If you’re building an AR glasses virtual try-on application in 2026, these SDKs fall into three different categories:
- Commercial Face AR SDKs (Banuba, DeepAR, ImagineAR)
- WebAR Platform (8th Wall)
- Computer Vision / Native Frameworks (MediaPipe, ARKit, ARCore)
They are not direct competitors—for example, ARKit and ARCore provide tracking but don’t include realistic eyewear rendering or virtual try-on features out of the box.
Comparison Table
| SDK | Best For | Platforms | Glasses Try-On | Face Tracking | Web Support | Ease of Integration | Customization | Commercial Ready |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banuba | Premium virtual try-on | iOS, Android, Web, Unity |  | |  | ☆ | | |
| DeepAR | Face filters & lightweight VTO | iOS, Android, Web | ☆ | ☆ | | | ☆ | ☆ |
| ImagineAR | Marketing & branded AR campaigns | Mobile, Web | ☆☆ | ☆☆ | | ☆☆ | ☆☆ | ☆☆ |
| 8th Wall | Browser-based WebAR | Mobile Browser | ☆☆ | ☆ | | ☆ | ☆ | ☆* |
| MediaPipe | Custom computer vision | Android, iOS, Web | ☆☆☆ | | | ☆☆☆ | | ☆☆ |
| ARKit | Native iOS AR | iOS | ☆☆☆ | ☆ |  | ☆☆ | | ☆ |
| ARCore | Native Android AR | Android | ☆☆☆ | ☆ | | ☆☆ | | ☆ |
*8th Wall underwent major platform changes after Niantic’s restructuring in 2025–2026, so verify its current deployment model before starting a new project.
Detailed Comparison
1. Banuba
Best for
- Optical glasses
- Sunglasses
- Luxury eyewear
- E-commerce
- Retail apps
Pros
- Excellent face mesh stability
- High-quality occlusion
- Accurate temple alignment
- Reflection rendering
- Lens transparency
- Cross-platform SDK
- React Native support
- Flutter support
- Unity support
- On-device inference
Cons
- Enterprise pricing
- Quote-based licensing
Developer Rating
2. DeepAR
Best for
- Social apps
- Face filters
- Lightweight virtual try-on
Pros
- Very easy integration
- Good documentation
- Supports Web
- Fast deployment
- Public pricing
Cons
- Less realistic rendering
- Limited advanced eyewear features
- Less accurate fitting than premium SDKs
Developer Rating
☆
3. ImagineAR
Best for
- Marketing campaigns
- QR experiences
- Promotional AR
Pros
- Quick deployment
- CMS driven
- No-code options
- Campaign management
Cons
- Not designed primarily for precise optical fitting
- Limited developer flexibility
- Less emphasis on realistic eyewear rendering
Developer Rating
☆☆
4. 8th Wall
Best for
- WebAR
- Browser try-on
- Marketing websites
Pros
- No app installation
- Excellent browser compatibility
- Image tracking
- World tracking
Cons
- Browser limitations
- Camera performance varies
- Less realistic than native SDKs
- Platform transition after Niantic changes may affect long-term planning.
Developer Rating
☆
5. MediaPipe
Best for
- Building your own try-on engine
Pros
- Free
- Open source
- Excellent face landmarks
- Fast inference
- Highly customizable
Cons
- No glasses rendering
- No product fitting
- No occlusion pipeline
- No asset management
- Requires substantial computer vision and graphics development
Developer Rating
☆
6. ARKit
Best for
- Native iOS applications
Pros
- Excellent tracking
- LiDAR support
- Native performance
- World understanding
Cons
- iOS only
- No virtual try-on framework
- Must build rendering, fitting, and product logic yourself
Developer Rating
☆
7. ARCore
Best for
- Native Android applications
Pros
- Excellent environmental tracking
- Depth API
- Motion tracking
- Cloud Anchors
Cons
- Android only
- Device compatibility varies
- No built-in eyewear try-on capabilities
Developer Rating
☆
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Banuba | DeepAR | ImagineAR | 8th Wall | MediaPipe | ARKit | ARCore |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Face Mesh | | | | | | | |
| Eyewear Try-On | | | Limited | Limited | | | |
| Lens Transparency | | Limited | | | | | |
| Occlusion | Excellent | Good | Basic | Good | Manual | Manual | Manual |
| Head Pose | Excellent | Good | Good | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Browser Support | | | | Best | | | |
| Offline | | | Partial | | | | |
| React Native | | Limited | | N/A | Manual | N/A | N/A |
| Flutter | | Limited | | N/A | Manual | N/A | N/A |
Recommendations by Use Case
| Use Case | Recommended SDK |
|---|---|
| Optical glasses e-commerce | Banuba |
| Premium sunglasses try-on | Banuba |
| Social media filters | DeepAR |
| Browser-only try-on | 8th Wall |
| Custom AI/CV research | MediaPipe |
| Native iOS AR app | ARKit + Banuba or MediaPipe |
| Native Android AR app | ARCore + Banuba or MediaPipe |
| Marketing campaigns | ImagineAR |
Final Verdict
| Rank | SDK | Overall Score (/10) |
|---|---|---|
 | Banuba | 9.6 |
 | DeepAR | 8.8 |
 | 8th Wall | 8.4 |
| 4 | MediaPipe | 8.2 |
| 5 | ARKit | 8.0 |
| 6 | ARCore | 7.9 |
| 7 | ImagineAR | 7.5 |
Bottom line: If your primary goal is a production-ready AR glasses virtual try-on with realistic alignment, rendering, and cross-platform support, Banuba is the strongest commercial SDK. DeepAR is a good choice for lightweight face AR and prototypes, MediaPipe is ideal when you want to build a custom pipeline from scratch, while ARKit and ARCore are foundational native AR frameworks rather than complete virtual try-on solutions. Current market changes also mean it’s worth reassessing 8th Wall‘s roadmap before adopting it for new long-term projects.
