, Image Recognition and Tracking, as well as Geo-location AR for apps.
https://www.wikitude.com/products/wikitude-sdk

4. ARKit

iOS 11 introduces ARKit, a new framework that allows you to easily create unparalleled augmented reality experiences for iPhone and iPad. By blending digital objects and information with the environment around you, ARKit takes apps beyond the screen, freeing them to interact with the real world in entirely new ways.
https://developer.apple.com/arkit

5. ARCore

ARCore is a platform for building augmented reality apps on Android. ARCore uses three key technologies to integrate virtual content with the real world as seen through your phone’s camera:

  • Motion tracking allows the phone to understand and track its position relative to the world.
  • Environmental understanding allows the phone to detect the size and location of flat horizontal surfaces like the ground or a coffee table.
  • Light estimation allows the phone to estimate the environment’s current lighting conditions.

https://developers.google.com/ar

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At night I'm the chief here at Augmented Reality News. An avid fan of augmented reality, technology, and digital marketing. Contact me for Augmented Reality Digital Marketing expertise.

39 Responses to “Top 5 Augmented Reality SDK’s”

  1. July 31, 2013

    John Brockhaus Reply

    I’d have to comment about Point-At-Me if I was to talk about Augmented reality Apps. They’re up and coming, check them out!

  2. July 31, 2013

    Mark Baldwin Reply

    Cool! Thanks for sharing… A web based campaign builder… Pretty good idea from Virtualmob. I hope it works out for them!

  3. October 19, 2013

    Bharat Parikh Reply

    I have recently used DroidAR for my Android game. It was very easy to integrate and use. You can check out the game at:

    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.thoughtshastra.templetreasure

    On a side note, is there a way to request for game review / showcase on this website?

  4. November 21, 2013

    Jonathan Lee Reply

    I have integrated the AR SDK from ColumbusAgain and it is highly scalable.

    http://columbusagain.com/products-2/columbusagain-ar-sdk/

  5. February 21, 2014

    Mick Reply

    I use Vuforia on a daily basis in conjunction with Unity 3D Pro. Why ? Because it’s so darn easy to get into. no programming required.. but you can write your own scripts if need be. it allows me to develop AR apps for iPhone, Android windows & IOS… Vuforia also has cloud based image targeting… great if you need a massive database of image targets.

    You can create video target cards, cylindrical, box etc.. shape target image. & even occlude the 3D object as it passes behind real world objects. very powerful AR

    • February 21, 2014

      Mick Reply

      I should also mention I can now utilize the Coulus Rift V.R hmd + OVRvision which allows for external viewing via two offset cameras mounted to the front of the O.R.

    • June 7, 2015

      shen Reply

      Hi, have you used Metaio / Creator? What are your thoughts on Vuforia vs Metaio, since we are looking for another SDK to integrate to our app, now that Metaio is zzz. What authoring method are you using to insert content to the AR markers?

      • June 8, 2015

        Mark Baldwin Reply

        I have not used Metaio. Maybe one of our commenters could offer some advice.

  6. August 6, 2014

    DGArtist Reply

    thoughts on aurasma?

  7. October 11, 2014

    Dave Owens Reply

    FYI… String has discontinued their SDK…

    • October 11, 2014

      Mark Baldwin Reply

      Thanks for the heads up Dave. I will update this post!

  8. April 29, 2015

    Mona Reply

    I’m developer and I need to learn hot to be AR Developer …
    please need your guide to help me how to begin
    Thanks

    • May 30, 2015

      Cae Reply

      Hi Mona,Mail me cae.developer(at)gmail.com for more info

  9. July 7, 2015

    Patrick Kuang Reply

    Hi Mark, it seems TI has removed the download link from their website. Do you have their old version of SDK? Thanks!

    • August 19, 2015

      Mark Baldwin Reply

      It Looks like they have version 3.25 available download on their partner network portal.

  10. September 27, 2015

    Valdas Reply

    Metaio have been bought by apple and no information on future support

  11. October 6, 2015

    Kerry Reply

    Has the string app been discontinued?? Can I download anything in replacement?

    • November 1, 2017

      Mark Baldwin Reply

      Yes, String was discontinued.

  12. October 29, 2015

    Howard Ogden Reply

    Hi All,

    Good to see this list being updated. May I suggest Kudan SDK for iOS and Android? (full disclosure: I work at Kudan)

    On the initial release in August ’15, we solved one of the greatest challenges for AR: markerless tracking. Now a new generation of AR can be created easily, for iOS and Android, that requires no trigger image.

    Kudan also offers image based tracking, as well as GPS. As it is new to the market it is currently free for developers to use and integrate in their apps.

    I urge everyone to try it out because we are getting some great feedback.

    Thanks for listening and please reach-out if you have any questions.

