Cloud Anchors vs Geospatial Anchors: Which One Does Your AR App Need?
With the launch of the ReactVision Platform, ViroReact developers now have access to our own Cloud Anchors and Geospatial Anchors services, fully integrated into ViroReact 2.53.0. No third-party dependencies, just your Studio API key and Project ID and you are ready to go. But if you are new to spatial anchors, the distinction between these two anchor types might not be immediately obvious. They sound similar, and they both pin virtual content to the real world. So what is the actual difference, and when should you use each one?
Let me break this down for you and demystify the difference between Cloud Anchors and Geospatial Anchors.
What Are Cloud Anchors?
Cloud Anchors are designed for shared, multiplayer AR experiences. They let multiple users see and interact with the same virtual content in the same physical space, in real time.
Here is how it works: when a user creates a Cloud Anchor, ViroReact scans the surrounding environment and uploads that spatial data to ReactVision’s platform. When another user enters the same space, their device matches its local surroundings against the stored data and resolves the anchor, placing the virtual content in exactly the same real-world position.
Every user’s interactions affect the shared anchor, and every other user sees those changes. This is how you build true multiplayer spatial experiences.
Use Cloud Anchors when:
- Multiple users need to see the same AR content at the same time in the same room
- You are building collaborative experiences like design reviews, shared visualizations, or multiplayer AR games
- You want persistent installations where content stays in place across sessions and users return to the same space
Real-world examples: A team reviewing a 3D architectural model together in a conference room. A multiplayer AR board game on a coffee table. A museum installation where visitors can add to a shared AR canvas.
What Are Geospatial Anchors?
Geospatial Anchors are designed for location-based AR experiences. Instead of anchoring content to a mapped physical space, they anchor content to specific GPS coordinates. Anyone who visits that location with your app will see the content exactly where you placed it.
This is powered by a combination of GPS data and visual positioning, so the accuracy goes well beyond what GPS alone can provide. Your content does not just appear roughly near a location: it appears precisely where you placed it.
Use Geospatial Anchors when:
- You want AR content tied to a specific real-world location that any user can discover
- Your experience is location-dependent, meaning it only makes sense at a particular place
- You are building city-scale or outdoor AR experiences
Real-world examples: A retailer pinning a 3D product preview outside their storefront. A tourism app overlaying historical information at landmarks. An AR scavenger hunt across a city park. A festival or event with location-triggered AR content at different stations.
The Key Difference
The simplest way to think about it:
Cloud Anchors are about shared space. Multiple users, same room, same content, real-time interaction. The anchor is tied to what the environment looks like.
Geospatial Anchors are about fixed locations. Any user, specific GPS coordinates, and persistent content. The anchor is tied to where you are on the planet.
Cloud Anchors answer the question: “How do I get everyone in this room to see the same thing?” Geospatial Anchors answer the question: “How do I make content appear at this specific place in the world?”
Can You Use Both?
Absolutely. There is nothing stopping you from using both anchor types in the same application. You might use Geospatial Anchors to guide users to a specific location and then use Cloud Anchors to power a shared experience once they arrive. The two complement each other well, and because both are managed through the same ReactVision Platform, the developer experience is consistent across both.
Getting Started
Both Cloud Anchors and Geospatial Anchors are available now through ViroReact 2.53.0 and managed through your ReactVision Studio dashboard. If you are already building with ViroReact, adding either anchor type to your app is straightforward.
To dive deeper into the Platform and everything it includes, check out our launch post:
To get started with ViroReact you can either download our Starter Kit or read the docs:
Both anchor types can add incredible depth to your product. Whether you are building shared experiences, location-based activations, or something entirely new, the tools are there.
Happy building!