Virtual try-on in one sentence
Virtual try-on lets an online shopper see a product on themselves — through their own phone or laptop camera — before they buy it. It’s the online version of picking up a pair of glasses and looking in the mirror.
You’ll also see it called VTO, AR try-on or virtual fitting. “AR” stands for augmented reality: the product is drawn on top of the live camera picture so it looks like it’s really there.
How does virtual try-on work?
A modern browser-based try-on works in four steps:
- The shopper taps “Try it on” on a product page or a shared link and allows the camera. Nothing is installed.
- Tracking. A model running on the shopper’s own device finds the face, hands, wrists or shoulders in real time.
- Placing the product. The product is drawn at the right size and angle: glasses on the nose with the arms behind the ears, a ring on the finger with its back hidden, an earring that disappears when the head turns, lipstick that follows the lips.
- Deciding. The shopper switches colours, compares products, saves a photo to share — and taps Buy now.
On TryItOnMe, all of this runs in the browser and the camera video never leaves the shopper’s device.
Which products suit virtual try-on?
Try-on works best for things worn on the face, head, hands and wrists, where “will it suit me?” is the question that stops a purchase:
| Category | What shoppers check |
|---|---|
| Glasses and sunglasses | Shape, size and colour on their face |
| Jewelry | Rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets with real shine |
| Watches and bracelets | Size and style on the wrist |
| Makeup | Shades on their own skin, complete looks |
| Coloured contact lenses | How a colour looks on their own eyes |
| Hats and wigs | Style and fit on their own head |
| Clothing | Usually an AI photo of the shopper wearing the garment |
Do you need 3D models?
Not any more. Early try-on needed a 3D model of every product, which made it expensive for large catalogues. Today most products can start from the product photos you already have: the background is removed automatically and the product is fitted to the face or hand. Makeup needs only your shade colours. 3D models are still worth it for very reflective pieces seen from many angles. Read more in do you need 3D models for virtual try-on?
Does the shopper need an app?
No. Browser-based try-on works on phones and computers straight from a product page — and from links on Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp or a marketplace listing. That matters for small brands, which often sell mostly on social media. See virtual try-on on Instagram and TikTok.
Does virtual try-on increase sales?
The honest answer: it depends on your products and your shoppers, so measure it.
- In a survey of about 25,000 people in 16 markets carried out by Ipsos for Snap, 84% said they were interested in using augmented reality to interact with a product before buying (Tubefilter, 2022).
- A survey by Vertebrae, a try-on vendor, found that 44% of consumers had used virtual try-on on a retail site and 69% of them said they went on to buy (Multichannel Merchant).
- A study in the Journal of Advertising Research on hair-colour try-on found shoppers liked the brand more, but did not buy more (WARC).
Interest is high; results vary. That’s why TryItOnMe’s analytics show what shoppers tried and how many tapped Buy now afterwards — on every plan, including Free — so you can see what it does for your own store.
What does virtual try-on cost?
Vendors price it in three main ways: per product (per SKU), per use (per try-on or view), or as a custom project. Per-product pricing gets expensive as a catalogue grows; per-use pricing grows with your traffic instead. TryItOnMe has a free plan forever, unlimited products on every plan, and paid plans priced by try-ons. See how much virtual try-on costs and our pricing.
How to get started
- Try the live demo on your own face.
- Start a free trial — no card — and upload a few product photos.
- Add the “Try it on” button to your site, or share each product’s try-on link.