    Howard

    • May 5, 2016

      Aryaman Gupta Reply

      What features would Kudan offer that other SDKs like Vuforia don’t, apart from SLAM? I am building a furniture augmentation app. Any features that Kudan offers specific to this purpose, that other SDKs don’t?

      Thanks
      Aryaman

  13. November 20, 2015

    Yoze Rizki Reply

    Hi,
    for me top 5 AR SDK (xclude Metaio and String) November 2015 is
    1. Vuforia
    2. Kudan
    3. Wikitude
    4. Pointcloud SDK
    5. D’Fusion

    • December 24, 2015

      Mark Baldwin Reply

      Hey Yoze,

      Thanks for sharing! One of my Goals for 2016 is to update the Augmented Reality SDK posts and come up with new top 5.

    • April 18, 2017

      Ioana Reply

      Thanks for the vote of confidence! Our new SDK 6 is out with even more improvements, including instant tracking and a new Wikitude Studio. Give it a try: https://www.wikitude.com/wikitude-slam/

      • November 1, 2017

        Mark Baldwin Reply

        Excellent! In the age where augmented reality SDK’s come and go. I’m glad to see Wikitude hanging strong!

  14. March 23, 2016

    Avinash Reply

    http://artoolkit.org/

  15. April 22, 2016

    Ross Milligan Reply

    I’ve put SaltwashAR, a Python Augmented Reality app, on Github. It uses OpenCV to detect 2D markers and OpenGL to render 3D robots. It’s got a ton of interactive features e.g. speech-to-text, AI, games, audio, object detection. Anyone want to add a feature, get in touch. Cheers.

  16. May 6, 2016

    Paul Smith Reply

    Can any of the above offer tracking of complex 3d objects and are also available as a Unity plug-in?

    • May 6, 2016

      Tomo ohno Reply

      Kudan is the one
      http://Www.kudan.eu

    • April 18, 2017

      Emanuela Reply

      Hey Paul! Maybe you would like to check out Wikitude’s SLAM option with Unity integration: immediately start tracking in an arbitrary environment: https://www.wikitude.com/external/doc/documentation/latest/unity/instanttrackingnative.html#instant-tracking

  17. August 24, 2016

    Jane Reply

    Augmented Pixels also has its own AR SLAM SDK. Check it out – http://augmentedpixels.com/usecase/slam-sdk/ It is more precise than similar SDKs and is good for different application on various platforms.

  18. September 24, 2016

    Geoff Reply

    Based on how many AR/VR software companies get bought up and then vanish, it would be nice to have a native SDK that is free from API keys, cloud services etc. As an Indy developer, I am looking to produce an AR app for iOS and need a native Objective-C SDK, markerless would obviously be best but at the moment I am trying to find one that the indy developer can get without all the red tape. Thanks for maintaining this list.

    • November 1, 2017

      Mark Baldwin Reply

      Hey Geoff,

      You’re right, they have been rapidly changing. AR hasn’t been very good to indy developers like yourself. You may want to check out https://opencv.org. I’m not sure how robust it’s feature set is and if there’s good support/well documented… But it’s open source = free.

  19. September 24, 2016

    Geoff Reply

    I have looked at Kudan, it sounded great at first but ties you into a yearly subscription.

    If for any reason that the Kudan servers go offline then the AR modules in live apps will not work. If you stop your subscription after a year then your existing store apps will not work.

    So that is risk.

    Also, as an Indy developer, financial gambles before an App has gone live is too big a risk as well.

    The search continues….

    • September 29, 2016

      Sarah Reply

      Hi Geoff,

      I would like to bring a correction to your last message (I work at Kudan).

      Your app and AR modules will always be live independent of Kudan’s servers. So there is no risk here.
      Regarding the end of your subscription: the app in general will continue to function, only the AR module will no longer work.

      • September 30, 2016

        Geoff Reply

        Hi Sarah. Thanks for the correction.

        Can you expand a bit on “only the AR module will no longer work.”?

        If an app is all about AR (with device database, not cloud), does this mean that targets/markers would stop being detected by the AR module thus making the app non-functioning?

        Thanks
        Geoff

        • November 24, 2016

          Sarah Reply

          Hi Geoff,

          You are right, in the case the subscription is not renewed, if your app is all about AR it won’t be functioning and any AR views or functions won’t work.

          But once the payment renewed the AR modules will work again.

  20. November 15, 2016

    Carly Reply

    Have you guys heard of moBack AR? It’s a free platform for VR and AR experiences. It may be worth checking out. I think they are compatible with mobile smart phones as well as head sets. http://ar.moback.com/

    • November 1, 2017

      Mark Baldwin Reply

      No, thanks for sharing though.

  21. June 7, 2018

    David Jones Reply

    Agree . that if you want to start developing applications of augmented reality, then it’s better to start with some ready-made components rather than reinvent your bike from scratch.

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