Needle vs. <model-viewer> vs. React-Three-Fiber

See how Needle, <model-viewer>, and React-Three-Fiber compare across key features and capabilities for usage on the web and creating XR experiences for designers, developers and teams.

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Web-first runtime integrated with Unity and Blender plugins, complemented by Needle Cloud for optimization and hosting.
Needle
A Google-developed web component for easily embedding interactive 3D models (glTF/GLB) and AR experiences into HTML pages.
<model-viewer>
A React renderer for three.js, enabling declarative building of 3D scenes using React components and hooks.
React-Three-Fiber
Core Platform & Workflow
Solution Type
3D Engine
Cloud Platform
Authoring Tool
Optimization Tool
Web Component
Needle
Solution Type: 3d-engine, cloud-platform, authoring-tool, optimization-tool, web-component
A comprehensive suite including a runtime engine, cloud services for optimization/hosting, authoring via Unity/Blender plugins, and embeddable web component output.
Web Component
<model-viewer>
Solution Type: web-component
A custom HTML element (<model-viewer>) designed for simple 3D model display and AR.
3D Engine
React-Three-Fiber
Solution Type: 3d-engine
Acts as a React renderer, mapping React components to underlying three.js objects.
Made for the web
Needle
Made for the web: Yes
Built from the ground up for the web, focusing on fast loading, efficient rendering, and cross-platform web deployment.
<model-viewer>
Made for the web: Yes
Focuses on ease of use, optimized loading (lazy loading, poster), and performance for web display.
React-Three-Fiber
Made for the web: Yes
Leverages React's performance features and three.js's web focus.
Typical Workflows
Unity Editor
Blender Editor
Code
HTML
Asset Upload
Needle
Typical Workflows: Unity Editor, Blender Editor, Code, HTML, Asset Upload
Primary workflow involves using Unity or Blender as the authoring environment, exporting scenes and logic. Custom scripts (TypeScript/JavaScript) extend functionality.
HTML
<model-viewer>
Typical Workflows: HTML
Used by adding the `<model-viewer>` tag to an HTML page and configuring via attributes.
React Components
React-Three-Fiber
Typical Workflows: React Components
Development is code-centric, building scenes declaratively using JSX and React components.
Use with Unity
Needle
Use with Unity: Yes
Deep integration with Unity Editor via dedicated plugin, allowing export of scenes, C# scripts (transpiled), materials (Shader Graph), animations, and components.
<model-viewer>
Use with Unity: No
Consumes glTF files, which can be exported from Unity.
React-Three-Fiber
Use with Unity: No
Not related to Unity workflow.
Use with Blender
Needle
Use with Blender: Yes
Integration with Blender via addon, supporting export of scenes, materials, animations, and custom logic nodes.
<model-viewer>
Use with Blender: No
Consumes glTF files, which can be exported from Blender.
React-Three-Fiber
Use with Blender: No
Consumes assets (glTF). The `gltfjsx` tool can auto-generate R3F components from glTF files.
Interactivity Building Blocks
Needle
Interactivity Building Blocks: Yes
Includes a rich set of components for common interactions, animations, and UI elements.
<model-viewer>
Interactivity Building Blocks: No
Provides built-in features for model display, camera controls, and AR placement, but not for broader interactivity.
Limited
React-Three-Fiber
Interactivity Building Blocks: Limited
Core library focuses on React integration; companion library @react-three/drei provides many ready-to-use components and helpers.
Extensible with Coding
Needle
Extensible with Coding: Yes
Uses TypeScript with full IDE support in both Unity and standalone projects.
<model-viewer>
Extensible with Coding: No
Allows for JavaScript event handling and basic property manipulation via API, but not for extending core functionality.
React-Three-Fiber
Extensible with Coding: Yes
Full scripting via React/JavaScript/TypeScript with hooks-based reactive programming model.
Engine Capabilities
Physically-Based Rendering
Needle
Physically-Based Rendering: Yes
Supports Physically Based Rendering (PBR), custom shaders (via Unity Shader Graph export), lighting, and post-processing effects.
Limited
<model-viewer>
Physically-Based Rendering: Limited
Supports PBR materials, environment maps, and basic lighting/shadow options, but no control over per-object shadows, reflection probes, lightmaps or other advanced rendering features.
React-Three-Fiber
Physically-Based Rendering: Yes
Exposes all of three.js's advanced rendering capabilities (PBR, post-processing etc.) declaratively.
Component System
Needle
Component System: Yes
Leverages the component-based architecture of Unity/Blender, extended with custom web-specific components.
<model-viewer>
Component System: No
Internal structure, not exposed as an ECS.
React-Three-Fiber
Component System: Yes
Inherits React's component model for structuring the 3D scene.
Built-in Networking
Needle
Built-in Networking: Yes
Built-in real-time networking for multiplayer and collaborative applications.
<model-viewer>
Built-in Networking: No
Not designed for networked experiences.
React-Three-Fiber
Built-in Networking: No
Requires external libraries for networking.
Timelines and Sequencing
Needle
Timelines and Sequencing: Yes
Supports timeline-based sequencing, complex animations, animator state machines, blending, and more.
