RTAB vs BlippAR OpenAR
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
RTAB
This utility app enables real-time 3D scanning and mapping of environments using LiDAR or RGB-D sensors. It features online loop closure detection and map optimization for immediate feedback, with export options for various 3D formats.
- Online 3D scanning and mapping
- Loop closure detection and map correction
- Save maps in DB format
- Export in PLY, LAS, or OBJ
- Multi-session mapping
- AR/VR visualization mode
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RTAB-Map (Real-Time Appearance-Based Mapping) is an Open Source LiDAR / RGB-D / Stereo Graph-Based SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) approach based on an online incremental appearance-based loop closure detector. The loop closure detector uses a bag-of-words approach to determinate how likely a new image comes from a previous location or a new location. When a loop closure hypothesis is accepted, a new constraint is added to the map's graph, then a graph optimizer minimizes the errors in the map in real-time. An optional memory management approach can be used to limit the number of locations used for loop closure detection and graph optimization, so that real-time constraints on large-scale environnements are always respected. ARKit's visual inertial odometry (VIO) is used as the SLAM front-end for RTAB-Map (the SLAM back-end). * Note that unlike other scanning apps that optimize the map only after mapping, with RTAB-Map you get loop closure detection and map optimization online so you can have a live feedback to know when you have enough constraints in the map for good global optimization before stopping the scan. *** 3D reconstruction available only with LiDAR sensor. Features: * Online 3D scanning/mapping of the environment. * Online loop closure detection and map correction. * Save in DB format (RTAB-Map desktop and rtabmap_ros format). * Export in PLY, LAS or OBJ. * Multi-session mapping (save and continue later). * Use Apriltags to help finding loop closures in textureless environments. * Mixed AR/VR First-Person in visualization mode. * Raw ARKit data recording (up to 60 Hz!), useful to record long sessions without comprising battery life.
BlippAR OpenAR
Explore the world through augmented reality. Scan everyday objects, famous faces, landmarks, and more to unlock interactive experiences and learn new information. Discover hidden content on packaging, magazines, and posters.
- Scan everyday objects to learn more
- Unlock AR experiences from everyday places
- Discover content on packaging and magazines
- Identify famous faces, landmarks, and more
- Interactive augmented reality experiences
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Via the realms of augmented reality, Blippar helps you see, experience and learn more from the world. Unlock augmented reality experiences from everyday objects and places with the Blippar app. Scan and see what you can discover. Perhaps you’ve seen a celeb but can’t quite place them? A logo you want to know more about or that adorable dog? Or who painted that amazing art piece? Scan them with blippar to learn more. Scanning with Blippar is easy: 1. Download, then tap and hold to scan almost anything, see what you discover (we may not always get it right, but we’re working on it!). Try any famous face, dogs, cars (US only), landmarks, flowers, everyday objects… even a banana! 2. Look out for the Blippar logo on packaging, products, magazines and posters. Scan the item as instructed to experience incredible augmented reality. Follow @blippar on Instagram & Twitter, like us on Facebook or check the blipp.it webpage for more blipps. Any questions or feedback, email: ios@blippar.com
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: RTAB at 4.8 against BlippAR OpenAR's 2.3. RTAB also leads on ratings volume (41 vs 3) and device support. On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
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.
RTAB holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RTAB has 41 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.
| Parameter | RTAB | BlippAR OpenAR |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (41 ratings) — better | 2.3 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 41 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | — |
| Ads | No | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | — |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 14.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 20 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Mathieu Labbe | blippar.com |
In-app purchases
RTAB
No in-app purchases
BlippAR OpenAR
No in-app purchases









