ARClip or PlayCanvas
PlayCanvas is an open-source engine and browser editor for 3D games and interactive work: real-time collaboration, JavaScript scripts, WebXR, version checkpoints and builds you can host yourself. ARClip is a 3D editor where you can build a game without code too: events, game controls, multiplayer and AR are already inside.
Free — unlimited projects, views and publishing
Choose ARClip if
- you want interactivity without a developer
- you want to describe a scene in words and get it in the editor
- players steer a character with the keyboard or a finger on the phone — with no code
- viewers have to be in the scene together — games, tours, meetings
- the game has to ship on the App Store and Google Play
Choose PlayCanvas if
- you host the game on your own server
- you roll the project back to earlier versions
- you want an open-source engine you can change and build yourself
You can use both: keep the main game in PlayCanvas and build AR and VR versions, promos and prototypes with your team in ARClip. Models and sounds move over as files.
What ARClip gives you for 3D games
Games without code
An event and its steps: jump, pick up a coin, keep score — no developer needed. Complex rules go into node patches.
How it worksCharacter controls
Walking, flying or top-down, a follow camera and touch buttons on phones — all from one Game controls trigger.
How it worksPhysics and code
Rigid bodies and collisions, plus TypeScript scripts for complex mechanics.
How it worksMultiplayer with no server of your own
Up to 30 players per room: who is in, messages, shared objects and smooth movement of other players. Friends play in a room of their own through an invite link.
How it worksThe same game in AR and VR
Put the game on a table in AR or open it in a VR headset — from the same link, with no separate build.
How it worksA link, App Clip and the stores
The game opens from a link or QR code, on iPhone through an App Clip, and the studio builds Xcode and Android Studio projects for the App Store and Google Play.
How it worksYour team, and AI alongside
Live edits, voice, video and screen sharing, and an AI assistant that builds a level from a description.
How it works
Side by side
| Capability | ARClip | PlayCanvas |
|---|---|---|
| Building the game | ||
| No-code logic: events and states | Yes | Nologic is written in JavaScript |
| Code scripting | YesTypeScript | YesJavaScript |
| Physics | Yes | Yesammo.js |
| AI assistant that builds the scene | Yesuses AI credits | PartlyAI agents for code via an MCP server and VS Code |
| For players | ||
| Playing in AR over the real world | Yeson a table, from a picture or on a face | YesWebXR on Android and Quest |
| VR in headsets | YesQuest, Pico, Vision Pro, PC VR | YesWebXR: Quest, Vision Pro |
| Publishing | ||
| Opens from a link or QR code, no app | Yes | Yesone-click publishing to a CDN |
| A build for your own hosting | Nocustom domain on paid plans | Yeson every plan |
| Publishing on a free plan | Yes | Yespublic projects only |
| Teamwork | ||
| Real-time co-editing of the scene | Yes | Yes |
| Project version history | Noundo and redo within a session | Yescheckpoints |
| Open-source engine | No | YesMIT engine |
Pricing
- ARClip
- Free with no limits on projects, views or publishing — every editor included and commercial use allowed. Paid plans add AI credits, a custom domain and support.
- PlayCanvas
- Free has 1 GB and public projects only, with free hosting. Personal is $15 a month for 10 GB and private projects. Organization is $50 per seat a month.
Facts about PlayCanvas checked on October 12, 2026 against public sources:
- playcanvas.com/plans
- playcanvas.com/products/editor
- developer.playcanvas.com/user-manual/xr
- developer.playcanvas.com/user-manual/physics/physics-basics
- github.com/playcanvas/engine
PlayCanvas is a trademark of its owner. Spotted a mistake? Let us know
How to move your PlayCanvas projects to ARClip Design
What moves over as files
- In PlayCanvas, download the source models, textures and sounds from the Assets panel.
- Drop them into an ARClip project — GLB, glTF, FBX and OBJ models become GLB on their own.
What to rebuild — and with what
Move JavaScript scripts to ARClip's TypeScript scripts or replace them with events and patches; physics becomes rigid bodies and colliders, and templates become prefabs.
Fastest with AI: describe the project to the assistant in the editor, or connect Claude or Cursor via MCP, and the agent builds the scene from your files and description.
Build the logic with events or a script, publish the game and share a link or QR code.
Questions
Is making games in ARClip free?
Yes: the editor, publishing and teamwork are free, with no limits on projects or views. AI credits are only needed to generate images, video and 3D models.
How do I move a game over from PlayCanvas?
Models, textures and sounds move over as files — GLB, glTF, FBX and OBJ become GLB on their own. Logic and levels have to be rebuilt with events, patches or TypeScript scripts; the AI assistant can help from a description.
Do I need my own server for multiplayer?
No: ARClip runs the rooms, with up to 30 players each. Turn multiplayer on in the project settings and choose what to sync in a script.
Can I ship a game to the App Store and Google Play?
Yes: from the latest publication ARClip builds Xcode and Android Studio projects, which you sign and submit to the store. There are no Steam or desktop builds yet.
Try it on your own project
Open a workspace, describe what you want to build and see the first version in the editor. No card, no install.
Start building — free