Google ARCore
Google ARCore is a software development kit that allows you to build augmented reality experiences for Android and iOS devices using motion tracking, environmental understanding, and light estimation.
iScape
iScape is a landscape design software that uses augmented reality to help you visualize outdoor living spaces by overlaying plants, hardscapes, and furniture onto real-world environments.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Google ARCore | iScape |
|---|---|---|
| Website | developers.google.com | iscapeit.com |
| Pricing Model | Free | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✘ No product demo |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2018 | 2011 |
| Headquarters | Mountain View, USA | Charleston, USA |
Overview
Google ARCore
Google ARCore is a platform for building augmented reality experiences. It uses your device's camera and sensors to sense its environment, understand the world, and interact with information. You can integrate digital content into the real world through three key capabilities: motion tracking, environmental understanding, and light estimation. These tools allow you to place virtual objects on floors or walls and have them react naturally to the lighting in your room.
You can create immersive applications for billions of users across Android and iOS without needing specialized hardware. Whether you are building a furniture placement app, an interactive game, or an educational tool, the platform provides the foundational technology to make virtual objects feel like they truly belong in your physical space. It supports popular development environments like Unity, Unreal Engine, and Android Studio.
iScape
iScape is a visual landscape design platform that helps you transform your outdoor spaces using augmented reality. Instead of guessing how a new garden bed or patio might look, you can overlay thousands of 3D plants, trees, and hardscape elements directly onto your actual yard using your smartphone or tablet. This allows you to see the finished project before you ever pick up a shovel or spend money on materials.
You can easily swap out different plants, adjust layouts, and even share your designs with contractors or retail partners to get accurate quotes. The platform serves both homeowners looking to DIY their curb appeal and professional landscapers who need a fast, mobile way to present ideas to clients. It bridges the gap between imagination and execution by providing a realistic, scaled preview of your landscaping goals.
Overview
Google ARCore Features
- Motion Tracking Track your phone's position relative to the world so virtual objects stay pinned exactly where you place them.
- Environmental Understanding Detect the size and location of flat surfaces like tables or floors to place digital content accurately.
- Light Estimation Adjust the color and brightness of virtual objects to match the real-world lighting for a realistic look.
- Geospatial API Attach 3D content to real-world locations globally using Google Street View data for world-scale AR experiences.
- Depth API Create realistic occlusions so virtual objects can disappear behind real-world furniture or walls in your scene.
- Cloud Anchors Build collaborative AR experiences where multiple people can see and interact with the same digital objects simultaneously.
iScape Features
- Augmented Reality Design. Place 3D plants and hardscape elements into your actual environment to see exactly how they fit your space.
- Extensive Image Library. Access thousands of high-quality plants, trees, and outdoor furniture items to create a comprehensive and realistic landscape plan.
- 2.5D Layering Tool. Take a photo of your yard and layer design elements on top to create professional-grade 2D landscape presentations.
- Proposal Generator. Convert your visual designs into professional proposals with itemized lists to streamline your bidding and sales process.
- Collaboration Tools. Share your designs instantly with clients or partners to get feedback and make real-time adjustments on-site.
- Buy Button Integration. Purchase the exact plants and materials featured in your design through integrated retail partnerships and local suppliers.
Pricing Comparison
Google ARCore Pricing
- Full access to ARCore SDK
- Motion tracking & Depth API
- Environmental understanding
- Light estimation tools
- Unity & Unreal integrations
- Android & iOS support
- Everything in Standard, plus:
- Geospatial API access
- Cloud Anchors (persistent)
- Google Cloud Console integration
- Usage-based quotas apply
- Enterprise support options
iScape Pricing
- Limited access to plant database
- Basic AR placement tools
- Standard 2D photo editing
- Save designs to your device
- Community support access
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Full access to 3D asset library
- Professional proposal tool
- Custom branding for designs
- Priority customer support
- Advanced AR features
Pros & Cons
Google ARCore
Pros
- Completely free to download and use
- Massive reach across billions of devices
- Excellent integration with Unity and Unreal
- Industry-leading depth and occlusion capabilities
- Strong documentation and active developer community
Cons
- Performance varies significantly between different devices
- Requires high-quality camera and sensor hardware
- Limited support for older Android versions
iScape
Pros
- Extremely intuitive interface for non-designers
- Realistic AR overlays help close sales faster
- Massive library of specific plant species
- Saves significant time compared to CAD software
Cons
- AR features require newer mobile hardware
- Subscription cost is high for casual DIYers
- Limited desktop editing capabilities available