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3D & CAD · head to head

Alibre Design vs DragonBones

Alibre Design logo

Alibre Design

3D & CAD

Affordable professional CAD

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
D

DragonBones

Game Development

Free 2D skeletal animation solution

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only DragonBones has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Alibre Design perpetual licences do not include updates; maintenance is a separate yearly plan starting at $50 per year for CAD support and updates; DragonBones javaScript/TypeScript runtime limited to specific game engines (Egret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator)
  • They diverge on capability: Alibre Design covers Parametric modeling, DragonBones covers Skeletal animation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Alibre Design and DragonBones actually diverge.

Attributes where Alibre Design and DragonBones differ
AttributeAlibre DesignDragonBones
Starting price$29/monthFree
Pricing modelone-timeopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindowsEgret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator
Category3D & CADGame Development
Founded19972014

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Alibre Design

  • Parametric modeling
  • Assemblies
  • Sheet metal
  • 2D drawings
  • BOM
  • Rendering
  • CAM software
  • PDM

Only in DragonBones

  • Skeletal animation
  • Mesh deformation
  • IK system
  • Texture atlas
  • Animation blending
  • Bone constraints
  • FFD
  • Multi-resolution

Both cover

  • Windows support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Alibre Design

  • Parametric 3D solid modelling for mechanical partsnot DragonBones
  • Producing 2D manufacturing drawings from 3D modelsnot DragonBones
  • Designing parts for 3D printing and small shop machiningnot DragonBones

DragonBones

  • 2D skeletal animation for JavaScript and TypeScript game enginesnot Alibre Design
  • Cross-engine animation library for indie game developmentnot Alibre Design
  • Animation creation with LoongBones editornot Alibre Design

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Alibre Design

  • Perpetual licences do not include updates; maintenance is a separate yearly plan starting at $50 per year for CAD support and updates
  • Sheet metal, PDM data management and rendering are Design Expert only at $1,999
  • Scripting is excluded from the $199 Atom3D edition
  • CAM capability is sold as separate EZ-Mill, EZ-Turn and EZ-EDM products costing up to $2,999
  • A dedicated account manager is excluded from Atom3D

DragonBones

  • JavaScript/TypeScript runtime limited to specific game engines (Egret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator)

Pricing, plan by plan

Alibre Design

$29/month
  • Atom3D$199/month
    • Basic modeling
  • Design$999/month
    • Professional CAD
  • Expert$1999/month
    • Full features

DragonBones

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the DragonBones review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Alibre Design if

  • You need parametric modeling.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want assemblies.
Alibre Design review

Choose DragonBones if

  • You need skeletal animation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Egret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator.
  • You also want mesh deformation.
DragonBones review

Questions people ask

Is Alibre Design or DragonBones better?
Neither clearly leads. Alibre Design starts at $29/month and DragonBones at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Alibre Design or DragonBones?
DragonBones has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for Alibre Design and Free for DragonBones.
Does Alibre Design or DragonBones run on more platforms?
Alibre Design runs on Windows. DragonBones runs on Egret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator.
Can I use DragonBones for free?
Yes. DragonBones has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Alibre Design starts at $29/month.
What is Alibre Design best used for?
Alibre Design is most often used for parametric 3d solid modelling for mechanical parts, producing 2d manufacturing drawings from 3d models, designing parts for 3d printing and small shop machining. Of those, parametric 3d solid modelling for mechanical parts and producing 2d manufacturing drawings from 3d models are not what DragonBones is typically brought in for.
What can Alibre Design do that DragonBones cannot?
Alibre Design covers Parametric modeling, Assemblies, Sheet metal, 2D drawings. DragonBones covers Skeletal animation, Mesh deformation, IK system, Texture atlas. Both handle Windows support.
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