The 50 best augmented reality apps for smartphones

in Applications and software

By Pierrick LABBE

The Top 50 best AR applications for smartphones whether on iPhone, iPad or Android. The best apps to discover the potential of augmented reality. The best free or low-cost augmented reality applications for smartphones.

Augmented reality applications on smartphones are not new. Augmented reality on smartphones appeared a few years ago. Popularized by the Pokémon Go game, their number has continued to grow, each time offering new features. The arrival of augmented reality development kits, Apple's ARKit for iOS and Google's ARCore for Android, however, have changed the game and allowed developers to easily create AR apps. However, it is difficult to sort them out. Our American colleagues from the online journal specializing in augmented reality, “Next Reality”, have screened hundreds of AR applications. On this basis, we offer you a Top of the best augmented reality apps to discover absolutely. These best augmented reality applications are classified by themes: travel, the best games, social and fun, education, fashion and beauty as well as useful applications for everyday life. Most of these applications are free, the others are very affordable.

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Best augmented reality apps for traveling

Traveling to a foreign country can be quite stressful. It's easy to get lost, not to know how to find your way, especially if you don't speak the language of the country or speak it badly. Fortunately, augmented reality on smartphones turns out to be a great help. Our Top AR apps for travellers.

Google Translate: the perfect companion when you don't speak the language

The augmented reality functionality of Google Translate is ideal for people who do not speak a foreign language or speak it poorly. Using the camera in your smartphone's camera, Google Translate can instantly translate signs or writing into your native language. Totally free, the augmented reality functionality of Google Translate is available on iOS and Android.

Blippar: to identify landmarks

Blippar is a free augmented reality application available on both iOS and Android. It offers multiple functionalities such as, for example, the recognition of objects and logos or the recognition of historical sites. 2,000 reference points are available with an accuracy of around 90%.

ARCity: Blippar's add-on

ARCity is a complement to the Blippar application. This free application, too, is however only available on iOS. In particular, it improves Bipplar's augmented reality navigation in urban areas.

Find Your Car with AR: to find your car

Find Your Car with AR is a free AR app available only on iOS. It is reserved for the heads in the air who regularly forget where they parked their car on a parking lot of supermarket, airport or other. The application will show you the way to find your vehicle through your iPhone's camera.

The best augmented reality games on smartphone or tablet

Augmented reality games are obviously one of the drivers of augmented reality on smartphones. There are hundreds of them, free or paid, of very variable quality. To discover the playful potential of augmented reality, we offer you a Top of the best AR games on Android and iOS.

Pokémon GO: the megahit of AR games on smartphones

Launched in 2016, Pokémon Go has become a real worldwide success. This is the game that really democratized augmented reality on smartphones. Created by Niantic, Pokémon Go is a game in which players must go out to hunt Pokémons. The game has subsequently been enriched with many features and new legendary Pokémon are regularly added. Note that Niantic should soon launch a similar game called "Harry Potter: Wizards Unite", an augmented reality game based on the universe of the wizard of Hogwarts. Pokémon Go is available for free on iOS and Android.

Ingress: one of the pioneers of augmented reality games

Also developed by Niantic, Ingress is the pioneer of location-based AR games. Ingress plunges the user into a cyberpunk universe. Niantic is working on a big update to this AR game that will add new features and a new story. Ingress is free and available on both iOS and Android.

PuzzlAR: World Tour: 3D puzzles

"PuzzlAR: World Tour" is an augmented reality game that uses famous monuments such as the Statue of Liberty or the Taj Mahal to explode them into numerous 3D puzzle pieces. The augmented reality puzzle game is characterized by a well thought out and intuitive interface. "PuzzlAR: World Tour" is available on iOS for $2.99 ​​and Android for $1.99.

NBA AR: an augmented reality basketball game

NBA AR is a game based on the American basketball championship. This fun AR game will force the player to correctly orient their smartphone to score hoops. However, this requires a little practice and a fairly large space. NBA AR is only available on iOS. It's free, but it's a big incentive to buy tickets to watch NBA games and watch NBA TV shows.

