See how Needle, Sketchfab, and Spatial.io compare across key features and capabilities for usage on the web and creating XR experiences for designers, developers and teams.
View all platform comparisonsWeb-first runtime integrated with Unity and Blender plugins, complemented by Needle Cloud for optimization and hosting. Needle | ![]() Leading online platform for publishing, sharing, discovering, and embedding 3D/VR/AR models, featuring a high-quality universal web viewer. Sketchfab | ![]() A web-based platform focused on creating and hosting social 3D environments accessible via web and VR. Spatial.io | |
---|---|---|---|
Core Platform & Workflow | |||
Solution Type | 3D Engine Cloud Platform 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. | Cloud Platform Sketchfab Solution Type:
cloud-platform A platform focused on hosting, discovering, and viewing 3D assets, providing an embeddable viewer. | Cloud Platform Spatial.io Solution Type:
cloud-platform, authoring-tool A platform for building, hosting, and experiencing shared social 3D spaces ('metaverse'). |
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. | Sketchfab Made for the web:
Yes The platform automatically processes and optimizes uploaded models for efficient web viewing. | Limited Spatial.io Made for the web:
Limited Designed for accessibility across web browsers and VR, balancing fidelity with performance for social experiences. Load times are relatively high because it builds on Unity's WebGL platform. |
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. | Asset Upload Sketchfab Typical Workflows:
Asset Upload Users upload pre-made models and configure viewer settings (materials, lighting, annotations). | Web Editor Unity Integration Spatial.io Typical Workflows:
Web Editor, Unity Integration Users build and customize spaces using intuitive, integrated visual tools and templates. |
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. | Sketchfab Use with Unity:
No Consumes assets exported from various sources, including Unity. | Spatial.io Use with Unity:
Yes Via Spatial Toolkit, offers SDKs for importing assets or integrating experiences built with Unity. |
Use with Blender | Needle Use with Blender:
Yes Integration with Blender via addon, supporting export of scenes, materials, animations, and custom logic nodes. | Sketchfab Use with Blender:
Yes Offers a Blender addon for direct uploading, and consumes exported formats. | Spatial.io Use with Blender:
No Imports standard 3D asset formats like glTF. |
Interactivity Building Blocks | Needle Interactivity Building Blocks:
Yes Includes a rich set of components for common interactions, animations, and UI elements. | Sketchfab Interactivity Building Blocks:
No Provides annotation system and basic interaction controls, but not a component system for custom behaviors. | Spatial.io Interactivity Building Blocks:
Yes Provides components for social interaction, media sharing, and space customization. |
Extensible with Coding | Needle Extensible with Coding:
Yes Uses TypeScript with full IDE support in both Unity and standalone projects. | Sketchfab Extensible with Coding:
No Viewer API allows some programmatic control, but not full scripting of custom behaviors inside the viewer. | Limited Spatial.io Extensible with Coding:
Limited Primary creation is through no-code tools; Unity SDK allows interpreting a C# subset for more advanced applications. |
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 Sketchfab Physically-Based Rendering:
Limited High-quality PBR rendering, customizable lighting, environments, post-processing effects, and material editor within the platform. No script control over rendering order, shadows, and so on. No in-scene lights. | Moderate Spatial.io Physically-Based Rendering:
Moderate Balances visual quality with the need to support many concurrent users and run smoothly on web/VR. |
Component System | Needle Component System:
Yes Leverages the component-based architecture of Unity/Blender, extended with custom web-specific components. | Sketchfab Component System:
No Internal viewer architecture. | Spatial.io Component System:
No Uses an internal architecture managed by the platform. |
Built-in Networking | Needle Built-in Networking:
Yes Built-in real-time networking for multiplayer and collaborative applications. | Sketchfab Built-in Networking:
No Doesn't support multi-user experiences. | Limited Spatial.io Built-in Networking:
Limited Built-in networking for avatar interactions, voice chat, and shared experiences. Not extensible. |
