Augmented reality (AR) has seen rapid adoption and innovation in recent years, transforming how we interact with the digital world. As AR technologies become more advanced and use cases expand, a vanguard of companies are investing billions into developing the next generation of software and hardware enabling immersive augmented experiences.
In this blog, we countdown the 10 largest AR companies globally based on criteria such as revenues attributable to AR, number of AR users and overall investment into AR research and development. For each company profiled, we’ll highlight their main AR offerings, customers, partnerships, valuations, funding and more – painting a picture of the current AR landscape and where these major players are headed next.
#10: 3dar
Founded in Buenos Aires in 2004 by director/producer Federico Heller, 3dar has produced multiple award-winning animated AR films while also providing AR production services for brands across entertainment, advertising and education. Their accolades include Cannes Lion and Webby awards for shorts like the music video “Earth” which garnered 200,000+ views.
With strengths in experiential design and immersive storytelling, 3dar has partnered with Disney, Universal and FOX. They aim to push the boundaries for how augmented reality can serve as an engaging mediums for art, marketing and learning.
Key Details
- HQ: Santa Monica, CA and Buenos Aires
- Founders: Federico & German Heller
- Founded: 2004
- Focus: AR production studio
- Key Partners: Walt Disney Studios, Universal Pictures, FOX
- Employees: 24
- 2022 Revenue Estimate: $4.6 million
#9: Avegant
Avegant was founded in 2012 by Edward Tang with the vision of solving problems around optics and display technology for augmented reality headsets and devices. Their proprietary light engines based on micro-mirror arrays aim to enable next-generation AR glasses with crystal clear images unimpeded by pixelation.
After operating in stealth mode, Avegant unveiled its first AR headset prototype in 2014. Backed by $9 million in funding so far, Avegant released its ARG-30L and ARG-50L light engines in 2021 for small-scale manufacture initially, with expectations to reach mass-production volumes in 2023. The company continues research to push the boundaries of illuminating technology vital for immersive AR experiences.
Key Details
- HQ: Belmont, CA
- Founder & CEO: Edward Tang
- Founded: 2012
- Focus: AR display hardware
- Key Investors: Intel Capital, Applied Ventures, DN Capital
- Employees: 7
- 2022 Revenue Estimate: $9 million
#8: AppliedVR
AppliedVR focuses specifically on virtual reality for pain management. Its flagship product EaseVRx was the first VR therapeutic to incorporate medical device development and testing standards. Over 30,000 patients participated in clinical trials showing significant chronic pain reductions from the 16-minute VR experience.
With over 240 hospitals now actively using EaseVRx, AppliedVR raised $36 million in 2021 to expand deployment for other conditions like anxiety. They aim to prove VR as a drug-free alternative for pain relief. AppliedVR was founded in 2013 by CEO Matthew Stoudt with Dr. David Sacks serving as Chief Medical Officer.
Key Details
- HQ: Van Nuys, CA
- Founders: Matthew Stoudt & Dr. David Sacks
- Founded: 2013
- Focus: VR digital therapeutics
- Clinical Trial Participants: 30,000+
- Hospitals Deployed: 240+
- Employees: 49
- 2022 Revenue Estimate: $7 million
#7: SightCall
SightCall offers an augmented reality-powered live video chat platform to assist customers remotely using AI and AR annotations layered on real-world views. Their “visual assistance” service has been deployed for customer service and field technician support use cases across sectors like manufacturing, utilities and healthcare.
Originally backed by $4 million in seed funding in 2011, SightCall more recently secured a $42 million Series C round in 2021 off the traction of its AR platform that melds computer vision, live streaming and augmented graphics. Founders Antoine Vervoort and Thomas Cottereau lead a team now 200+ strong.
Key Details
- HQ: San Francisco, CA
- Founders: Antoine Vervoort & Thomas Cottereau
- Founded: 2011
- Focus: Enterprise AR Assistance Platform
- Key Customers: GE Healthcare, 3M, Rolls Royce
- Employees: 200
- 2022 Revenue Estimate: $100 million
#6: Niantic
Niantic first grabbed attention with its augmented reality mobile game Ingress in 2012, later followed by Pokémon GO which became an unprecedented hit as users explored real world locations to collect characters. Their games leverage AR, geolocation and social features to facilitate getting outside and discovering new spaces.
Beyond gaming, Niantic invests significantly in an AR platform for developers called Lightship using its own Augmented Reality Design Kit (ARDK). The company was incubated as Niantic Labs as part of Google, becoming an independent entity in 2015. Led by CEO John Hanke, Niantic has made multiple AR-centric acquisitions like Matrix Mill to expand the uniqueness of experiences powered by its technology stack.
