8 Best virtual retail store maker SDKs & software

In the current e-commerce landscape, where competition is very high, businesses are always looking for ways to enhance customers’ online experience, especially after COVID-19. The growth of online shopping peaked during and after COVID-19. Businesses increasingly tried to improve their online experience, not just for aesthetic appeal but to drive deeper engagement and higher conversion.

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Virtual store platforms are bridging this gap by enabling brands to create immersive, interactive storefronts where customers can explore products just like in a physical store, without leaving their homes. Over the past year, I’ve tested more than a dozen virtual try-on tools, SDKs, and immersive platforms for fashion, beauty, jewelry, and lifestyle brands. Some felt like glorified 3D carousels.

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Others? Genuinely blew me away. And the ones that did had one thing in common: they weren’t just about trying on a lipstick or a bracelet; they let you step into a digital store. I’ve handpicked 8 virtual store SDKs that not only support immersive layouts but also allow product try-ons, click-to-shop interactivity, and cross-platform experiences.

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What is a virtual retail store maker?

Let’s be real: virtual stores used to be a “nice to have” or a fun gimmick for the metaverse crowd. But in 2025? They're quickly becoming the next standard in online shopping. At its core, a virtual retail store maker is a software development kit (SDK) or platform that lets you build an immersive online shopping space. Imagine walking into a boutique via your browser. You can explore shelves, tap on items to try them on in AR, and check out.

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These SDKs go beyond just putting a product in 3D. They let you recreate the whole retail experience from realistic lighting and textures to personalized layouts and interactive try-ons. The goal is to mimic and often elevate the feeling of in-store shopping.

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They typically support:

• AR try-on: Eyewear, makeup, watches, jewelry, shoes or handbags.
  

• Product hotspots: Tap a product in the virtual space to get details or add to cart.
  

• WebAR/Cross-device access: Open it from your phone or desktop; no app is needed.
  

• Real-time rendering: Products update live, sometimes even tied to your actual store inventory.

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And the best part? You don’t need to be a Fortune 500 brand to use them anymore. Most of the SDKs on this list are now offering web-first, scalable options for mid-size brands and startups, too.

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Features to look for in a virtual retail store maker SDK

So, before we jump into the actual tools, here's a quick checklist of what you should definitely look for if you're building a virtual retail experience. I made this list based on what worked (and what flopped) in my own testing.

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• True virtual store layouts: We're not just talking about rotating a lipstick in 3D. You want an SDK that supports navigable environments like rooms, aisles, and even thematic spaces (like "luxury lounge" or "beach boutique"). If your user doesn’t feel like they’ve “entered” a store, the immersion flops.

• Virtual try-on: The best platforms combine virtual browsing with real-time try-ons. Think: makeup on your face, jewelry on your neck, watches on your wrist. Bonus points if it works on multiple skin tones and lighting conditions.

• Cross-platform support: Customers expect to just tap a link and go. SDKs that support WebAR (browser-based AR) or work inside platforms like Shopify or mobile browsers are the gold standard now.

• Click-to-buy interactivity: It’s not enough for a product to look good. You want users to be able to tap it, view info, and add it to the cart. 

• Personalization & branding: The more control you have over colors, lighting, logos, and layout, the better. A good SDK will let you reflect your brand’s vibe and not just force you into a generic showroom.

• ‍Speed & stability: Sounds boring, but it matters. Laggy experiences result in abandoned carts. The SDK should be lightweight and optimized for both mobile and desktop.

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Best 8 virtual retail store maker SDKs

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1. GlamAR

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If you’re building a virtual retail store in the beauty or fashion space, GlamAR is one of the most complete SDKs available in 2025. Made specifically for visual try-on experiences, it goes beyond traditional AR by allowing brands to create 3D environments that mirror lifelike experiences. What sets GlamAR apart is its perfect blend of aesthetics and efficiency.

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The SDK enables users to walk through virtual showrooms, browse products in real time, and try on products like lipsticks, bracelets, earrings, or sunglasses, all within their browser. Every interaction is built with user experience in mind, making the platform not only technologically impressive but commercially effective as well.