Timelines and Sequencing | Needle Timelines and Sequencing:
Yes Supports timeline-based sequencing, complex animations, animator state machines, blending, and more. | Sketchfab Timelines and Sequencing:
No Can play animations embedded in models but has no sequencing or timeline system. | Limited Spatial.io Timelines and Sequencing:
Limited Basic trigger-based interactions but no comprehensive timeline system in the platform itself. |
Animation Controls | Needle Animation Controls:
Yes Supports complex animations authored in Unity (Animator, Timeline) or Blender and exports them for the web. | Sketchfab Animation Controls:
Yes Plays animations embedded in the uploaded models. | Limited Spatial.io Animation Controls:
Limited Supports avatar animations and basic object animations. |
Animated Materials | Needle Animated Materials:
Yes Supports material animations, shader graph, and procedural material effects. | Sketchfab Animated Materials:
No Supports animated textures in uploaded models but no custom material animation creation. | Limited Spatial.io Animated Materials:
Limited Supports animated textures but limited material animation capabilities. |
Audio Playback | Needle Audio Playback:
Yes Supports spatial audio configured via Unity/Blender components. | Sketchfab Audio Playback:
No Sketchfab used to support embedded audio in the past, but doesn't support it anymore. | Spatial.io Audio Playback:
Yes Includes spatial audio for real-time voice communication between avatars. |
Video Playback | Needle Video Playback:
Yes Supports video textures and playback controlled via components. | Sketchfab Video Playback:
No Focuses on static and animated 3D models. | Spatial.io Video Playback:
Yes Supports screen sharing and embedding media within spaces. |
Physics Integration | Needle Physics Integration:
Yes Integrates with physics engines, configured via Unity/Blender components. | Sketchfab Physics Integration:
No Focuses on asset display, not physics simulation. | Limited Spatial.io Physics Integration:
Limited Handles basic avatar movement and interactions within the platform constraints. |
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. | Sketchfab glTF 3D Support:
Yes glTF is the preferred format; platform automatically converts many other formats to optimized glTF for viewing. | Spatial.io glTF 3D Support:
Yes Supports uploading glTF models for use in spaces. |
Custom User Interfaces | Needle Custom User Interfaces:
Yes Facilitates creation of UI using standard HTML/CSS and frontend frameworks, integrated with the 3D scene. | Sketchfab Custom User Interfaces:
No Provides the standard viewer UI (controls, annotations) with slight customization options. | Spatial.io Custom User Interfaces:
No Provides the user interface for navigation, communication, and interaction within the platform. |
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. | Sketchfab Web Component:
Yes Provides iframe/oEmbed code for easy embedding, functioning like a web component. | Spatial.io Web Component:
No Experiences are accessed through the Spatial platform/website. |
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. | Sketchfab PWA Support:
No Embeds work in PWAs; viewer can be used within Progressive Web Apps. | Spatial.io PWA Support:
No The platform is web-based. |
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. | Sketchfab HTML/CSS Integration:
No Can be embedded in other websites, but can't easily combine web UI and the Sketchfab viewer | Limited Spatial.io HTML/CSS Integration:
Limited Focus is on the immersive 3D environment within the platform. |
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. | Sketchfab Host Anywhere:
No Models and viewer are hosted on Sketchfab's platform. | Spatial.io Host Anywhere:
No Requires Spatial's backend infrastructure for hosting, networking, and persistence. |
Asset Hosting | Needle Asset Hosting:
Yes Needle Cloud provides managed hosting and CDN delivery for optimized assets. | Sketchfab Asset Hosting:
Yes Core function is hosting 3D models which can be accessed via API. | Spatial.io Asset Hosting:
Yes Hosts user-uploaded assets and created spaces. |
App Hosting | Needle App Hosting:
Yes Needle Cloud provides managed hosting and CDN delivery for optimized applications. | Sketchfab App Hosting:
No Not applicable – does not support full apps. | Required Spatial.io App Hosting:
Required Experiences are hosted on the Spatial platform. |
Performance & Optimization | |||