<model-viewer>
Timelines and Sequencing: No
Can play animations embedded in glTF but has no built-in sequencing system.
React-Three-Fiber
Timelines and Sequencing: No
Not built in. Timeline and sequencing available through libraries like Theatre.js or custom React animation solutions.
Animation Controls
Needle
Animation Controls: Yes
Supports complex animations authored in Unity (Animator, Timeline) or Blender and exports them for the web.
<model-viewer>
Animation Controls: Yes
Can play animations embedded within the loaded glTF model.
React-Three-Fiber
Animation Controls: Yes
Leverages three.js's animation system, often managed via React state and hooks.
Animated Materials
Needle
Animated Materials: Yes
Supports material animations, shader graph, and procedural material effects.
<model-viewer>
Animated Materials: No
Supports materials in the glTF, including basic animation defined in the model, but no dynamic material creation or animation.
React-Three-Fiber
Animated Materials: Yes
Supports animated materials via shader materials and libraries like lamina or through direct Three.js material manipulation.
Audio Playback
Needle
Audio Playback: Yes
Supports spatial audio configured via Unity/Blender components.
<model-viewer>
Audio Playback: No
Does not have built-in audio features.
React-Three-Fiber
Audio Playback: Yes
Utilizes three.js's audio capabilities, accessible through React components.
Video Playback
Needle
Video Playback: Yes
Supports video textures and playback controlled via components.
<model-viewer>
Video Playback: No
Does not directly support video textures.
React-Three-Fiber
Video Playback: Yes
Supports video textures via three.js.
Physics Integration
Needle
Physics Integration: Yes
Integrates with physics engines, configured via Unity/Blender components.
<model-viewer>
Physics Integration: No
Focuses on model display, does not include physics.
React-Three-Fiber
Physics Integration: Yes
Integrates physics through companion libraries like @react-three/rapier or @react-three/cannon.
glTF 3D Support
Excellent
Needle
glTF 3D Support: Excellent
Uses glTF as its core runtime format and supports import of various formats (FBX, USD, VRM etc.) which are converted.
<model-viewer>
glTF 3D Support: Yes
Designed specifically for loading and displaying glTF 2.0 models.
React-Three-Fiber
glTF 3D Support: Yes
Excellent support via three.js and helper libraries like @react-three/drei and gltfjsx.
Custom User Interfaces
Needle
Custom User Interfaces: Yes
Facilitates creation of UI using standard HTML/CSS and frontend frameworks, integrated with the 3D scene.
<model-viewer>
Custom User Interfaces: No
Provides basic interaction controls (orbit, pan, zoom) and hotspots. Customization primarily via HTML/CSS/JS API.
React-Three-Fiber
Custom User Interfaces: Yes
Leverages React for UI, allowing easy mixing of HTML/DOM elements with the 3D scene.
Web Integration & Deployment
Web Component
Needle
Web Component: Yes
Exports projects as standard web components (<needle-engine> tag) for easy embedding into any HTML page or web application.
<model-viewer>
Web Component: Yes
It is fundamentally a web component.
React-Three-Fiber
Web Component: No
Builds React applications, not standalone web components.
PWA Support
Needle
PWA Support: Yes
Being web-native, Needle Engine projects can be easily included in Progressive Web Apps for offline capabilities and installation.
<model-viewer>
PWA Support: No
Can be included in Progressive Web Apps but provides no specific PWA features itself.
React-Three-Fiber
PWA Support: Yes
Can be used within React-based Progressive Web Apps but provides no specific PWA features itself.
HTML/CSS Integration
Excellent
Needle
HTML/CSS Integration: Excellent
Designed to seamlessly integrate with HTML, CSS, and frontend frameworks (React, Vue, Svelte etc.), allowing blending of 2D UI and 3D content.
Excellent
<model-viewer>
HTML/CSS Integration: Excellent
Designed specifically for seamless integration into standard HTML pages.
Excellent
React-Three-Fiber
HTML/CSS Integration: Excellent
Seamlessly blends 3D rendered via three.js with standard HTML/DOM elements managed by React.
Host Anywhere
Needle
Host Anywhere: Yes
The core runtime can be self-hosted on any static server. Needle Cloud features (optimization, hosting, analytics) require the cloud service.
<model-viewer>
Host Anywhere: Yes
Requires only static hosting for the component and model files.
React-Three-Fiber
Host Anywhere: Yes
Client-side rendering, deployable on static hosting (like any React app).
Asset Hosting
Needle
Asset Hosting: Yes
Needle Cloud provides managed hosting and CDN delivery for optimized assets.
<model-viewer>
Asset Hosting: No
Requires external hosting for the glTF/GLB model files.
React-Three-Fiber
Asset Hosting: No
Requires external hosting for assets.
App Hosting
Needle
App Hosting: Yes
Needle Cloud provides managed hosting and CDN delivery for optimized applications.
<model-viewer>
App Hosting: No
Requires external hosting for the HTML page and model files.
React-Three-Fiber
App Hosting: No
Requires external hosting for the application files.