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Whether you're launching a luxury beauty line or a digitally native jewelry brand, GlamAR offers the flexibility and polish needed to deliver a memorable virtual shopping experience. With easy integration into e-commerce platforms and options for branding customization, it empowers businesses to replicate the feeling of in-store discovery.

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Features: 

• Virtual storefronts that feel real: GlamAR lets you design immersive 3D retail spaces. Elegant product shelves, walkable layouts, and lifestyle-inspired displays that mirror an in-store experience

• Live AR try-on for multiple categories: From makeup and earrings to bracelets and sunglasses, users can try products directly on their face or body in real time with high accuracy and smooth motion tracking.

• WebAR support for instant access: No app download required—customers can launch the full virtual store and try-on flow right from a browser link on mobile or desktop.

• E-commerce and platform integrations: GlamAR connects easily and is easy to set up, so shoppers can move from product discovery to checkout without friction.

• Worldwide reach: With GlamAR, your shop is open to everyone, everywhere. A shopper who surfs from a metropolis or a small town can drop by your virtual space, browse collections, and buy.

• Custom store styling: Your store should reflect your brand, and GlamAR gives you the freedom to design it that way. From layout and lighting to product placement and color themes, you can shape the environment to match your aesthetic perfectly.

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2. Banuba

Banuba has been in the AR space for years, and it’s best known for its strong face tracking and beauty-tech features. Originally popular in the world of virtual makeup and video filters, the platform has quietly expanded to support broader retail experiences, especially for beauty, eyewear, and accessories. It's not a niche tool anymore; it's a full SDK built for realistic, real-time interaction.

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What makes Banuba stand out is how smoothly everything runs. The AR feels responsive and natural, with no awkward lag or heavy loading, even on mid-range mobile devices. The facial tracking is tight and stable, which makes things like lipstick placement or frame alignment feel much more believable. Brands can launch web-based or in-app try-ons without needing to build everything from scratch.

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If you’re looking for an SDK that’s practical, fast, and easy to work with, Banuba is one of the more reliable options out there. It doesn’t try to overpromise—it just delivers a clean, lightweight experience that works well across different regions, devices, and retail categories.

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Features:

• You get live, responsive try-ons: One of the best things about Banuba is how smooth the try-ons feel. Whether someone’s checking out a pair of glasses or testing lipstick shades, everything adjusts in real time—even as the person moves. 

• Face tracking is genuinely accurate: The SDK tracks expressions and head movements with precision. If someone smiles, tilts their face, or raises their eyebrows, the product still stays in place. That’s especially helpful when you’re dealing with fine details, like makeup or eyewear frames.

• It’s light enough for most phones: You don’t need the latest phone to make it work. Banuba is designed to run smoothly on a range of devices—without heating up the phone or causing long delays. That’s key if your audience is spread out across different regions or device types.

• You can tweak the look to match your brand: From the UI to how the product textures appear, there’s room to adjust things so it doesn’t feel like a generic AR layer. You’re not boxed into one design style—Banuba gives you control without making it complicated.

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3. MirrAR

mirrAR has built a name for itself by focusing on exactly what brands need: high-precision virtual try-ons that feel simple, smooth, and visually sharp. It’s especially known in the jewelry and eyewear space, where capturing the look and shine of materials like gold, gemstones, and metal frames is critical. With mirrAR, that realism is a priority—not an afterthought.

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What sets the platform apart is how seamlessly it runs in the browser. Customers don’t need to download an app or go through extra steps. They just click a link, turn on their camera, and start trying things on. For brands, that means lower drop-off rates and a faster path to engagement. The platform also supports detailed product visuals, so the AR feels polished even on smaller screens.

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mirrAR works best for labels that care about aesthetics but also want the tech to get out of the way. It’s not overloaded with gimmicks—it just lets shoppers try pieces on in a way that looks good, feels responsive, and doesn’t complicate the experience. If you're in the luxury or lifestyle space, it’s a strong fit.

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Features:

• Accurate AR try-ons: MirrAR's tracking technology holds jewelry and accessories firmly in place, even as users turn their heads or move positions.

• Virtual discovery showrooms: The platform enables brands to build web-based interactive retail environments where customers can browse carefully curated collections, feel products, and try them on without ever having to exit the environment.

• Website access: MirrAR executes within a web browser, and therefore, users can access the try-on feature directly without any glitches. 

