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Alternatives · checked 25 October 2026

Ready Player Me alternatives for avatars from a photo.

Ready Player Me, the cross-game avatar platform, was acquired by Netflix and shut its public services on 31 January 2026. Avatars already exported as GLB files still open; the avatar creator and the developer APIs do not. These are the options people move to when they want avatars made from a photo, with prices from each maker's own page.

What happened to Ready Player Me

Netflix announced the acquisition in December 2025, and the platform's public services, including the avatar creator and the developer APIs, closed on 31 January 2026, as trade press reported at the time.

Source: PocketGamer.biz, 22 December 2025

Four options at a glance

Alternatives to Ready Player Me
OptionYou giveYou getPrice as listed
MetaPerson (Avatar SDK)One front-facing selfieA rigged full-body avatar in its own style, not a MetaHuman; GLB, glTF and FBXFirst avatar free in MetaPerson Creator; Pro $800 a month for 1,000 avatars, then $0.03 each, for companies under $2M in revenue and funding
AvaturnOne selfieA realistic, customisable 3D avatar for games, apps and virtual worldsBasic free; Pro $800 a month for up to 1,000 avatars, then $0.15 each
VRoid StudioNo photo: you design the characterAn anime-style 3D character as a VRM fileFree to use
FaceNinjaOne to fifteen photos of a person (yourself, or an adult who agreed)A head on MetaHuman topology with 4K skin maps, a groom recipe, a fitted neck and 52 ARKit shapes; MetaHuman ZIP, GLB, FBX, OBJ, STL and PLYPaid heads open soon at 1,500 credits ($15) a head; 20 sample heads free to download now

Each option, with its limits

MetaPerson (Avatar SDK)

You give
One front-facing selfie
You get
A rigged full-body avatar in its own style, not a MetaHuman; GLB, glTF and FBX
Where it runs
MetaPerson Creator on the web, and a REST API; exports listed as ready for Unity, Unreal, the web and mobile
Price as listed
First avatar free in MetaPerson Creator; Pro $800 a month for 1,000 avatars, then $0.03 each, for companies under $2M in revenue and funding
Good when
Your app's users make their own full-body avatars from a selfie
Keep in mind
Not MetaHuman topology; the Pro plan is a monthly commitment

Source: avatarsdk.com/pricing-cloud/ · checked on October 25, 2026

Avaturn

You give
One selfie
You get
A realistic, customisable 3D avatar for games, apps and virtual worlds
Where it runs
Web, with an API and SDK on the Pro plan
Price as listed
Basic free; Pro $800 a month for up to 1,000 avatars, then $0.15 each
Good when
Realistic full-body avatars inside your app
Keep in mind
Not MetaHuman topology; the Pro plan is a monthly commitment

Source: avaturn.me/pricing · checked on October 25, 2026

VRoid Studio

You give
No photo: you design the character
You get
An anime-style 3D character as a VRM file
Where it runs
Windows, macOS and iPad
Price as listed
Free to use
Good when
Stylised avatars for VTubing and VR apps that read VRM
Keep in mind
Not made from a photo; anime style only

Source: vroid.com/en/studio · checked on October 25, 2026

FaceNinja Our product

You give
One to fifteen photos of a person (yourself, or an adult who agreed)
You get
A head on MetaHuman topology with 4K skin maps, a groom recipe, a fitted neck and 52 ARKit shapes; MetaHuman ZIP, GLB, FBX, OBJ, STL and PLY
Where it runs
Web app, REST API, and a skill for AI agents (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Gemini CLI, OpenClaw)
Price as listed
Paid heads open soon at 1,500 credits ($15) a head; 20 sample heads free to download now
Good when
You want finished heads without hand work, in batches, from your code or your AI agent
Keep in mind
Heads only, no body or outfit; ears not from the photo; usually 10–20 minutes a head

Where FaceNinja fits, and where it does not

FaceNinja makes heads, not full-body avatars with outfits, and it does not make VRM files. If your app needed Ready Player Me for a stylised full-body avatar, the options above fit better. If you need a realistic head of a real person who agreed to it, on MetaHuman topology with 52 ARKit shapes, for Unreal, Unity, Godot or the web, FaceNinja is built for that.

Questions about Ready Player Me alternatives

01Is Ready Player Me still working?
Its public platform closed on 31 January 2026 after Netflix acquired the company. GLB files you exported before then still open in any glTF tool.
02What is the closest alternative for developers?
For avatars from a selfie with an SDK, MetaPerson by Avatar SDK and Avaturn both list developer plans on their pricing pages.
03Is there a free Ready Player Me alternative?
VRoid Studio is free for anime-style avatars you design yourself. MetaPerson Creator's first avatar is free, and Avaturn has a free Basic plan.
04Can I get a realistic avatar from a photo?
MetaPerson and Avaturn make an avatar from a selfie. For a realistic head on MetaHuman topology with 52 ARKit shapes, there is FaceNinja; try its 20 sample heads free.

Product names on this page are trademarks of their owners. FaceNinja is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any of them.

Facts about other products come from their public pages, linked next to each fact, as they read on the date shown. Prices are as listed, before tax.

Something out of date or wrong? Write to support@faceninja.net and we correct it within two working days.

Can I try a head with all 52 shapes?

Yes. Sign up free and download the 20 sample heads: every GLB and FBX has all 52.

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