A new startup called Trace has launched a no-code platform that lets individuals and businesses build high-fidelity augmented reality experiences without needing programming or advanced 3D-design skills, tells this Road to VR article. The founding team includes alumni from Magic Leap, and the platform is already being pitched as the “Canva of AR.”
Trace supports the creation of location-based AR content that runs on smartphones, headsets, or AR glasses. Through a drag-and-drop interface and an accessible web and mobile editor, users can place 3D objects, define interactions, and anchor digital content in real-world space, then publish and share the experience across devices.
Several major brands already adopted Trace for marketing, retail, and experiential campaigns, including ESPN, T-Mobile, Qualcomm, and Lenovo.
The timing matters. As earlier no-code AR tools such as Adobe Aero and Meta Spark AR wind down, Trace enters a gap in the market, offering a modern, simplified workflow for creators and enterprises looking to deploy AR quickly.
With Trace, complex AR toolchains, steep learning curves, and long development cycles give way to instant creativity. For marketing, retail display, training, live events, or spatial storytelling, Trace could reshape how companies and creators think about immersive media, turning AR from niche and technical to accessible and scalable.