• Global reach: MirrAR has been used by brands across regions. This makes it perfect if you’re targeting an international customer base.

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4. DeepAR

DeepAR is built for brands that don’t want to settle for basic. Instead of offering pre-made virtual store templates, it gives you the flexibility to design something that feels completely your own. If your team has a specific vision for how your online store should look and behave, DeepAR gives you the tools to make that happen.

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The platform is known for its speed and rendering quality. AR elements—like try-ons or interactive displays load fast, stay stable, and look surprisingly realistic across devices. It works well for beauty brands, especially those focused on makeup and skincare, but it's also used in fashion and wearable tech.

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You will need some development input to bring everything together, but that effort comes with creative freedom. DeepAR isn’t the easiest to set up, but it might be the most rewarding if you're building something more complex than a simple product viewer.

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Features:

• Accuracy: DeepAR is built for performance. It renders try-ons quickly and clearly, without the lag or pixelation you sometimes see in browser-based tools.

• Custom-built virtual environments: There are no templates here—you can design your own virtual store from scratch, down to the layout, lighting, and interaction flow.

• Multi-platform support: You can launch on iOS, Android, Unity, or the web, depending on what your team is building. Everything stays consistent across devices.

• Face and body tracking: If you’re working with wearables or full-look styling, DeepAR supports tracking beyond the face—great for fashion and fitness retail.

• Developer-ready tools: The SDK comes with full documentation, versioning, and analytics support, so your tech team can build, track, and optimize easily.

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5. KiXR

Most platforms focus on adding AR to product pages—which is great, but KiXR takes it a step further. Instead of just placing items over a live camera, it helps brands build full virtual environments that customers can actually walk through. Think: an entire store layout, not just a floating try-on.

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What makes KiXR interesting is how those spaces don’t just look good—they’re designed to feel like part of the brand’s story. Every room, corner, or shelf can reflect something meaningful, which makes the whole experience more than just a tech demo. The goal isn’t just to showcase a product; it is to create an experience around it. For brands in fashion, furniture, or home décor, this adds a strong layer of realism that flat product images can’t compete with.

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It’s especially well-suited for companies launching metaverse campaigns or immersive drops. If you're trying to turn online shopping into something memorable—or even social—KiXR offers the kind of tools that push beyond standard retail.

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Features:

• Fully immersive virtual spaces: KiXR lets you build entire 3D store environments—designed to look and feel like your own physical space, not just a product grid in AR.

• Products placed in real-world context: Rather than showing an item floating on a white background, KiXR places it within a styled environment, helping customers picture it in everyday use.

• Full control over the look and feel: Nothing feels pre-set here. You decide how the space looks—where each product goes, how the lighting hits, even the tone the room gives off. It’s all built around your brand, not the other way around.

• Great for fashion and home brands: Some platforms feel generic, but KiXR gets the little things right. Clothes move naturally, and furniture actually looks like it fits the room. It just makes sense, especially when you want customers to imagine your product in their world.

• No app: The whole experience runs straight from a browser. Someone clicks a link, and they’re inside your store—no downloads, no setup, just instant access whether they’re on a phone or laptop.

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6. Onirix

Onirix is a WebAR platform that focuses on making interactive AR experiences easy to build and even easier to access. What makes Onirix appealing is its balance between simplicity and flexibility. You can create virtual retail environments that include AR try-ons, product placement, and interactive zones yet the process feels approachable, even for teams without a large tech department.

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If you’re working on a campaign or seasonal collection and want something visually engaging that loads fast and works across devices, Onirix is a strong option. It’s lightweight, modular, and surprisingly capable for web-based deployment.

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Features:

• Website access: Everything runs directly in the browser. Shoppers can access your virtual store instantly through apps, with no extra steps.

• 3D environments: You can design a full digital retail space with product hotspots, custom scenes, and AR overlays.

• Virtual try-on: I tried this out with a small product line, and it’s surprisingly straightforward. You can place items in your space or see how they’d look in real time—not super flashy, but it does the job when you want to help customers picture something before they commit.

• Templates that don’t feel limiting: Onirix comes with a few starting layouts, but they’re flexible. You can switch things around, add your branding, and make it feel like your own—even if you're not starting from scratch.

