Top Augmented Reality Apps to Explore in 2024

We’ve been creating and sharing augmented reality apps and experiences since 2010 at Overlyapp. Back then, we believed that by 2020, everyone would have access to augmented reality (AR) glasses, and AR would be present in all aspects of our lives. Well, fourteen years later, we admit our guesses were off, although not quite to the same extent as the future predictions of the Back to the Future Trilogy.

While mobile phone technologies have allowed for AR to already seep into the lives of the general population, the fact is that the industry is still in its infancy and only just starting to transform the way we interact with the world around us. Today, we again estimate that the glasses for general population will come IN 10 YEARS. But the momentum is there, especially in the B2B world. More and more new use cases are being developed that take the novelty out of AR. NASA engineers use AR to speed up spacecraft construction. Medics are using AR in clinical trials to find veins for accurately drawing blood. The AR market is expected to grow almost 40% by 2030.

This blog explores a diverse range of AR apps that both reflect how AR is used today and signal the trends that are yet to take off as hardware and software capabilities develop.

Overlyapp is one of the most versatile apps on the list, featuring an AR creator that lets you decide the use case and create augmented reality (AR) experiences without coding skills. Users can easily upload designs and content, such as videos or 3D models, fetch content from other platforms, and publish their AR projects. Overly provides a cost-effective, quick self-serve implementation process, enabling users to enhance their visuals with interactive AR elements. Additionally, users can choose custom packages and get creation and onboarding support for use cases in e-commerce and Building Information Modelling (BIM).

Overlyapp augmented reality use cases

• Building Information Modelling: Create WebAR visualizations to aid building approvals, sales, and city planning.
• E-commerce: Showcase products in AR, create interactive catalogs, and instructions, and enhance online shopping experiences.
• Education and training: Develop interactive learning materials, books, 3D simulations, and virtual field trips.
• Event planning: Enhance events with interactive displays and virtual experiences.
• Art: Create interactive art installations, add digital layers to your physical artworks, and build other immersive experiences.

Polycam and Scaniverse are 3D capture and editing apps that allow users to create high-quality 3D models using their smartphones. Polycam supports photogrammetry and LiDAR scanning and includes simple tools for editing and sharing 3D models. Scaniverse rivals Polycam in terms of functionality, but our tests show it offers higher quality. With Scaniverse you can also export game-ready models for free. You can also capture, edit, and share 3D content directly from your phones. You can also share your creations in augmented reality or on platforms like Sketchfab.

Use cases for AR apps like Polycam and Scaniverse

• Architects and interior designers: Capture existing buildings or statues and spaces for city planning.
• Product designers: Use to create 3D models of products for prototyping.
• Game developers: Create 3D assets for games, such as avatars and characters.
• Artists and creators: Build digital sculptures, art installations, and other creative projects.

Eight years on from the launch, Pokemon Go is still the most popular AR game of all time. It integrates digital Pokémons into real-world environments. Using the phone’s GPS and camera, players can see and interact with Pokémon as if they exist in their physical surroundings. Its appeal can only be explained in one word: fandom. For fans of the Pokémon franchise, Pokémon Go is an immersive way to experience another layer of the series. Niantic did try to repeat the same success with the Harry Potter-themed game Wizards Unite in 2019. Unfortunately, Potter fans were not as eager.

Use cases of AR games like Pokémon Go

• Social aspect: Encourage social interaction and community building, as players can team up with friends and organize meet-ups.
• Nostalgia: A nostalgic and immersive way to engage with fans.
• Gamification: Inspire travel, movement, and community work when applied to different goals beyond gaming.

As augmented reality BIM use cases are gaining momentum, InCitu app is trailblaizing its way through the industry. It lets people visualize planned constructions in their environment. For example, before building a new public structure, a public consultation with citizens can be conducted to seek their approval. This app is one of the most popular for this kind of functionality. Although it offers a primitive, web-based experience, it still effectively shows an approximate look of the real building.

ProtoArch is similar to InCitu in terms of use cases, but it is a more complex and precise mobile app. While InCitu is a web-based solution accessible through a web browser, ProtoArch is a standalone app that requires downloading. As an app, it can work with higher precision and detail. Comparing both solutions is challenging: InCitu is very basic, while ProtoArch excels in positioning accuracy and 3D model details.