Metaverse: doing quizzes and treasure hunts in AR

Metaverse is an application that allows you to carry out, yourself, real quizzes and treasure hunts in augmented reality. One of the characteristics of the application is its simplicity and a spectacular result. Completely free, Metaverse is available on both iPhone and smartphones using Android.

The Machines: an augmented reality strategy game

The Machines is a marvel of AR gaming. You will have to place towers and manage troops on a real 3D battlefield. You will have to defend your positions and attack those of the artificial intelligence of the game or those of another player. A highly immersive augmented reality game available only on iOS for $4.99.

Father IO: an AR game that requires an accessory

Father IO turns your environment into a battle arena. It is necessary to have the Interceptor accessory and to clip it on your smartphone. This accessory will turn your phone is laser gun. You will be able to carry out, with your friends, real fights in your street, house or neighborhood. The app, which works on iOS and Android, is completely free. However, count 39.99 dollars to acquire the Interceptor accessory.

The best social apps in AR and entertainment

The main social networks have taken advantage of augmented reality to add entertaining functions. Other apps offer to add augmented reality to your photos and videos. Our Top AR Social Apps and Augmented Reality Entertainment Apps.

Snapchat: the reference of social networks in AR

Very oriented towards young people, Snapchat was one of the very first social networks to add augmented reality features to smartphones. Snapchat allows users to transform their selfies by adding filters or stickers. It is also possible to add masks. A few small augmented reality games are also available. Snapchat works on both iPhone and Android smartphones and is free.

Instagram: a plagiarism of Snapchat's features

The Instagram application, owned by Facebook, was largely inspired by the augmented reality features offered by Snapchat. A little less rich in AR features than its competitor, Instagram does however offer a whole range of augmented reality filters and stickers. Instagram is free and available on iOS and Android.

Facebook and Messenger: heavyweights in the age of AR

Facebook and its real-time messaging system, Messenger, couldn't let Snapchat have a monopoly on augmented reality. The social networking giant has also made extensive use of the features offered by Snapchat to catch up. Facebook and Messenger also offer other augmented reality effects. These are however often limited to the front camera. Facebook and Messenger are of course free and available on all smartphone models.

Animojis: the augmented reality showcase of the iPhone X

Animojis is an augmented reality application that only works with the iPhone X. This app makes excellent use of the possibilities offered by facial capture and TrueDepht mode. Completely free for owners of the Apple brand's flagship, Animojis offers a wide range of various masks that reflect the user's facial expressions.

Clips: to change backgrounds in AR

Clips is a free app for iPhone. It offers various AR functions but it is with an iPhone X that it offers the best results. It is thus possible to replace the background on a selfie with various scenes such as from cult films such as Star Wars, Finding Dory or even Monsters, inc.

AR Stickers: add animated 3D characters

AR Stickers only works on Google Pixel smartphones. This application allows you to add 3D animated characters to your environment. Different sticker packs are available and it is even possible to make characters interact with each other. Completely free, AR Stickers only works on Google Pixel phones.

Dubface: your face on animated 3D characters

Dubface allows you to place your face (or that of friends) or even celebrities on animated characters in 3 dimensions. Dubface is free but count however 0.99 dollars for the version without advertising. Dubface uses Apple's ARKit and is therefore only available on iOS.

MSQRD: an alternative to Snapchat

MSQRD takes over many features of Snapchat. So you can use face masks or virtual helmets on your photos or videos. Unlike Snapchat, MSQRD allows you to publish your content on Facebook Live. The augmented reality application is free and available on iOS and Android.

Holo: realistic AR content for your photos and videos

Holo is an augmented reality application for iOS and Android that offers realistic 3D content to enrich your photos and videos. More than 300 models are available, many of them taken from cult movies. Although reserved for a more "worldly" audience, Holo is completely free.

Sketchfab AR: an incredible library of AR objects

Sketchfab AR is well known to augmented reality app developers. This app also allows everyone to easily add 3D objects in augmented reality to their photos and videos. Completely free and running on iOS and Android, Sketchfab AR has the big advantage of its huge library of augmented reality 3D objects.

Eyejack: poster animations in AR

Eyejack is a markerless scene tracking application. The AR app takes traditional art and replaces it with “trippy” animation. Eyejack is free and available on both iOS and Android.

