3DVue vs Emersya: which 3D configurator should you choose?

Emersya was founded in 2012 in Montpellier, France. A pioneer of the 3D configurator in France, the platform is now used by brands such as Dainese, Salomon, Victorinox, KitchenAid or Kiko Milano. Emersya has built a solid reputation in technical textiles, footwear and premium customizable products.

3DVue offers two ways to work. The 3DVue software: you import your 3D files and build your own configurator yourself, self-service. 3DVue custom: our studio takes on the entire project, from modeling to go-live, for catalogs that have no 3D files yet or that demand a very polished look.

These three solutions do not target the same profiles. This comparison helps you identify which one fits your real situation.

Quick comparison

Emersya: who is it for?

Emersya is a visual configuration platform that combines a no-code interface for setting up options, rules and prices, with an in-house team able to model your products if you don't yet have 3D files. It mostly serves established brands with a premium platform budget, with or without an in-house technical team.

What Emersya does well

• Rendering quality: Emersya has built a reputation on the visual quality of its renders, used by brands like Dainese or Salomon on technical materials (leather, technical fabric, plastic).
• No-code configuration: once 3D files are available (yours, or imported from more than 20 formats: glTF, GLB, FBX, DAE, OBJ, CAD files), options, rules and prices are set up directly on the platform.
• Modeling service on request: if you don't have 3D files, Emersya's in-house team can create them from product photos, CAD drawings, material swatches or patterns.
• Web AR, no app: augmented reality is embedded directly on the product page, with no app to download.
• French-speaking support: unlike most international competitors, support is available in French.

Emersya's limitations

• Pricing is not public. No price is shown on the site: annual subscription, several plans, an amount given only on quote. It's hard to compare without going through their sales team.
• Modeling remains a separate service. If you don't have 3D files, creating them is added on top of the subscription: it is not included by default.
• Technical integration remains your responsibility. To connect the configurator to your back office or customize the interface via their API, you still need a developer.
• SaaS roadmap rigidity. Like any multi-tenant platform, changes are decided by Emersya based on the priorities of their whole customer base.
• File ownership depends on the contract. Ownership of 3D assets produced via Emersya depends on the contract you negotiate, and is not always freely transferable.

The 3DVue software: who is it for?

Like the self-service side of Emersya, the 3DVue software is a self-service tool: you create an account, import your 3D files (glTF, GLB, FBX, OBJ, STL and 4 other formats), pick the materials and options offered for each part, then embed the configurator on your site. The difference: the price is public from the start.

What the 3DVue software does well

• Public pricing, no commission. 90-day free trial, no credit card, then a flat plan starting at €49 excl. VAT/month: no quote to request, no percentage taken from your sales.
• Augmented reality included. A button to switch on, with no extra tier to unlock.
• Catalog of 319 materials ready to use, scenes and lighting already set, a thumbnail generated for every combination.
• AI Photo Studio included in paid plans: product photos generated from the 3D model, with its real materials, to fill your product pages without a photoshoot.
• Universal integration. Direct link, iframe or widget: Shopify, WooCommerce, PrestaShop, WordPress, Wix or any site that accepts HTML.

The 3DVue software's limitations

• 3D files required. The software does not include modeling: if you don't have 3D files, custom is the option to look at.
• No end-customer personalization. No text, logo or number entered by the buyer: the software manages combinations of materials and options prepared ahead of time.
• No proof files or production files. Those exist only on the custom side.

3DVue custom: who is it for?

3DVue custom is a studio that takes care of your project end to end: we model your products in 3D, fine-tune the scene and rendering by hand, integrate the configurator on your site, go live, and remain your point of contact for any change. Unlike Emersya, modeling is part of the quoted price, not a service added afterward.

What 3DVue custom does well

• Zero technical prerequisites. No existing 3D files needed, no developer required. We start from your photos or technical drawings.
• Modeling included in the quoted price. Unlike Emersya, it is not a separately quoted service: it is the starting point of the project.
• Interface built to your brand, settings tuned by hand. Rendering, lighting and compatibility rules between parts are worked out for your catalog, not pulled from generic presets.
• Proof and production files as an option. Useful for made-to-order products.
• Human after-sales support. A new material to add, a theme update that breaks the layout, a new seasonal color: one contact, who knows your project inside out.
• You own your 3D files. All models created are delivered to you at project completion. You can use them for other purposes (print, marketing, AR) or hand them to whoever you choose.

3DVue custom's limitations

• Higher entry budget. From €5,000 excl. VAT, on quote: an investment to weigh against an Emersya subscription once on-request modeling is added in.
• Production lead time. Modeling quality products takes time: expect 2 weeks to 2 months depending on catalog complexity.
• Not suited to catalogs of hundreds of simple SKUs. For a very large catalog with basic variants, a SaaS platform like Emersya or the 3DVue software is more cost-effective, if you already have 3D files.

To see what it looks like in practice, we built a complete demo store with 22 configurable products (mugs, t-shirts, jerseys, roll-ups, jewelry…). Product pages, prices, embedded 3D configurator: exactly what a customer would see on your site. See the demo store →

Conclusion: which should you choose?

Choose Emersya if: you are an established brand with a premium platform budget, whether you already have 3D files to configure yourself or need their team to create them, and pricing on quote, negotiated rather than public, is not a problem for you.

Choose the 3DVue software if: you have your 3D files, you want to manage your configurator yourself, with a fixed public price, no commission on your sales, and a 90-day free trial to test it.

Choose 3DVue custom if: you are starting from scratch (no 3D files), you want carefully crafted rendering, you have no developer available, and you need a partner who stays involved after delivery.

The real cost of Emersya is not just the subscription: it is the subscription plus 3D modeling if you don't have files yet, all negotiated on quote with no public reference to compare against. Against a public price like the 3DVue software's, or a price that includes modeling from the start like 3DVue custom's, the real gap only becomes clear once you have an Emersya quote in hand.

Frequently asked questions