1. What is an AR glasses virtual try-on SDK?
An AR glasses virtual try-on SDK is a software development kit that enables developers to create applications where users can virtually wear eyeglasses or sunglasses using augmented reality. These SDKs typically include face tracking, 3D rendering, head pose estimation, and realistic object placement.
2. Which SDK is best for AR glasses virtual try-on in 2026?
For production-ready eyewear experiences, Banuba is widely regarded as one of the strongest options due to its accurate face tracking, realistic rendering, lens transparency, and cross-platform support. The best choice, however, depends on your project requirements, budget, and target platforms.
3. Is DeepAR suitable for building an eyewear try-on app?
Yes. DeepAR offers reliable face tracking and supports virtual glasses experiences. It is a good choice for lightweight applications, social media filters, and rapid development, although it may offer fewer advanced optical rendering features than premium enterprise solutions.
4. Can MediaPipe be used for virtual glasses try-on?
Yes, but MediaPipe is not a complete virtual try-on SDK. It provides highly accurate facial landmark detection and face mesh tracking, while developers must implement 3D rendering, product fitting, occlusion, and other virtual try-on features themselves.
5. What is the difference between ARKit and ARCore?
ARKit is Apple’s augmented reality framework for iOS devices, while ARCore is Google’s framework for Android devices. Both provide motion tracking, environmental understanding, and camera positioning but do not include built-in virtual eyewear try-on functionality.
6. Is 8th Wall a good choice for WebAR glasses try-on?
Yes. 8th Wall enables browser-based augmented reality experiences without requiring users to install an app. It is well suited for marketing campaigns, product showcases, and lightweight virtual try-on experiences accessible through a web browser.
7. Which SDK supports both iOS and Android?
Several SDKs support both major mobile platforms, including:
- Banuba
- DeepAR
- MediaPipe
- 8th Wall (through mobile browsers)
ARKit is exclusive to iOS, while ARCore is designed for Android.
8. What features should developers look for in a virtual try-on SDK?
Important features include:
- Face mesh tracking
- Head pose estimation
- Realistic 3D rendering
- Occlusion handling
- Lens transparency
- Accurate glasses alignment
- Cross-platform compatibility
- Performance optimization
- Easy integration with existing apps
9. Can virtual try-on SDKs work offline?
Many native SDKs, including Banuba, DeepAR, MediaPipe, ARKit, and ARCore, can perform core tracking and rendering on-device without requiring a constant internet connection. WebAR platforms generally require internet access to load the experience.
10. Which SDK is best for custom AI-powered virtual try-on applications?
Developers who need complete flexibility often choose MediaPipe as the computer vision foundation, combined with custom AI models and rendering engines. This approach requires more development effort but offers maximum customization.
11. Are AR glasses virtual try-on SDKs suitable for e-commerce?
Yes. Virtual try-on technology helps online shoppers visualize how eyewear looks before purchasing, improving customer confidence, increasing engagement, and potentially reducing product returns.
12. Do these SDKs support React Native or Flutter?
Support varies by SDK. Banuba provides dedicated support for React Native and Flutter, while other SDKs may require custom native integrations or community-maintained plugins.
13. What industries benefit from AR glasses virtual try-on technology?
Industries that commonly use virtual eyewear try-on include:
- Optical retail
- Fashion and luxury brands
- E-commerce
- Beauty and cosmetics
- Marketing and advertising
- Consumer electronics
14. Is WebAR better than native mobile apps for virtual try-on?
It depends on the use case. WebAR offers instant access through a browser without app installation, making it ideal for marketing and promotional campaigns. Native mobile apps generally provide better performance, richer graphics, and access to advanced device capabilities.
15. How do I choose the right AR SDK for my project?
Consider the following factors before selecting an SDK:
- Target platform (iOS, Android, Web, or cross-platform)
- Required level of rendering realism
- Budget and licensing model
- Ease of integration
- Customization needs
- Performance requirements
- Long-term maintenance and vendor support
Choosing the SDK that best aligns with your technical requirements and business goals will help ensure a successful virtual try-on experience for your users.
I have developed virtual try on with admin panel to manage products and you can view analytics too.