How Much does it Cost to add Mobile AR to my Website/App?

Augmented Reality (AR) is the technology that allows users to visualize a virtual 3D object in the real-life environment that they are standing in. Mobile AR uses a smartphone camera combined with a processor and displays a digital object in real life through a smartphone’s screen. 

Augmented Reality brings a product closer to its customer. By breaking all barriers to imagination, AR lets customers envision what it would be like to own the product.

Improvement in technology makes the process to add AR to an eCommerce website/App easier than ever: first you need to create a 3D model of your product (AR utilizes 3D models), then license an AR visualization technology that will enhance your 3D product in the real world.

The creation of a product in 3D usually costs from $40 to $1,000 depending on the complexity of your product, and Sketchfab’s app-free AR license starts at $129 per month. This cost will differ depending on the technology provider you choose. Read on for more details on the costs associated with creating an AR experience for your website/App.

Augmented Reality experiences are centered on the real-world enhancement of 3D models. As a result, when starting with AR, the first thing you need to do is find an existing model or create a new 3D model of the product you want to showcase in AR. 

Note that in many cases, companies already have 3D assets living with the product development team. Those models may require some optimization work for online performance, but they are a useful base. We encourage you to reach back to your production pipeline to look for existing 3D content.

If you don’t yet have a 3D model, you will need to commission one, visit Sketchfab’s Partner directory and reach out to one of our vetted partners. 

Who will build the models? 

Our trusted 3D content creators will help you re-create a 3D copy of your product. 

How much will it cost? 

The cost of creating 3D models will typically depend on the complexity and quality of your model, the method used to create the model, and the agency or artist that you are working with. On average, a simple 3D model will cost from $40 to $200, while a more complex model costs from $200 to $1000, and a very complex model can cost up to a few thousand dollars. Read our dedicated blog post on the cost of creating a 3D model for more details.

Now that you have a sense of the price of creating 3D models of your products, you will need to take into account the cost of the AR visualization technology used to create the AR experience. This technology will create an overlay to reality on smartphones and tablets.

The Sketchfab Premium license — which grants you access to App-free AR — starts at $129 per month.

Cross-platform AR

AR experiences created using Sketchfab’s technology are available on iOS and Android phones!

AR at scale

You can check and update a model’s scale using Sketchfab’s 3D Editor.

We hope this article gave you a better sense of the costs associated with adding AR to your website. To access app-free AR, just visit our Plans page and subscribe to the Premium license.