A framework that allows creating 3D/VR/AR scenes using custom HTML tags (web components) built upon three.js.

An online platform for 3D design and animation, with direct export options for web integration.

Aims to make WebXR development accessible and performant on the web.

Focuses on creating optimized interactive experiences specifically for the web, with tools to analyze and improve performance.

Scenes are built primarily using HTML-like tags, with custom logic implemented in JavaScript components.

Primarily a visual design tool where scenes and interactions are built using a graphical interface. Logic is handled through an event/state system.

Not related to Unity workflow.

Exports glTF/USDZ which can be imported into Unity, but there is no direct integration or specific workflow.

Consumes glTF assets exported from Blender.

Can import formats like glTF (often exported from Blender) and export glTF, but no direct integration.

Comprehensive component system with many built-in and community components for interactions, effects, and behaviors.

Visual design tool with built-in interactive components for common behaviors like drag, hover, click interactions.

Can create custom components and systems using JavaScript, or use the entity-component declarative HTML approach.

Visual event system allows for creating interactive behaviors without coding. Limited JavaScript API for exported scenes.

Leverages three.js rendering features like PBR materials, environments, and shadows, accessible via components.

Supports PBR materials through a layer-based system, lighting (directional, spot, point), shadows, and post-processing effects.

Based on a highly extensible Entity-Component-System architecture.

Features a 'Component' system allowing reuse of objects and their properties, aiding in creating design systems within Spline, but differs from traditional ECS architectures.

Networking requires external components like `networked-aframe`.

Supports real-time collaboration within the editor but does not provide features for runtime networking or multiplayer experiences in exported applications.

Basic animation component with support for keyframes, but no comprehensive timeline system.

Includes timeline-based animation system for keyframe animation and sequencing.

Includes a built-in animation component and leverages three.js animations.

Supports keyframe animation, state-based transitions, and interactive events to trigger animations.

Supports animated textures and shader-based material effects through components.

Supports material animation through the timeline system and visual animation tools.

Supports positional audio through dedicated components.

Supports adding sounds to scenes, including positional audio and background music.

Supports using videos as textures through the asset management system.

Supports using videos as textures on 3D models.

Physics is added through community components like `aframe-physics-system`.

Includes built-in physics simulation capabilities for creating dynamic interactions.

Strong support for loading and interacting with glTF models.

Can import and export models in glTF format for interoperability with other tools.

UI can be created using 3D components (e.g., `aframe-gui`), HTML overlays, or community libraries.

UI elements are typically created using 3D text and objects within the scene itself; no dedicated 2D canvas UI system.

Its core abstraction relies on custom HTML elements (web components).

Exports can be embedded using iframe or Javascript code snippets, including a React component export and a generic web component ('spline-viewer') for better performance with multiple embeds. The authoring tool itself is not web component based.

Can be used within Progressive Web Apps but provides no specific PWA features itself.

Spline exports can be included within a PWA, but Spline itself doesn't provide specific features for PWA development.

Designed to be embedded within standard HTML pages.

Designed to be easily embedded into HTML pages using generated code snippets (iframe or JavaScript).

Deployable on static web servers.

Exports are self-contained web packages deployable on static servers. Spline also offers hosting for public URL embeds.

Requires external hosting for assets.

Spline hosts scenes shared via Public URLs. Exported code/files can be self-hosted.

Requires external hosting for the application files.

Scenes can be hosted directly on Spline's servers.

Includes three.js plus the A-Frame framework layer and components.

Exports include the Spline runtime, which can increase the initial download size compared to solutions using shared runtimes or minimal frameworks. Size depends on scene complexity and export settings.

Generally good loading performance, depends on included components and assets.

Loading times depend heavily on scene complexity, polygon count, texture sizes, and the included runtime. Optimization tools are provided, but complex scenes can experience noticeable load times.

Offers good performance, though the abstraction layer might introduce minor overhead compared to raw three.js for complex scenes.

Performance is generally good for well-optimized scenes but can degrade with high polygon counts, complex materials, numerous objects, or intensive interactions, especially on lower-end devices.

Relies on users providing optimized assets (e.g., glTF with Draco/Basis).

Provides tools like polygon reduction guidance, material asset reuse, geometry compression on export, and image quality controls, but lacks explicit support for advanced texture compression formats like Basis Universal or Draco geometry compression visibility.

Not built-in, but available through community components or manual implementation.

Focuses on optimization but does not have a dynamic LOD system.

One of the primary goals of A-Frame is to simplify WebVR development.

Does not directly export WebVR experiences. Requires exporting models (e.g., glTF) and using a VR-capable framework.

Supports AR via WebXR on compatible Android devices.

Does not directly export WebAR experiences. Exports USDZ for AR Quick Look on iOS, but full WebAR requires external frameworks.

Requires external libraries.

USDZ files compatible with AR Quick Look on iOS can be exported from the web app. Also provides native Swift embeds for iOS apps.

Requires external libraries.

USDZ files compatible with AR Quick Look on iOS can be exported from the web app. Also provides native Swift embeds for iOS apps.

Supports World Tracking via WebXR.

Primarily through USDZ export for object placement in AR Quick Look.

Support is community-driven.

Official support channels are typically available for paid subscribers, while community support is available for all users via Discord.

Extensive documentation, examples, a large registry of community components, and active community channels.

Offers official documentation, tutorials (text and video), a library of templates/examples, and an active community forum/Discord server.

Available under the MIT license.

Spline is a proprietary tool with free and paid subscription tiers offering different feature sets and usage limits.