Performance & Optimization
Engine Size
Medium
Needle
Engine Size: Medium
Optimized runtime aims for minimal footprint, size depends on included features.
Small
<model-viewer>
Engine Size: Small
Relatively lightweight as it bundles a subset of three.js.
Small
React-Three-Fiber
Engine Size: Small
Adds minimal overhead on top of three.js and React.
Loading Performance
Excellent
Needle
Loading Performance: Excellent
Rapid development cycles and fast loading times through optimized runtime and asset handling.
Fast
<model-viewer>
Loading Performance: Fast
Implements strategies like lazy loading and posters for optimized loading experience.
Fast
React-Three-Fiber
Loading Performance: Fast
Benefits from React's ecosystem (code splitting etc.) and depends on three.js and asset loading.
Runtime Performance
Excellent
Needle
Runtime Performance: Excellent
Designed for efficient rendering performance across desktop, mobile, and XR devices.
Good
<model-viewer>
Runtime Performance: Good
Offers good performance for its primary use case of displaying and interacting with single models.
High
React-Three-Fiber
Runtime Performance: High
Maintains the performance of three.js.
Smart Asset Optimization
Excellent
Needle
Smart Asset Optimization: Excellent
Needle Cloud provides significant automated optimization: LOD generation, mesh optimization, extensive texture compression (Basis Universal, WebP, JPG, PNG) and resizing options.
<model-viewer>
Smart Asset Optimization: Yes
Handles progressive loading and encourages use of optimized formats like Draco and Basis Universal textures.
React-Three-Fiber
Smart Asset Optimization: No
Relies on three.js support for optimized formats (glTF/Draco/Basis).
Mesh and Texture LODs
Excellent
Needle
Mesh and Texture LODs: Excellent
Supports automatic mesh simplification, level-of-detail generation and automatic texture compression with multiple quality levels.
<model-viewer>
Mesh and Texture LODs: No
Relies on optimization being done in the source glTF file; no dynamic LOD system.
React-Three-Fiber
Mesh and Texture LODs: No
Inherits Three.js LOD capabilities, requires manual implementation.
XR Support (AR/VR/Spatial)
VR Support (WebXR)
Needle
VR Support (WebXR): Yes
Supports VR headsets via the WebXR standard.
Limited
<model-viewer>
VR Support (WebXR): Limited
Supports viewing models in VR via WebXR, without interactivity.
Via libraries
React-Three-Fiber
VR Support (WebXR): Via libraries
Supports VR via three.js's WebXR capabilities, using @react-three/xr.
AR Support (WebXR)
Needle
AR Support (WebXR): Yes
Supports markerless WebAR on compatible Android devices via the WebXR standard.
Limited
<model-viewer>
AR Support (WebXR): Limited
Provides an AR button for viewing models in AR on compatible Android devices (via WebXR), without interactivity.
Via libraries
React-Three-Fiber
AR Support (WebXR): Via libraries
Supports AR via three.js's WebXR capabilities, using @react-three/xr.
AR Support (iOS)
Needle
AR Support (iOS): Yes
Supports interactive markerless WebAR on iOS devices via WebXR.
Limited
<model-viewer>
AR Support (iOS): Limited
Provides an AR button for viewing static models in AR on iOS using Apple's AR Quick Look.
React-Three-Fiber
AR Support (iOS): No
Requires custom code.
AR Support (visionOS)
Needle
AR Support (visionOS): Yes
Explicit support for creating spatial computing experiences deployable on visionOS.
Limited
<model-viewer>
AR Support (visionOS): Limited
Provides an AR button for viewing static models in AR on iOS using Apple's AR Quick Look.
React-Three-Fiber
AR Support (visionOS): No
Requires custom code.
AR Tracking Types
Surface
Image
Needle
AR Tracking Types: Surface, Image
Supports World Tracking via the WebXR standard on compatible devices. Image tracking is supported on iOS AR but requires a device-specific flag for Android AR.
Surface
<model-viewer>
AR Tracking Types: Surface
Supports World Tracking via WebXR (Android) and surface placement via AR Quick Look (iOS).
Surface
React-Three-Fiber
AR Tracking Types: Surface
Primarily World Tracking via WebXR.
Ecosystem & Support
Official Support Availability
Needle
Official Support Availability: Yes
Dedicated support available for licensed users.
<model-viewer>
Official Support Availability: No
Support primarily through GitHub issues and community channels.
React-Three-Fiber
Official Support Availability: No
Community-driven support.
Learning Resources
Needle
Learning Resources: Yes
Extensive documentation, tutorials, live samples, and active community support.
Good
<model-viewer>
Learning Resources: Good
Excellent documentation site serves as the primary learning resource.
Excellent
React-Three-Fiber
Learning Resources: Excellent
Extensive examples, helper libraries (@react-three/drei), and community resources.
License
Commercial
Needle
License: Commercial
Commercial license required for full features and deployment. Free evaluation available.
Open Source
<model-viewer>
License: Open Source
Available under the Apache License 2.0.
Open Source
React-Three-Fiber
License: Open Source
Available under the MIT license.

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