10 Best AR/VR Development Tools in 2026

Luma AI creates photorealistic 3D models and scenes from photos and videos using neural radiance fields. Creators capture real objects and environments for use in games, AR, and visual effects. The platform makes 3D capture accessible on mobile devices.

3DFY is a directory and resource hub dedicated to the rapidly evolving field of 3D AI. It curates information on various 3D AI tools, provides news updates, and offers guides and articles on topics like optimizing 3D assets for AR/VR, generating 3D models from text or photos, and developing effective AI prompts. This platform is designed for anyone interested in 3D AI, from beginners looking for introductory guides to professionals seeking to stay updated on the latest tools and techniques. It aims to simplify the discovery of relevant 3D AI solutions and provide practical advice for leveraging AI in 3D content creation, including detailed frameworks for creating 'Master Prompt Packs' for consistent and high-quality AI outputs.

Stride Engine is a free and open-source cross-platform C# game engine designed for creating 2D and 3D games, as well as other interactive content for desktop and VR. It provides a robust toolchain, including the Stride Game Studio, which simplifies asset creation, management, and modification with features like nested prefabs, UI, scene, sprite, and curve editors. The engine emphasizes next-gen graphics capabilities, offering photorealistic rendering, PBR materials, light probes, post-effects, and support for modern graphics APIs like DirectX 12 and Vulkan. Developers can leverage C# 14 scripting with .NET 10, benefiting from IntelliSense, code navigation, and hot reload for rapid prototyping. Stride is built for performance with multi-threading, an integrated physics system, navigation meshes, and optimized VR support. It aims to provide a reliable and customizable platform for both indie and AAA developers, allowing them to focus on creative ideas rather than low-level technical concerns. The engine is fully open source, encouraging community collaboration and contributions.

Cocos Creator is an efficient, lightweight, and cross-platform all-in-one development engine designed for creating 2D and 3D interactive content. It provides a complete and efficient experience for developing both casual 2D projects and hardcore 3D games. Beyond gaming, Cocos Creator is also utilized for various applications including smart cockpits, AR/VR experiences, virtual characters, digital assets, online education, e-commerce displays, and HMI (Human-Machine Interface) development. This engine is built for a wide range of developers, from individual creators to large studios, offering tools and features to streamline the development process across multiple platforms. Its benefits include a comprehensive ecosystem with extensive documentation, learning resources, and professional support, enabling developers to quickly get started and expand their projects into new markets and application scenarios.

Banuba SDK provides a suite of Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) software development kits designed to integrate advanced interactive features into applications, websites, and software. These SDKs cater to a wide range of use cases, including virtual try-on for e-commerce, video editing with AR effects, face and hand tracking, and touchless user interfaces. The product is ideal for businesses looking to boost user engagement, increase sales, and reduce returns by offering immersive and interactive experiences. It serves industries such as e-commerce (beauty, eyewear, jewelry), social media, video conferencing, gaming, and interactive displays, enabling developers to quickly add sophisticated AR capabilities without extensive in-house development. Key offerings include the Video Editor SDK for content creation apps, Face AR SDK for face tracking and filters, and TINT Virtual Try-On for realistic product visualization. Additionally, it offers solutions for AR photo booths and touchless user interfaces, leveraging AI for hand tracking and gesture recognition to create hygienic and intuitive interactions.

Ready Player Me was a platform that allowed developers to integrate a customizable 3D avatar system into their games and applications. It provided a comprehensive solution for creating unique avatars that users could take across different virtual experiences. The service aimed to simplify the process of avatar integration, offering tools and SDKs to embed the avatar creator directly into a product. This platform was designed for game developers, metaverse creators, and application developers who wanted to offer their users a personalized and consistent identity across various digital environments. By providing a ready-to-use avatar system, it saved development time and resources, enabling creators to focus on their core product while enhancing user engagement through personalized avatars. The service was discontinued on January 31, 2026.

Sketchfab is a comprehensive platform for managing, distributing, and showcasing 3D and Augmented Reality (AR) experiences on the web. It provides a market-leading 3D player that is interactive, configurable, and ready for VR and AR, working across all operating systems, browsers, and devices. Users can embed 3D models anywhere online, including for e-commerce, advertising, and social media. The platform also features a powerful online 3D editor with a Physically Based Rendering (PBR) toolset, allowing creators to set up lighting, materials, animation, audio, annotations, and VR positioning for their models. It serves a vast community of 3D creators, offering opportunities to get inspired, showcase skills, and learn from others. Additionally, Sketchfab includes a marketplace, Fab, for buying and selling 3D models.

Avaturn is a platform that allows users to create realistic 3D avatars based on a single selfie. These avatars can be used to personalize various digital experiences, including games, metaverse applications, and marketing campaigns. The platform offers tools for developers and agencies to integrate these avatars into their products. The service is designed for businesses and developers looking to enhance user engagement and personalization within their digital offerings. It provides options for exporting avatars as files or integrating them directly via plugins, SDKs, and APIs. Avaturn aims to simplify the process of generating high-quality 3D avatars, making them accessible for a wide range of applications.

Convai provides a platform for crafting and deploying spatially 3D-aware conversational AI characters, also known as virtual humans or disembodied AI characters, for immersive virtual environments. It enables creators and developers to build lifelike AI agents that can interact through natural language, realistic behaviors, and multimodal perception within virtual worlds. This platform is designed for both creators, offering no-code tools for character and spatial experience development, and developers, providing integrations with popular game engines like Unreal Engine, Unity, and 3JS. Convai aims to enhance XR training simulations, social worlds, and gaming by allowing AI to perceive and act within its virtual surroundings, responding with human-like dialogue, voice, gestures, and contextually appropriate actions.