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Software · head to head

Aseprite vs Gamesparks

Aseprite logo

Aseprite

Software

Animated sprite editor and pixel art tool

From
$19.99/once
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Gamesparks logo

Gamesparks

Software

Backend as a service for game development

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Gamesparks has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Aseprite a one-off purchase with no free tier, only a trial; Gamesparks aWS states "Starting October 1, 2022, access to the GameSparks console will no longer be available" and that all existing games and data needed to be migrated off the platform before that date
  • They diverge on capability: Aseprite covers Pixel art tools, Gamesparks covers Real-time features.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Aseprite and Gamesparks actually diverge.

Attributes where Aseprite and Gamesparks differ
AttributeAsepriteGamesparks
Starting price$19.99/onceFree
Pricing modelone-timeusage-based
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Macos, LinuxCross-platform
Founded20012006

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

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 Aseprite

  • Pixel art tools
  • Animation timeline
  • Onion skinning
  • Layers
  • Tilemap editor
  • Color palettes
  • Sprite sheets
  • Scripting (Lua)

Only in Gamesparks

  • Real-time features
  • Multiplayer support
  • User authentication
  • Data storage
  • Matchmaking
  • WebSocket support
  • Cloud integration
  • Analytics

What people use each for

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

Aseprite

  • Pixel art creation for gamesnot Gamesparks
  • Frame-by-frame sprite animationnot Gamesparks
  • Exporting sprite sheets and GIFsnot Gamesparks
  • Scripting repetitive export tasks through the command linenot Gamesparks

Gamesparks

  • Multiplayer gamesnot Aseprite
  • Real-time gamesnot Aseprite
  • Cloud gamingnot Aseprite
  • Game analyticsnot Aseprite

Where each one falls short

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

Aseprite

  • A one-off purchase with no free tier, only a trial
  • Deliberately narrow: a pixel art and sprite animation editor rather than a general image editor
  • The site does not state supported platforms or licence terms, which are on GitHub instead

Gamesparks

  • AWS states "Starting October 1, 2022, access to the GameSparks console will no longer be available" and that all existing games and data needed to be migrated off the platform before that date

Pricing, plan by plan

Aseprite

$19.99/once
  • License$19.99/once
    • Full feature set
    • Free updates
    • Commercial use

Gamesparks

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • 1M API requests
    • 1M CloudWatch logs
    • Free for first year
  • Pay-as-you-go$0.01/request
    • Unlimited API requests
    • Real-time multiplayer
    • CloudWatch integration

Which should you pick?

Choose Aseprite if

  • You need pixel art tools.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux.
  • You also want animation timeline.
Aseprite review

Choose Gamesparks if

  • You need real-time features.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cross-platform.
  • You also want multiplayer support.
Gamesparks review

Questions people ask

Is Aseprite or Gamesparks better?
Neither clearly leads. Aseprite starts at $19.99/once and Gamesparks at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Aseprite or Gamesparks?
Gamesparks has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $19.99/once for Aseprite and Free for Gamesparks.
Does Aseprite or Gamesparks run on more platforms?
Aseprite runs on Windows, Macos, Linux. Gamesparks runs on Cross-platform.
Can I use Gamesparks for free?
Yes. Gamesparks has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Aseprite starts at $19.99/once.
What is Aseprite best used for?
Aseprite is most often used for pixel art creation for games, frame-by-frame sprite animation, exporting sprite sheets and gifs, scripting repetitive export tasks through the command line. Of those, pixel art creation for games and frame-by-frame sprite animation are not what Gamesparks is typically brought in for.
What can Aseprite do that Gamesparks cannot?
Aseprite covers Pixel art tools, Animation timeline, Onion skinning, Layers. Gamesparks covers Real-time features, Multiplayer support, User authentication, Data storage.
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