• Multi-device compatibility: Whether someone’s on their phone or desktop, the experience loads quickly and runs without lag, even on slower networks or older hardware.

• Simple setup: If you’re not working with a developer, that’s okay. Onirix lets you build and launch scenes using a visual editor.

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7. echo3D

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You’re not building the virtual store in echo3D, but it helps everything run in the background. When your store has 3D products or scenes, echo3D makes sure those load properly, without slowing things down. It’s useful when your experience needs to work smoothly across different phones, browsers, or locations. The real strength of echo3D is in how it supports teams that want flexibility without rebuilding everything from scratch.

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You can manage your virtual store’s content through the cloud, update it on the fly, and connect it to other AR platforms or SDKs you’re already using. If you’re creating an immersive shopping experience and want a reliable backend to power it, Echo3D is one of the most developer-friendly options available.

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Features:

• Real-time 3D content delivery: echo3D hosts your product models and scenes in the cloud, so they can load instantly across devices—without bloating your site or app.

• Compatible with major AR SDKs: You can use echo3D alongside platforms like Unity, WebAR, or custom-built environments. It doesn’t replace your AR—just powers it better.

• Asset management: Instead of hardcoding everything, you can manage and update your 3D content from a single dashboard, even after launch.

• Cross-device: Whether it's on mobile, desktop, or AR glasses, echo3D optimizes your experience so visuals stay efficient everywhere.

• Scalable: If you're running seasonal collections or flash sales, echo3D makes it easy to update assets quickly.

• Built with developers in mind: echo3D gives technical teams the flexibility they need without adding overhead.

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8. Zappar

Zappar’s been around longer than most in the AR world. And honestly, that experience shows. If you’re trying to create something solid—like a virtual store that just works across different devices—it’s one of the more dependable platforms out there. It keeps things simple, which makes it easier to get up and running fast.

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It’s especially useful for campaigns that are time-sensitive or need to scale quickly product launches, limited collections, or branded experiences tied to events. Zappar allows you to design lightweight, interactive spaces that work across devices and load almost instantly, even on slower connections. If your goal is to reach customers fast and offer an AR-driven retail experience that works with a single link, Zappar is a strong fit.

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Features:

• No app required: Zappar executes natively within any mobile or desktop browser, so users can access your experience directly.

• Optimized for quick launches: Whether it is a seasonal launch or a branded promotion, Zappar makes the process of creating AR stores within minutes.

• Cross-browser compatibility: From the latest smartphones to the oldest desktops, Zappar has been designed to perform at its best on a broad variety of devices and browsers.

• Multimedia support: You can simply embed videos, animations, and 3D objects directly into your virtual space, and this assists in bringing your products and your company story to life in a captivating way.

• Joining forces with the largest brands globally, Zappar has driven campaigns for the likes of Disney, Puma, Nestlé, Vodafone, etc.

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Brands using virtual retail store makers

1. J.Crew

To celebrate its 40th anniversary, J.Crew introduced a virtual beach house that brought its summer collections into a more immersive setting. Each space was styled with intent—casual furniture, natural light, seasonal color palettes.

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Rather than placing products front and center, the experience invited visitors to explore slowly. It felt familiar, calm, and entirely in line with how J.Crew has always expressed its style.

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2. Puma

In its New York flagship, Puma added a digital layer to the in-store experience. Shoppers could scan QR codes placed around the space and view product details, campaign visuals, and limited releases directly on their phones. The setup didn’t change how the store looked—it added context. Everything stayed physical, but the information became interactive.

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3. Nike

Nike’s take on virtual shopping goes far beyond the basics. One of their most immersive digital rollouts allowed people to explore curated spaces online sections styled around sport, innovation, or new releases.

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Within minutes, you could zoom into a sneaker, view its design in 3D, and even personalize it before checkout. What made it stand out wasn’t just the tech it was how naturally it all flowed. The brand didn’t just showcase products; it gave people a reason to spend time with them.

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4. IKEA

If there’s one brand that already feels like a real-life simulation, it’s IKEA. But now, they’ve taken that experience fully online. Their virtual showrooms are set up like familiar homes, open kitchens, family living rooms, cozy bedrooms, and you can explore them just like you would in-store.

