Acts as a React renderer, mapping React components to underlying three.js objects.

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

Leverages React's performance features and three.js's web focus.

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

Development is code-centric, building scenes declaratively using JSX and React 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 assets (glTF). The `gltfjsx` tool can auto-generate R3F components from glTF files.

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

Core library focuses on React integration; companion library @react-three/drei provides many ready-to-use components and helpers.

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

Full scripting via React/JavaScript/TypeScript with hooks-based reactive programming model.

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

Exposes all of three.js's advanced rendering capabilities (PBR, post-processing etc.) declaratively.

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

Inherits React's component model for structuring the 3D scene.

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 for networking.

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

Not built in. Timeline and sequencing available through libraries like Theatre.js or custom React animation solutions.

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

Leverages three.js's animation system, often managed via React state and hooks.

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

Supports animated materials via shader materials and libraries like lamina or through direct Three.js material manipulation.

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

Utilizes three.js's audio capabilities, accessible through React components.

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

Supports video textures via three.js.

Supports using videos as textures on 3D models.

Integrates physics through companion libraries like @react-three/rapier or @react-three/cannon.

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

Excellent support via three.js and helper libraries like @react-three/drei and gltfjsx.

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

Leverages React for UI, allowing easy mixing of HTML/DOM elements with the 3D scene.

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

Builds React applications, not standalone 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 React-based 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.

Seamlessly blends 3D rendered via three.js with standard HTML/DOM elements managed by React.

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

Client-side rendering, deployable on static hosting (like any React app).

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.

Adds minimal overhead on top of three.js and React.

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.

Benefits from React's ecosystem (code splitting etc.) and depends on three.js and asset loading.

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.

Maintains the performance of three.js.

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 three.js support for optimized formats (glTF/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.

Inherits Three.js LOD capabilities, requires manual implementation.

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

Supports VR via three.js's WebXR capabilities, using @react-three/xr.

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

Supports AR via three.js's WebXR capabilities, using @react-three/xr.

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

Requires custom code.

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 custom code.

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

Primarily World Tracking via WebXR.

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

Community-driven support.

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

Extensive examples, helper libraries (@react-three/drei), and community resources.

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.