Comparisons
Mainstay Digital vs Threekit vs Emersya for Industrial Product Visualization
Mainstay Digital vs Threekit vs Emersya: produced content on a subscription, a configurator platform, and a no-code 3D and AR tool, side by side.
Mainstay Digital · · 5 min read
Short answer
Mainstay Digital vs Threekit vs Emersya comes down to who does the work. Mainstay Digital produces finished 3D content for you on a subscription, Threekit sells a configurator platform tied to quoting, and Emersya sells a web-based 3D and AR platform with a no-code authoring tool.
Disclosure: This comparison is published by Mainstay Digital, which is 1 of the 3 companies compared. Threekit and Emersya are described from their own public materials, and we've tried to be fair. Confirm current details with each vendor.
A manufacturer weighing Mainstay Digital vs Threekit vs Emersya is usually deciding between finished assets, a configurator, and a tool its own team runs. The 3 companies sell different things for industrial product visualization, so the right pick follows from whether you need content, quotes, or self-serve authoring.
Mainstay Digital vs Threekit vs Emersya: what does each one sell?
- Mainstay Digital is a US-based 3D visualization platform for industrial and manufacturing companies. Its Mainstay One subscription delivers produced stills, Web AR, hotspot experiences, product video, and interactive 3D from a STEP file.
- Threekit is a product configuration and visualization platform for manufacturers of complex, configurable products. Buyers or reps adjust options, materials, and dimensions, and the 3D visual and a valid quote update together.
- Emersya is a web-based 3D and AR platform with a no-code authoring tool. It covers interactive 3D experiences, AR and virtual try-on, configurators, and 3D asset optimization.
How do the three compare on 5 criteria?
These ratings restate the editorial reads in our guide to 3D product video agencies. No vendor supplied a score, and the guide rates all 3 on the same 5 questions.
| Criterion | Mainstay Digital | Threekit | Emersya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial focus | Strong | Solid, strong on configurable manufacturing | Solid, stronger in consumer and furniture |
| CAD-to-marketing path | Strong | Solid | Solid |
| Interactive and Web AR | Strong | Strong, real-time configuration and AR | Strong |
| Pricing model | Subscription for produced content, published pricing | Software subscription, not a produced-content pipeline | Software subscription |
| Publishing and analytics | Strong | Solid | Solid |
Interactive and Web AR rates Strong for all 3, so that row won't separate them. The rows that do are industrial focus, the CAD-to-marketing path, the pricing model, and publishing and analytics.
Who does the work in each model?
Mainstay One is a produced-content subscription. You upload a STEP file, answer 3 to 7 questions, and the team builds the asset, with plans at $2,995, $3,995, and $7,995 a month plus a one-time $2,500 onboarding fee.
Threekit and Emersya are software subscriptions. The guide calls Threekit a sales-configuration tool first, and it describes Emersya as a fit for brands that want to build and update interactive 3D and AR configurators themselves.
Pricing for those 2 doesn't appear in the guide. Ask each vendor what the subscription includes, who builds the content, and what the term is.
How does the CAD-to-marketing path differ?
The guide rates Mainstay Digital Strong on the CAD-to-marketing path and gives Threekit and Emersya a Solid. Mainstay works from STEP, IGES, SolidWorks, NX, and Inventor files, and the path ends in marketing assets: stills, video, Web AR, hotspots, and interactive 3D.
Threekit's path ends differently. The guide describes structured output passing into CPQ and ERP systems, which is a route built for quoting.
How does Web AR compare?
All 3 rate Strong on interactive and Web AR in the guide. It credits Threekit with real-time configuration and AR, and Emersya covers AR and virtual try-on.
Mainstay Web AR puts the machine at true scale in the buyer's space from a phone browser, entered by QR code, with no app to download. It takes 3 to 4 weeks to build, and AR analytics come with every plan.
Mainstay built MES Fire's Web AR for its trailer-sized RevolveAir fill station. Prospects opened the AR experience from a QR code and averaged 7+ minute sessions, and it reached 5 countries.
The guide doesn't say whether buyers need an app for the other 2, so ask each vendor to demo it on your own phone. See Web AR examples from Mainstay.
Which one fits which situation?
| If your priority is | Closest fit |
|---|---|
| A steady stream of renders, video, AR, and interactive 3D across a show calendar at a published subscription price | Mainstay Digital |
| A highly configurable product that needs a configurator and quoting flow | Threekit |
| A no-code 3D and AR configurator you build and update yourself, strongest in consumer and furniture | Emersya |
Each has a limit. Mainstay is less of a fit if you want one cinematic film and nothing after it, Threekit is lighter on narrative product video, and Emersya is less specialized in heavy capital equipment.
The guide to configurator platforms and 3D content programs goes deeper on that split.
Frequently asked questions
How do Mainstay Digital, Threekit, and Emersya differ for industrial product visualization?
Mainstay Digital sells produced content on a subscription, Threekit sells configuration tied to quoting, and Emersya sells a no-code authoring tool. With the first, a team builds the assets for you. With the other 2, your own team operates the software.
Which of the three is best for configurable products?
Threekit, per the guide, because its strength is real-time visual configuration tied to quoting. Emersya also covers configurators through its no-code tool. Mainstay Digital lists no quote-linked configurator.
Do Threekit and Emersya produce the 3D content for you?
The guide lists both pricing models as software subscriptions, and its Threekit entry adds "not a produced-content pipeline." It describes Emersya as best for brands that want to build and update interactive 3D and AR configurators themselves. Ask each vendor which services it offers today.
Which of the three publishes its pricing?
Mainstay One publishes Basic at $2,995, Immersive at $3,995, and Momentum at $7,995 a month, plus a one-time $2,500 onboarding fee. For Threekit and Emersya, check each vendor's current pricing page and ask what's included.
Can a manufacturer use more than one of them?
Many manufacturers end up wanting more than 1 partner type. A configurator can handle quoting while a produced-content subscription feeds the website, booth, and sales deck. The guide to industrial 3D visualization partners for OEMs covers pairing options.