Lego AR Studio: Add Lego sets to your environment

Lego AR Studio allows you to play with Lego without having to put the pieces together. You will be able to place Lego creations in your environment and interact with them. Lego AR Studio is an application developed with ARKit and therefore only available on iOS. Although free, the application obviously encourages people to buy Lego bricks…

World Brush: sharing works in augmented reality

World Brush is not an augmented reality drawing application but an app that allows artists to easily share their creations with the rest of the world. Thanks to GPS data, it is possible to share the location of a virtual graffiti, a painting or a work of Street Art. Everything is anonymous but a voting system eliminates the chaff. World Brush is available on iOS for $0.99.

AR Lyrics: know the lyrics of the songs

AR Lyrics makes it possible to recognize, thanks to the microphone of the smartphone, a song and to display the lyrics. A very interesting augmented reality application for those who forget the title of a song and those who want to know the lyrics. AR Lyrics is free and only available on iOS.

Like: create music and clips

Like is an augmented reality application very oriented towards teenagers. The application allows you to create music videos and share them with friends. You can add music and mix augmented reality visual effects on the video. Creations can be shared on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Musically, etc. Like is free and available on both iOS and Android.

Just a Line: add lines to your environment

Developed by Google, Just a Line is an application intended to show the potential of ARCore. You can draw white lines in augmented reality and then record a video showing your creation. Easy to use Just a Line is very effective. It is only available for free on Android.

Face Maker: dummy face painting in AR

Face Maker uses the TrueDepht feature of the iPhone X. You will be able to create face paintings very easily with a high degree of precision. Impressive mesh effects are also available. The app is available for $1.99 only for iPhone Xs.

The best fashion and beauty AR apps

Makeup apps have been so successful that many augmented reality fashion and beauty apps have sprung up. Discover our Top of the best augmented reality beauty and fashion apps.

YouCam Makeup: the benchmark for makeup applications

YouCam Makeup is an application that allows you to test a very large choice of makeup on one of your selfies. Many star make-ups are on offer, but it is possible to try on the whole range of make-up from very big brands such as L'Oréal, Chanel, Armani, Lancôme, etc. YouCam Makeup is free and available on iOS and Android.

Makeup: more than 2,000 makeups to test in augmented reality

Like YouCam Makeup, Makeup allows you to test a very large number of celebrity makeup and hairstyles. All colors and shades are offered for a wide variety of styles. Makeup is also a free application running on iOS and Android.

InkHunter: an application to test before getting a tattoo

A tattoo does not fade or so very difficult. Before you take the plunge and adorn your skin with a tattoo you might later regret, InkHunter lets you test out a tattoo on your body. A welcome help before making the decision to get a tattoo. InkHunter is free and runs on iOS and Android.

Glasses: find out which type of glasses is suitable for your face

It is very difficult to find a frame that perfectly matches your face and your style. Indeed, depending on the shape of your face, some shapes of glasses are suitable and others are not. In order not to make mistakes, Glasses allows you to know the types of frames adapted to your face. The augmented reality application uses the TrueDepht function of the iPhone X and is therefore only compatible with this model of smartphone. Glasses is free.

Gucci: virtually try on the brand's eyewear models

Gucci is an application for iPhone X that allows you to virtually try on the Italian brand's eyewear models. A version for iOS and Android also allows you to scan shop windows to reveal animations. The app is free.

Best Educational Augmented Reality Apps

Augmented reality is a great tool for teaching. Many apps are available. Here is the Top Educational AR Apps.

Complete Anatomy 2018: know everything about human anatomy

Complete Anatomy is an augmented reality app for young children. It allows to know and understand the human anatomy. The app is available for free on iOS. Additional purchases allow you to go further. These are sold between 1 and 50 dollars.

SkyView: to know which constellation you see

SkyView is an augmented reality app that uses your smartphone's camera. Just point your phone at a starry sky to find out which constellation you're looking at and which celestial bodies you can admire. There is a free version on iOS and Android as well as a more advanced paid version for $1.99.