Use cases of AR apps like InCitu and ProtoArch

• Public consultation: Involve communities in the city planning process and gather feedback on proposed projects.
• Construction planning: Visualize projects to identify potential issues and optimize design.
• Educational purposes: Teach students about architecture, urban planning, and construction processes.
• Site selection: Evaluate potential locations for construction projects based on factors such as visibility and accessibility.
• Real estate development: Showcase proposed developments to potential buyers and investors.

San app is a rare find as it showcases augmented reality artworks that ignore scale and gravity limitations. The author of the app, Gints Gabrāns, creates astonishing digital art and games in urban environments. The host artist also sometimes collaborates with others by selling virtual lands in San.

Use cases for SAN and other GPS-based AR apps

• Immersive art experiences: San offers a unique and engaging way to experience art, as users can interact with and explore artworks in their real-world surroundings.
• Public art installations: The app can be used to create temporary or permanent public art installations that enhance urban spaces and engage the community.
• Educational tool: San can be used to teach students about art, technology, and the creative process

Fibbl is a SaaS platform designed for fashion brands, offering seamless 3D and AR integration for e-commerce. By bridging the gap between the physical and digital worlds, Fibbl significantly enhances customer engagement and reduces return rates. Fibbl’s technology is compatible with all platforms and devices, providing high-quality visual experiences that mimic in-store shopping.

Use cases for Fibbl and similar AR commerce apps

• Fashion retailers: Integrate Fibbl into online stores to showcase clothing, footwear, and accessories in stunning 3D and AR.
• Luxury brands: Offer a VIP experience with personalized virtual try-on sessions and augmented reality product demonstrations.
• Jewelry designers: Showcase intricate details and provide customers with a realistic sense of scale using 3D and AR visualizations.
• Furniture brands: Help customers visualize how furniture pieces would look in their homes using augmented reality placement tools.

ClueKeeper is a platform for creating and playing location-based clue hunts. It features augmented reality integration, allowing players to receive clues and submit answers via their mobile devices. The platform also offers tools for creators to design their own hunts and provides instant results with online leaderboards.

ClueKeeper and other AR scavenger hunt use cases

• Educational purposes: Create AR scavenger hunts that teach students about history, science, or language.
• Corporate team-building: Organize hunts to promote teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity.
• Community events: Create hunts to raise money for charitable causes or promote local businesses.
• Tourist attractions: Offer AR scavenger hunts to enhance the visitor experience and provide a unique way to explore a city or region.
• Personal challenges: Create hunts to encourage physical activity, self-discovery, or language practice.

MeasureKit is a powerful AR app that transforms your iPhone or iPad into a precise measurement tool. By utilizing Apple’s ARKit technology, MeasureKit offers a wide range of measurement capabilities, making it a valuable tool for both professionals and everyday users.

Use cases for AR apps like MeasureKit

• DIY and Home Improvement: Measure furniture dimensions, estimate distances for projects, and calculate angles for hanging objects.
• Professional Applications: Measure structures, verify dimensions on construction sites and create layouts for interior design.
• Education and Learning: Teach students about geometry, measurement, and spatial reasoning, conduct experiments, and demonstrate concepts.
• Outdoor Activities: Measure distances and elevations for hiking, camping, or navigation.
• General Purpose Measurements: Measure objects around your home or office, verify package dimensions, and more.

EyeJack app specializes in immersive art experiences and creator tools for augmented reality (AR) and Web3. The EyeJack app allows artists to transform animation and video files into AR artworks, viewable through the app. It supports interactive experiences for events, enabling artists to showcase their creations in AR. EyeJack also offers projects like Neonz, a collection of unique avatars for an AR metaverse.

Potential use cases for AR apps like EyeJack

• Digital Art Exhibitions: Showcase AR artworks in virtual galleries or public spaces, allowing audiences to experience art in an immersive way.
• Enhance Physical Art: Add layers to physical exhibits that you sell online or showcase in brick-and-mortar galleries.
• Interactive Events: Create engaging AR experiences for events, such as concerts, festivals, or conferences.

From versatile tools like Overlyapp to niche apps like Pokemon Go or InCitu, the possibilities of augmented reality are endless. As hardware and software continue to advance, we can expect to see even more innovative and exciting AR use cases emerge. Currently, a lot can be achieved with mobile devices, although more advanced AR glasses are already used in corporate environments. Whether you’re an artist, a professional, or simply looking for a new way to explore your surroundings, AR offers a world of possibilities. And now it is just about time to join the booming industry.

If there is an app that deserves to be in the list but we haven’t mentioned, add it in the comments. We’ll keep this blog updated.