Key Details
- HQ: San Francisco, CA
- Founder & CEO: John Hanke
- Founded: 2010
- Focus: AR gaming and developer platform
- Top games by downloads: Pokémon GO (over 1 billion)
- Employees: 777
- 2021 Revenue: $890 million
#5: Snap
Snapchat and its fun filters are instantly familiar, but behind the popular app exists a formidable augmented reality company determined to usher the next generation of smart eyewear and experiences. Beyond Snap‘s social AR offerings, its hardware division develops Spectacles AR glasses and deep investments in computer vision technology to bridge the digital and physical worlds.
Founded by Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy and Reggie Brown as a Stanford class project in 2011, Snap Inc. has acquired AR-centric startups like Vergence Labs and Looksery to bolster in-house capabilities. Its pioneering approaches to mobile AR earned Snap over 5.6 million global installs by 2021. And the company continues to expand strategic partnerships with the likes of Vogue to enable virtual try-ons.
Key Details
- HQ: Santa Monica, CA
- Founders: Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy & Reggie Brown
- Founded: 2011
- Focus: Mobile AR experiences and hardware
- Acquisitions: Vergence Labs, Looksery
- Employees: 5,661
- 2021 Revenue: $4.1 billion
#4 Nvidia
Famed for graphics processing units vital to high-end gaming and videography, Nvidia also brings its specialized chips into the augmented reality domain. Initiatives include Omniverse – a platform for 3D design collaboration across industries. And the company’s DRIVE platform powers assisted driving capabilities in vehicles using AI and simulated environments.
Originally launching GPUs in 1999 and later expanding into full systems-on-a-chip, over 13,000 Nvidia employees now enable immersive experiences via AR and simulations. In 2021, the company reported over $6 billion in revenue. Recent developments like Omniverse Nucleus aim to make cloud-based 3D workflows accessible for more AR builders.
Key Details
- HQ: Santa Clara, CA
- Founders: Jensen Huang, Chris Malachowsky & Curtis Priem
- Founded: 1993
- Focus: GPUs, cloud computing platforms
- Flagship AR Offering: Omniverse – multi-GPU real-time simulation and collaboration platform for 3D workflows
- Employees: 13,775
- 2021 Revenue: $6.7 billion
#3 Pixar
Acquired by Walt Disney Studios in 2006 for $7 billion, Pixar helped revolutionize computer animation starting with its first full CGI film Toy Story in 1996. Today, Pixar continues to break ground across augmented reality including partnerships with Apple defining the Universal Scene Description file format to allow AR object integration.
The heralded studio boasts an R&D team focused on graphics, visualization and interactivity including innovations like photorealistic rendering, simulation of skin and cloth, and AR authoring tools. Celebrating over three decades in business, Pixar represents a unique case bridging both technical and creative applications of augmented reality. Their contributions help expand possibilities for storytellers while bringing audiences new magic.
Key Details
- HQ: Emeryville, CA
- President: Jim Morris
- Founded: 1979, independent company since 1986
- Focus: Computer animation studio advancing graphics R&D
- Acquired by: The Walt Disney Company
- Key Partnership: Apple (USDZ file format)
- Employees: 1,233
- 2021 Revenue: $6.7 billion
#2 Google AR & VR
Google generates most its billions from advertising, however CEO Sundar Pinchai along with VP Clay Bavor have ramped up investment into augmented reality initiatives with optimism about ubiquitous smart eyewear in the years ahead. Efforts center around improving AR experiences powered by Android devices including features that tap into Google Search and YouTube.
The company has confirmed prototypes of AR glasses currently under development as it hones techniques around computer vision ready for prime time. While Google’s AR directions focus primarily on mobile now, it’s proven ability to rapidly scale innovations across billions of devices positions it as a sleeping giant in the AR arena once the technology reaches broader practical viability.
Key Details
- HQ: Mountain View, CA
- President of AR & VR: Clay Bavor
- Founded: 1998
- Focus: Mobile AR experiences and headset prototypes
- Key Partnership: Snap (AR photo booth)
- Employees: 139,995
- 2021 Revenue: $209 billion
#1 Apple AR
The world’s leading company by market cap, Apple holds unrivaled resources to shape the augmented reality landscape in the years ahead. Development is led by senior VPs Mike Rockwell and Dan Riccio across hardware engineering, silicon and software design. Rumors suggest the company has over 1,000 engineers dedicated to AR initiatives.
Trademark filings indicate Apple is potentially building an entire operating system designed specifically for handling augmented graphics and content. With tight integration expected across custom silicon, displays and sensors planned for its AR headset – Apple is poised to raise the bar on immersive experiences once its first dedicated AR product comes to light, which Bloomberg reports is targeted for 2023.
Key Details
- HQ: Cupertino, CA
- CEO: Tim Cook
- Founded: 1976
- Focus: AR headsets, mobile AR software, custom OS
- Reported Team Size: 1,000+ engineers
- 2021 Revenue: $365 billion