JigSpace: to know how objects and the human body work

JigSpace is an augmented reality application that shows how mechanical objects and even the human body work without having to open or disassemble. A particularly interesting educational and immersive application. JigSpace is free but only works on iOS.

NY Times: the AR application of the famous newspaper

The famous New York newspaper, the NY Times, a real institution in the United States now offers to follow certain news in augmented reality. The AR journalism app is free and available on iOS and Android. Paid add-ons are also available at varying prices.

BBC Civilizations: a museum at your fingertips

BBC Civilizations is an educational application taken from the eponymous program of the famous British channel BBC. It allows you to view, in 3D and augmented reality, ancient artifacts in your living room. These objects, belonging to museums around the world, reveal the wonders of the ancient world and allow you to know them better. The app is free and available on both iOS and Android.

SketchAR: to learn drawing easily

SketchAR is an app that lets you learn to draw using augmented reality. After analyzing the environment and the drawing surface, SketAR will ink the chosen drawing step by step and you will only have to follow the curves. The application is available for free on iOS, Android but also on HoloLens where it comes into its own.

Sun Seeker: to know everything about the movements of the earth

Sun Seeker will explain to you the solar path on our planet. You will be able to visualize the hour intervals in augmented reality and understand, at best, how the days and nights unfold. Sold at a price of 9.99 dollars, the augmented reality application Sun Seeker is available on iOS and Android.

Froggipedia: the anatomy of a frog without dissection

Froggipedia allows you to know everything about the anatomy of a frog without having to dissect it. An augmented reality application that will undoubtedly save thousands of lives of batrachians. Dissecting a frog is part of the American curriculum requirement. The app is sold for $3.99 and is only available on iOS.

GeoGebra Augmented Reality: visualizing graphs in AR

GeoGebra Augmented Reality is the equivalent of a graphing calculator. This application allows you to view equations and graphs in augmented reality. It is free but only available on iOS.

The Best Useful Augmented Reality Apps

Because the possibilities offered by augmented reality are colossal (and there are still many fields of possibilities to explore), here is the Top particularly useful AR app. These applications could become indispensable in everyday life.

Measure Kit: to measure everything thanks to augmented reality

Mesure Kit is an application that allows you to easily take a large number of measurements. You can of course evaluate a distance with great precision but also measure the cubic volume of an object or even determine a trajectory. Mesure Kit uses the Face Mesh and the TrueDepth of the iPhone X. The app is therefore only available on this model of smartphone at a price of 4.99 dollars. Double the price for the Pro version.

AirMeasure: mark contours and preview objects

AirMesure uses the principle of Mesure Kit and also allows you to create floor plans, mark the outline of a sports field, draw in space and preview furniture in a room. The application, however, is much less precise than Mesure Kit. It is free and available on iOS and Android.

AiPoly: an AR application for the blind

AiPoly is an augmented reality application that uses depth management to indicate to blind people the presence of objects, their distance and announce it out loud. The AiPoly app, which runs on iOS and Android, is free for one week and then costs $4.99 per month.

IKEA Place: Swedish furniture in an AR app

IKEA Place is an app from furniture giant IKEA. It allows you to view the furniture in the catalog in your environment and thus ensure that the style chosen and the colors are the right ones. It also ensures that the space in your room is sufficient to accommodate the chosen furniture. IKEA Place is a free augmented reality app available on iOS and Android.

Vuforia Chalk: remote maintenance

Vuforia Chalk is an augmented reality application that shares a person's video and thus provides guidance for remote maintenance. Your grandma won't need to send you over the next time she can't do something with her computer… Vuforia Chalk is free but only available on iOS.

Amazon: visualize Amazon products in their environment

Like the IKEA application, Amazon offers an app to preview furniture in your environment. However, the application goes further by also offering to preview electronics, toys and other products. A very practical application for furnishing and equipping your interior. Amazon is free and available on iOS and Android.

BMW: preview a model of the range in its driveway

BMW also offers to preview a model in your environment. The German car manufacturer offers to view the interior and exterior of 3 of its models. The augmented reality application also allows you to customize the paint, trim and wheels. BMW's AR app is obviously free and works on iOS and Android.

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