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Aseprite vs Lumberyard

Aseprite logo

Aseprite

Software

Animated sprite editor and pixel art tool

From
$19.99/once
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Lumberyard logo

Lumberyard

Software

Build AAA games with a free, cross-platform engine

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Lumberyard 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; Lumberyard aws.amazon.com/lumberyard now redirects to the AWS homepage; Amazon Lumberyard is no longer offered as an AWS product
  • They diverge on capability: Aseprite covers Pixel art tools, Lumberyard covers CryEngine foundation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Aseprite and Lumberyard actually diverge.

Attributes where Aseprite and Lumberyard differ
AttributeAsepriteLumberyard
Starting price$19.99/onceFree
Pricing modelone-timefree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Macos, LinuxWindows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux
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 Lumberyard

  • CryEngine foundation
  • Lua scripting
  • Flowgraph editor
  • Advanced graphics
  • Physics simulation
  • AWS GameLift integration
  • Multiplayer support
  • VR capabilities

Both cover

  • Local deployment
  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

Aseprite

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

Lumberyard

  • Building 3D games with an AWS-integrated enginenot Aseprite
  • Cloud-connected multiplayer game backendsnot Aseprite
  • Twitch integration for streamed gameplay featuresnot 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

Lumberyard

  • aws.amazon.com/lumberyard now redirects to the AWS homepage; Amazon Lumberyard is no longer offered as an AWS product
  • The engine's successor is the Open 3D Engine, governed by the Open 3D Foundation rather than AWS, so migration means moving to a differently governed project
  • No Lumberyard-branded documentation, download or support commitment remains at the original AWS product URL

Pricing, plan by plan

Aseprite

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

Lumberyard

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full engine source
    • AWS integration
    • Lua scripting

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 Lumberyard if

  • You need cryengine foundation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux.
  • You also want lua scripting.
Lumberyard review

Questions people ask

Is Aseprite or Lumberyard better?
Neither clearly leads. Aseprite starts at $19.99/once and Lumberyard at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Aseprite or Lumberyard?
Lumberyard has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $19.99/once for Aseprite and Free for Lumberyard.
Does Aseprite or Lumberyard run on more platforms?
Aseprite runs on Windows, Macos, Linux. Lumberyard runs on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux.
Can I use Lumberyard for free?
Yes. Lumberyard 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 Lumberyard is typically brought in for.
What can Aseprite do that Lumberyard cannot?
Aseprite covers Pixel art tools, Animation timeline, Onion skinning, Layers. Lumberyard covers CryEngine foundation, Lua scripting, Flowgraph editor, Advanced graphics. Both handle Local deployment, Windows support.
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