Best Free Augmented Reality Apps for Android and iOS
Augmented reality is a powerful technology, which was earlier limited to science fiction, but now is finding applications in various other fields like architecture, astronomy, education healthcare, e-commerce, and many more. By the use of AR, a virtual 3D object can be made to appear in the real world. Thus, AR makes the digital experience more exciting and interactive.
Let’s have a look at the most trending Augmented Reality apps of 2020.
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Best Augmented Reality Apps for Android & iOS
Houzz:
Houzz is the No 1 app when it comes to planning interior layouts and designing your home. It is basically a home improvement app that allows users to shop from a wide range of home decor products and furniture, both for interior and exterior design. The AR technology allows the user to see how the products would look in their home.
Some interesting features:
- Offers more than 20 million styles and locations to choose from
- Connects the users to professionals which can be hired by the users to get detailed insights about the home projects
- Sketch feature which allows user to draw on the photos
- Access to regular newsletters, articles, home decor videos, and tricks related to home renovation and designing
iOnRoad
Considered as one of the best Android augmented reality apps,iOnRoad, as the name suggests, helps users improve their driving experience in real-time. With the help of a smartphone camera, GPS, and sensor, the app detects vehicles and objects in front of used vehicles and maps them using Visual Radar. It also calculates the driver’s current speed and based on these alerts the driver of any approaching danger.
Some interesting features:
- The app helps to detect the speed signs as you pass by them, and warns you is a case of over speeding
- Helps you locate your car by taking a snapshot of your parking spot and later guiding you to the car using GPS
- Records videos and takes photos while you are on the go
- Compatible with most navigation and parking apps like Google Maps, Navigation, or MyCar Locator
Google Translate:
A handy translation tool by google used widely. The standard version of Google translate is used to translate text (by typing), but the whole new AR version allows you to translate by simply pointing your camera towards the text. This tool is very useful if you want to read different signs, packaging details, or scan any document.
Some interesting features:
- Translates to 103 languages online and 59 languages offline
- Camera mode translation support for 32 languages
- Handwritten notes are also supported for translation
- Also provides two-way instant speech translation to help to converse in different languages
Mondly:
Mondly presents itself as the first-ever AR assisted language learning app, which has transformed the way of learning a new language. The AR feature makes the learning experience more interactive with speech recognition animated chatbots, and object visualizations, making it easier for users to memorize new words. It also uses a camera and shows animations to make learning more fun.
Some interesting features:
- Offers 33 different languages to learn from
- Speech recognition feature with regular feedback to improve pronunciation
- Built-in conversations by native speakers, which helps the user to build a core vocabulary
- Customized adaptive learning based on your custom style of learning
- Regular tracking of progress using intelligent reporting and allows you to share your progress with friends and fellow users
Star Walk 2:
A fascinating app for those interested in stargazing and astronomy which allows us to explore the night sky by pointing your camera skywards. The app uses location data and device sensors to identify stars, planets constellations and more and that too in real time. The AR mode allows users to see the mapped and charted objects superimposed on the night sky making it an engaging experience for the App user.
Some interesting features:
- Night mode to make the sky observation experience more comfortable.
- Observe the star positions in different time periods using time travel mode
- The constellations can be observed in 3D form and can be turned upside down for obtaining greater clarity
- Stay updated with new upcoming astronomical events
Google lens:
Another handy app by Google combines the power of a search engine with a smartphone camera. Simply point your camera towards an image, object, or anything you want to get info on, click a picture and get the search results.
Some interesting features:
- Allows us to scan QR Codes readily
- Help find products similar to the image online, be it clothes or furniture.
- Explore different places by identifying important landmarks, get reviews on different stores or restaurants
- It can also identify text and perform a google search to provide more information about it
YouCam Makeup:
YouCam is undoubted, the best AR makeup and selfie camera available. Besides acting as a beauty camera, YouCam allows users to test cosmetic products from different leading beauty brands using AR technology. It provides Virtual makeup tutorials, AI-assisted makeovers and allows users to edit their photos and selfies with complete face makeover, hair, eyes, skin tone allowing you to choose between different makeover styles.
Some interesting features:
- Allows users to record makeup videos in the app itself
- Skincare Cameraanalyses skin health instantly and gives relative scores for wrinkles, acne, dark spots, and dark circles.
- Allows the users to share their looks with fellow users and also comment and review the products used
- Users receive the latest tips and tutorials from fellow users and other members of the community
Augment:
Augmented is one of the best augmented reality apps of 2020 which allows users to visualize their 3D models in AR. The app has a wide range of applications, especially for those involved in sales and e-commerce. Store owners can use the app to create 3D images of their products, to make the shopping experience with them more engaging.
Some interesting features:
- Easy to use with simple yet useful features
- Allows the user to compare different 3D models side to side
- Offline availability of different catalogs of 3D models
AR Ruler App:
AR Ruler app is designed to replace the traditional tape measure, with your smartphone camera, but with a lot of added features. With this App, your smartphone can be used to measure linear distances, distance from a fixed point, length of the path, relative height of objects, area, perimeter, and even volume for 3D objects. However, the app is only available for Android 7 and 7+ versions
Some interesting features:
- User-friendly app with a high level of accuracy
- On-screen ruler feature to measure small objects directly
- Can be used to measure corner angles on 3D planes
- Can also be used to generate plan projections for drawn objects
Vuforia Chalk:
Vuforia Chalk is basically a remote assistance app, which has intelligently integrated AR technology within it. It operates like a video conferencing app, but also allows the callers to doodle and draw on the screen in real-time. The callers, thereby, can identify and pinpoint things in real-time, thus saving them a lot of confusion.
Some interesting features:
- App offers an easy way to solve complex problems
- AR allows doodles to stick to real-world objects, even when people move around
- Callers on both ends can draw using different colors
WallaMe:
WallaMe presents a new concept, wherein, users can write/paint messages on walls in the real world using AR technology. These messages may be public or may be visible to your friends only. You need to click a picture of the wall and draw freehand sketches on it, and then share it on WallaMe app. When other WallaMe users pass through the location, they will be able to see your creation.
Some interesting features:
- Cool stickers to make your digital drawings more beautiful
- Option to share your message with all users or with some limited group of friends
- Allows other WallaMe users to like and comment on the creations