Scaniverse vs AR
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Scaniverse
Capture your surroundings in high-quality 3D using your phone. Process scans directly on your device for privacy and speed. Share your creations globally on a map or export them for further use in 3D software.
- On-device 3D Gaussian splatting
- Fast and unlimited scanning
- High-fidelity detail capture
- Privacy-focused processing
- Global sharing map
- Multiple export formats (OBJ, FBX, GLB, USDZ, LAS, PLY, SPZ)
- Explore 3D scans worldwide
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3D mapping, reconstruction, and visual positioning from Niantic Spatial Scaniverse captures, reconstructs, and localizes physical environments — on your phone, and now in the cloud. It’s a foundation for AR, robotics, spatial computing, construction planning, and other apps and workflows that require high-fidelity 3D digital twins. Capture: Point your phone at any space and turn it into 3D data. - Scan spaces indoors and out, from a single room to a warehouse - Works with your mobile device’s cameras and sensors - Combine scans from multiple users and devices into one unified site project Reconstruct: Process scans into detailed, responsive 3D images. - State-of-the-art cloud processing turns your scans into immersive Gaussian splats for planning and simulations - Precise meshes for robotics simulation and collision geometry - Export in SPZ, PLY, GLB and FBX Localize: Test Niantic VPS 2.0 in app, deploy with NSDK. - Better than GPS everywhere, precise where you've mapped. - Works indoors, in urban canyons, and GPS-denied environments - Integrate via NSDK 4.0 for Unity, Swift, and Kotlin Accounts: Free tier for personal scanning and testing, with limited cloud processing and multi-user collaboration. Paid plans unlock more processing, bigger teams, 360° camera scans, and enterprise support. Still the world's best free 3D scanner: The classic Scaniverse experience you know is still here — unlimited on-device Gaussian splat capture and processing, several export formats including SPZ, and the shared global map. Nothing's changed. Scaniverse is built on the legacy of 25 years of geospatial innovation, including Google Earth and Google Maps. It’s the gateway to Niantic Spatial’s Large Geospatial Model, which builds on the same mission of making the world navigable and understandable, this time through a spatial AI for machines. Learn more: scaniverse.com Terms of use: scaniverse.com/terms Privacy policy: https://www.nianticspatial.com/privacy-consumer and scaniverse.com/privacy
AR
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Discover a new level of immersive exploration with AR-Player, the Augmented Reality player that breathes life into real-world locations using Matterport scans! Enhance your surroundings with captivating content through our MPskin software, creating unique and customizable AR experiences. AR-Player opens the door to a world where digital content seamlessly blends with reality, offering a new and interactive way to see the world through your mobile device. Key Features: - Indoor Navigation: navigate through scanned spaces with our AR wayfinder - Marketing Experiences: Engage your audience with immersive and interactive marketing campaigns - Gamification: Transform ordinary spaces into thrilling game environments - Facility Management: Streamline facility oversight through augmented reality insights - Real Estate Virtual Staging: Virtually visualize real estate by adding furniture to properties - Shopping and Promotions How It Works: - Scan Your Space: Use the Matterport capture app (or other 3D scanners) to capture your environment - Create and Edit with MPskin: Craft and adjust your AR experience effortlessly with MPskin - Export the automatically generated QR code from your MPskin backend - Scan and Experience: Scan the QR code on-site using your mobile device, triggering the installation of AR-Player and get ready to start to your AR adventure
Screenshots
Verdict
Scaniverse and AR are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Scaniverse | AR |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (12K ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 82.5% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 12K — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 233 MB | 165 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Niantic Spatial, Inc. | AR-player |
Bugs and requests
Scaniverse
Reported bugs
2 issues- Compatibility issues with newer devices
- Crashes or freezes during scanning
Requested features
4 requests- Add measuring tools
- Improve texture mapping
- Enable desktop/web app support
- Provide more editing/post-processing tools
AR
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Scaniverse
No in-app purchases
AR
No in-app purchases









