An open-source runtime engine coupled with a proprietary, web-based collaborative visual editor platform.

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

Designed and optimized for web deployment, particularly for games and interactive ads.

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

Primarily authored using the web-based visual editor, with scripting in JavaScript for custom logic.

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

No direct integration; assets are imported in standard formats (glTF, FBX).

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

No direct integration; assets are imported in standard formats (glTF, FBX).

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

Provides a component-based architecture with pre-built components for common interactions and behaviors.

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

JavaScript scripting system with component-based architecture.

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

Supports PBR materials, shadows, post-processing effects.

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

Built around an 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.

Requires external libraries or custom implementation for real-time networking, though collaborative editor uses networking tech.

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

Basic animation system but no comprehensive timeline or sequencing tool.

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

Supports skeletal animation and state graph animations.

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

Supports material animation and shader-based effects.

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

Includes features for playing audio sources, including positional audio.

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

Supports video textures.

Supports using videos as textures on 3D models.

Integrates the ammo.js physics engine (Wasm port of Bullet).

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

Supports import and use of the glTF 2.0 standard.

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

Includes a built-in UI system for creating screen space or world space interfaces.

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

Embedding typically done via iframe, not as a custom web component.

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.

Web builds can be packaged as PWAs, though no specific PWA features are provided by the engine itself.

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

Allows interaction with HTML/CSS, often used for UI overlays.

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

Builds run on static hosting. The visual editor is a cloud service.

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

Assets are hosted as part of the PlayCanvas cloud platform.

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

When using the PlayCanvas cloud services, apps can be hosted on PlayCanvas servers.

Scenes can be hosted directly on Spline's servers.

Engine core is relatively lightweight, focusing on web performance.

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 offers good loading performance, optimized for web delivery.

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.

Optimized for efficient runtime performance on web platforms.

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.

Editor provides options for texture compression (Basis, DXT, PVRTC, ETC) and model optimization settings.

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.

Supports mesh LODs and offers texture compression options during asset imports.

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

Supports VR experiences via WebXR.

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

Supports AR experiences via WebXR.

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

Claims USDZ export but no documentation exists.

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

Claims USDZ export but no documentation exists.

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 included with paid subscription plans.

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

Offers tutorials, example projects, and documentation.

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

The runtime engine is MIT licensed, but the collaborative editor platform requires a subscription for private projects and advanced features.

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