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What makes it different is the interactivity: click on a table, see how it fits in your own room; swap colors, sizes, or layouts without ever leaving the experience. It feels less like online shopping and more like pre-living in your future space.

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5. Tommy Hilfiger

Back when most brands hadn’t even heard of digital showrooms, Tommy Hilfiger quietly built one. It wasn’t flashy, but it changed the way wholesale buyers interacted with new collections. Instead of sending out endless physical samples, Tommy invited buyers into a clean, well-designed digital space.

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They could spin products, zoom in on stitching, view colorways, and make choices without ever needing a meeting room. It saved costs, yes—but more than that, it made the entire process feel efficient and elevated.

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6. Diesel

When the fashion industry hit pause on travel and live events, Diesel kept things moving by launching Hyperoom. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a hyper-realistic showroom built in digital.

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Buyers could walk through new season collections, click into product views, and even attend private virtual appointments all inside a branded 3D environment. It gave the feeling of being in Milan or Paris, minus the jet lag. Diesel proved that even high-end, tactile fashion can feel immersive through a screen if it’s done right.

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Benefits and limitations 

Benefits

• They give your brand a sense of place: Instead of another product grid or plain white background, you get to invite customers into a curated environment that feels like your brand’s world. Whether it's a sleek showroom, a cozy digital boutique, or a playful seasonal pop-up, it lets people feel something while they shop.

• Shoppers stay longer: When a store feels interactive, people tend to slow down. They click around. And that extra time often leads to deeper engagement, browsing more items, discovering products they didn’t come looking for, and sometimes even checking out with more in their cart.

• You don’t need an app to impress: One of the best parts? Most virtual stores work straight from the browser. A single link or QR code is all it takes, and it works across phones, laptops, and tablets, no download, no setup, no barriers.

• You can tell a story, not just show a product: Product images show what something looks like. A virtual store lets you build the whole vibe. You can style a room, create zones, pair looks, or introduce new launches in a way that feels intentional, not just transactional.

• It's flexible and surprisingly scalable: Want to swap in new collections, add holiday campaigns, or highlight a best-seller? Most virtual store platforms make updates easy. Once your core space is built, it becomes a living, evolving part of your online presence.

• You're open all the time, everywhere: Unlike physical stores, virtual ones don’t sleep. Whether someone’s browsing at 2 AM or tuning in from another country, they’ll get the same experience on brand, up to date, and ready to explore.

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Limitations

• You can’t build one in a day: When I first explored these virtual store platforms, I expected it to be fast. But it wasn’t that simple. You have to think about layout, product visuals, flow, etc. Unless you're using a ready-made template, you’ll probably need help from a designer or developer to get it looking right.

• Older devices can struggle a bit: This part surprised me—on my phone, everything ran fine. But when I tested the same store on an older tablet, it lagged like crazy. Not everyone’s working with the latest tech, so it’s something you have to keep in mind.

• If your images aren’t great, it shows: These stores rely heavily on visuals. I tried uploading a few average-quality images once, and the whole space felt off. To make it feel real and immersive, your product shots and 3D models have to be clean, detailed, and consistent.

• It’s not a fix for everything: A beautiful virtual space can definitely make your brand feel premium, but if your basic setup is confusing, this won’t magically solve that. It works best when the rest of your site is already solid.

• There’s a bit of a learning curve: It is not very easy to adapt at first, as things like scene layouts or setting up interactive points take some getting used to. Once you’ve done it a few times, it gets easier, but the first round does take some trial and error.

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Conclusion

When I first started looking into virtual retail store makers, I wasn’t sure how useful they’d actually be. At first glance, they seemed more like a nice extra than a real game changer. But once I tried a few of them out, I realized they’re more than just cool visuals. They give your brand a full-on space to exist online. A space people can walk through, interact with, and remember.

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Whether you're launching a fashion line, showing off high-end electronics, or just want your online store to feel more "you," these platforms let you build something that stands out. Sure, there’s a learning curve. And yes, it takes a little effort up front. But when done right, the experience is worth it, for your team and especially for your customers.

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If you're thinking about trying one, start small. Explore the free demos, play with templates, and see what feels right. You don’t have to be an expert; you just have to be curious. You can contact the GlamAR team to get more information on the same.