1. AR Code – The Most Seamless Experience, But at a Cost
Website: https://ar-code.com
What I really liked about AR Code is how simple and fast the experience is. You don’t need to download any app the product appears directly in AR in just two taps. This is a huge advantage for customers, especially in retail, where any extra step can lead to drop-off.
However, the downside is the pricing model. It works on a paid membership basis, and the free version is extremely limited. it’s also really expensive with standard membership 79 eur per month and pro membership 890eur per month. I was only able to test it with basic text-based AR, not with the core features that actually make it powerful, but it is only free feature available.
These locked features include:
- 3D object scanning
- Face filters
- Video in AR
- Advanced interactive elements
Where AR Code Has Limitations / What to Check
Dependence on network/web — Because it’s Web AR, users need decent internet connection. Offline usability is not possible (maybe unlike AR apps).
So while the platform is technically impressive and extremely customer-friendly, it’s not very accessible for students or small creators without a budget. I would say its pretty good for prototype development.
2. Overly – Affordable and Surprisingly Elegant
Website: https://overlyapp.com
Overly feels like a budget-friendly alternative to AR Code. The pricing is very accessible around 19 euros, which makes it much more realistic.
Visually, I actually prefer Overly’s display and viewing experience more than any of others. The way display and animation appear feels clean and intuitive. One very interesting interaction detail is that the animation triggers automatically when the camera sees the image — there is no need to scan QR code which can be really esthetically pleasing for costumers. Also its just needs 1 sec and without taping on the screen animation starts. This is especially effective for customers who might not realize they need to interact with the screen.
However, there is also an important limitation:
- You cannot create AR content directly inside the mobile app ( which I find good, it will not confuse users)
- The app works mainly as a viewer / review tool
- Creation happens externally and then gets imported
Still, from a user experience perspective, Overly feels very polished and customer-friendly. you can design it in the way where it will activate when u will see the poster or painting, which can be used in retails. Of course with some limitations it should be complex enough for the program to recognize it.
3. Adobe Aero – Powerful, But Coming to an End
Support update: https://helpx.adobe.com/aero/aero-end-of-support-faq.html
Unfortunately, Adobe Aero is slowly being phased out. Adobe officially announced the end of support, and this directly affects long-term usability.
- The app is already facing technical issues and limited stability
This is especially problematic for students and researchers (like me) who invested time into building scenes inside Aero. Even if you already have it installed, it will not be a reliable long-term solution.
4. ARLOOPA – Weak Performance and Limited Results
Website: https://www.arloopa.com
Out of all the platforms I tested, ARLOOPA gave me the weakest results. The AR tracking felt unstable, object placement was inaccurate, and several features simply did not work properly on my phone.
They do offer:
- A web-based preview
- maybe Pro version might perform better
But based on my current testing experience, the free version felt unreliable and low in quality. It may be usable with a professional subscription, but in its basic form it’s not convincing for serious product visualization.
So shortly:
- AR Code offers the smoothest experience, but at a high financial entry barrier
- Overly is the best budget-friendly and customer-oriented solution for viewing.
- Adobe Aero is no longer future-proof
- ARLOOPA currently feels too unstable for serious use
