Snapchat AR Try-On vs On-Site Try-On
By the ZeDaq.ai team · · 7 min read
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Snapchat AR try-on and on-site try-on do different jobs. Snapchat AR try-on uses Lenses to put your product in front of people inside the Snapchat camera, which suits awareness campaigns, while on-site try-on sits on your own product pages, where a shopper is already deciding on a size and checking out.
Many brands end up using both: social AR to start interest, and on-site try-on to close the sale. If you are choosing an on-site tool, our guide to the top try-on apps for Shopify is a good place to start.
Facts about Snap below come from Snap's AR site, checked November 2026.
What does Snap offer brands for AR try-on?
Snap's AR site describes several tools for brands and developers. Each fits a different stage of a campaign.
| Snap product | What Snap's site says it does | Where it runs |
|---|---|---|
| Lens Studio | Snap's free AR development platform | Snapchat, AR ads, mobile and web apps |
| Lens Web Builder | Template-based Lenses for ad campaigns, no coding | Snapchat ads through Ads Manager |
| Camera Kit | An AR SDK to bring Lenses into your own apps | iOS, Android and web apps (beta access) |
| Shopping Lenses | A category for shopping, fashion and beauty Lenses | Not specified on the page |
| Creator Marketplace | A directory to hire Lens creators and developers | Not a try-on tool itself |
Source: Snap AR, checked November 2026. Lens Studio is listed as free. The page gives no prices for Camera Kit, Lens Web Builder or Shopping Lenses.
What is a Lens?
A Lens is an AR effect that runs in a phone camera. For fashion and beauty, a Lens can place a product such as sunglasses, a hat or makeup on the user's face in real time.
Snap's page also mentions Arcadia, its AR studio for branded experiences, for brands that want a team to build the Lens for them.
What is on-site try-on?
On-site try-on is a button on your own product page. The shopper taps it, and the tool shows the product on them, either from a photo or through the live camera.
For clothing, most on-site tools use a still photo. The shopper uploads one image, and the tool renders the garment on their body. For glasses, many tools use the live camera instead.
Because it sits on the product page, on-site try-on can also connect to sizing. A shopper can see the garment and then get a size suggestion before adding to cart.
How do Snapchat AR and on-site try-on compare?
This table compares the two approaches in general terms. The Snap column uses only what Snap's AR site says.
| Snapchat AR try-on | On-site try-on | |
|---|---|---|
| Where the shopper is | Inside Snapchat, or your app via Camera Kit | On your product page |
| Shopper mindset | Browsing, being entertained | Comparing and deciding |
| Typical products | Face and head items, beauty | Clothing, eyewear, accessories (tool-dependent) |
| Who builds it | You, an agency or a Lens creator | Usually a ready-made app or widget |
| Size advice | Not described on Snap's AR page | Possible if the tool includes it |
| Next step for shopper | Leave Snapchat to shop | Add to cart on the same page |
| Updating products | Rebuild or edit the Lens | Switch try-on on per product |
Where does each one shine?
Snapchat AR is strong for launches and seasonal campaigns. A playful Lens for new sunglasses can spread among friends who would never visit your store on their own.
On-site try-on is strong at the moment of purchase. It answers "how will this look on me?" right next to the size selector and the buy button.
Which should you start with?
Your products and budget decide the order. Here's a simple way to think about it.
| Your situation | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing store, small team | On-site try-on | Works on every product page with no Lens build |
| Sunglasses brand launching a new line | Snapchat Lens | Face items suit camera AR, and Lenses can be shared |
| Beauty brand with a younger audience | Snapchat Lens, then on-site | Reach first, then help buyers choose |
| Brand with its own mobile app | Consider Camera Kit | Snap lists it for your own iOS, Android and web apps |
| Store with high fit-related questions | On-site try-on with sizing | The shopper is ready to pick a size |
If you are thinking about building your own AR, our comparison of custom AR builds and ready-made try-on covers cost, time and upkeep.
A worked example: a sunglasses and jackets brand
Picture a brand that sells sunglasses and lightweight jackets. In spring, it launches a Snapchat Lens for its new sunglasses, made in Lens Studio by a freelance creator found through Snap's Creator Marketplace.
People try the Lens, share snaps and tap through to the store. On the store, each sunglasses page has live-camera eyewear try-on. Each jacket page has photo try-on and a "Find my size" button. The Lens starts the interest, and the product pages help shoppers pick the right item and size.
What does each approach cost in time and skill?
Snapchat AR needs creative work. Lens Studio is free, but someone has to design, build and test the Lens. Lens Web Builder offers templates with no coding, which lowers the bar for simple ad Lenses.
On-site try-on is usually an app or a script. Setup is closer to installing any store app: connect it, set the product type and test on a few pages.
Questions to ask before you commit to either
- How many products will this cover, and how often do they change?
- Who updates the experience when a new product launches?
- Can shoppers get a size, or only see the look?
- What happens to camera images or uploaded photos?
- How will you measure whether people who used it went on to buy?
To weigh up specific on-site apps, our guide on comparing Shopify App Store try-on listings shows what to check on each listing.
How do privacy and consent differ between the two?
Both approaches use the shopper's face or body, so both need care with privacy. The difference is who holds the relationship with the shopper.
With a Snapchat Lens, the shopper is using Snap's app under Snap's terms. With Camera Kit in your own app, or with on-site try-on, the shopper is on your property, so your privacy policy needs to cover camera use and photo uploads.
Before you launch on-site try-on, check three things:
- Your privacy policy says what happens to uploaded photos and for how long.
- The try-on window tells shoppers what the photo is used for before they upload it.
- You know where the vendor processes images, and you have that in writing.
How do you measure success for each?
Track different numbers for each channel, because each does a different job.
For a Snapchat Lens, track plays, shares and taps through to your store. Those tell you whether the Lens reached new people.
For on-site try-on, track how many shoppers open try-on, how many add to cart afterward, and how many of those orders come back for size reasons. Those tell you whether the tool helped people buy the right thing.
Don't judge a Lens by direct sales alone, and don't judge on-site try-on by reach. Each has its own purpose.
Where does ZeDaq.ai fit?
ZeDaq.ai is an on-site tool. The shopper uploads one photo and sees your real garment on their body, right on your product page. A 30-second scan with one photo plus height suggests a size from your own size chart. It also includes live-camera eyewear try-on.
You can install it on Shopify in a few steps, described in our guide to adding try-on to a Shopify store. Other platforms use a script-tag widget.
The Free plan is $0, with 3 try-ons, 3 measurements and 5 invoices a month. Paid plans are Micro $14, Starter $49, Growth $129 and Scale $299 a month, each with a 3-day free trial and no card required.
Put try-on next to your size selector
FAQs
Is Lens Studio free?
Yes. Snap's AR site describes Lens Studio as its free AR development platform, checked November 2026.
Can I put a Snapchat Lens on my own website?
Snap's AR site lists Camera Kit as an SDK for bringing Lenses into your own iOS, Android and web apps. It was listed as a beta with access by request.
Does Snapchat AR suggest a clothing size?
Snap's AR page doesn't describe size recommendations. On-site tools that include sizing can suggest a size from your own chart.
Do I need both Snapchat AR and on-site try-on?
No. Many stores start with on-site try-on because it helps at checkout, then add a Lens for launches if they have a social audience.
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