Engine Size | Medium Needle Engine Size:
Medium Optimized runtime aims for minimal footprint, size depends on included features. | Medium Sketchfab Engine Size:
Medium The viewer code needs to be loaded. | Large Spatial.io Engine Size:
Large Includes rendering, networking, avatar systems, and platform features. |
Loading Performance | Excellent Needle Loading Performance:
Excellent Rapid development cycles and fast loading times through optimized runtime and asset handling. | Medium Sketchfab Loading Performance:
Medium Optimized viewer and asset delivery for quick loading. No GPU compressed formats. | Moderate Spatial.io Loading Performance:
Moderate Loading times depend on the complexity of the space and number of assets. |
Runtime Performance | Excellent Needle Runtime Performance:
Excellent Designed for efficient rendering performance across desktop, mobile, and XR devices. | High Sketchfab Runtime Performance:
High Offers good rendering performance for viewing complex models. High memory usage. | Moderate Spatial.io Runtime Performance:
Moderate Performance can vary depending on scene complexity, number of concurrent users, and device capabilities. |
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. | Sketchfab Smart Asset Optimization:
Yes Performs automatic mesh optimization, texture compression (including Basis Universal), and geometry processing upon upload to ensure performant viewing. | Limited Spatial.io Smart Asset Optimization:
Limited Platform performs basic compression on uploaded assets, but no simplification. |
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. | Limited Sketchfab Mesh and Texture LODs:
Limited Automatically generates texture LODs for viewing of models. Does not create mehs LODs or GPU-compressed textures. | Spatial.io Mesh and Texture LODs:
No Platform automatically handles compresses textures, but does not generate mesh or texture LODs for uploaded assets. |
XR Support (AR/VR/Spatial) | |||
VR Support (WebXR) | Needle VR Support (WebXR):
Yes Supports VR headsets via the WebXR standard. | Limited Sketchfab VR Support (WebXR):
Limited Built-in support for viewing models in VR via WebXR; no interactivity. | Spatial.io VR Support (WebXR):
Yes Strong support for accessing spaces via VR headsets for a more immersive experience. |
AR Support (WebXR) | Needle AR Support (WebXR):
Yes Supports markerless WebAR on compatible Android devices via the WebXR standard. | Limited Sketchfab AR Support (WebXR):
Limited Provides an AR button for viewing on compatible Android devices (WebXR); no interactivity.. | Spatial.io AR Support (WebXR):
No Primary focus is on virtual spaces (Web/VR), not mobile AR. |
AR Support (iOS) | Needle AR Support (iOS):
Yes Supports interactive markerless WebAR on iOS devices via WebXR. | Limited Sketchfab AR Support (iOS):
Limited Provides an AR button using AR Quick Look on compatible iOS devices; no interactivity. | Spatial.io AR Support (iOS):
No Not supported. |
AR Support (visionOS) | Needle AR Support (visionOS):
Yes Explicit support for creating spatial computing experiences deployable on visionOS. | Limited Sketchfab AR Support (visionOS):
Limited Only basic USDZ conversion supported, no interactivity. | Spatial.io AR Support (visionOS):
No Not supported. |
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 Sketchfab AR Tracking Types:
Surface Supports World Tracking from inside | N/A Spatial.io AR Tracking Types:
N/A Not an AR-focused platform. |
Ecosystem & Support | |||
Official Support Availability | Needle Official Support Availability:
Yes Dedicated support available for licensed users. | Sketchfab Official Support Availability:
Yes Support available, especially for paid plan users. | Spatial.io Official Support Availability:
Yes Support available, particularly for paid/enterprise users. |
Learning Resources | Needle Learning Resources:
Yes Extensive documentation, tutorials, live samples, and active community support. | Good Sketchfab Learning Resources:
Good Help Center, blog, and community forums offer resources. | Good Spatial.io Learning Resources:
Good Help center, tutorials, and community resources available for creators. |
License | Commercial Needle License:
Commercial Commercial license required for full features and deployment. Free evaluation available. | Commercial Sketchfab License:
Commercial Offers free and paid subscription tiers. Acquired by Epic Games. | Commercial Spatial.io License:
Commercial Offers free access with paid tiers for enhanced features, capacity, or customization. |