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Aseprite vs Phaser

Aseprite logo

Aseprite

Software

Animated sprite editor and pixel art tool

From
$19.99/once
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Phaser logo

Phaser

Software

Fast, free, and fun open source framework for Canvas and WebGL

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Phaser 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; Phaser the Phaser framework is open source but Phaser Editor is a commercial product at $12 per month
  • They diverge on capability: Aseprite covers Pixel art tools, Phaser covers Canvas and WebGL rendering.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Aseprite and Phaser actually diverge.

Attributes where Aseprite and Phaser differ
AttributeAsepritePhaser
Starting price$19.99/onceFree
Pricing modelone-timefree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Macos, LinuxWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20012013

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 Phaser

  • Canvas and WebGL rendering
  • Physics engine (Arcade)
  • Input handling
  • Animation system
  • Audio support
  • Particle effects
  • Tilemaps
  • Event system

What people use each for

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

Aseprite

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

Phaser

  • Building 2D HTML5 games that run in the browsernot Aseprite
  • Rapid browser game prototyping with a code editor, tilemap and atlas toolsnot Aseprite
  • Publishing web games with one click hostingnot 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

Phaser

  • The Phaser framework is open source but Phaser Editor is a commercial product at $12 per month
  • Phaser Editor stops working when the licence expires
  • No free trial of Phaser Editor is offered
  • AI tools in the free Phaser suite require purchasing credits
  • SSO through Google Workspace, private support and Editor source code availability are Enterprise only, which is custom priced and requires contacting sales
  • No educational discounts are offered
  • Subscription cancellations are not refunded pro rata

Pricing, plan by plan

Aseprite

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

Phaser

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full source code
    • Community support
    • Game examples

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 Phaser if

  • You need canvas and webgl rendering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want physics engine (arcade).
Phaser review

Questions people ask

Is Aseprite or Phaser better?
Neither clearly leads. Aseprite starts at $19.99/once and Phaser at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Aseprite or Phaser?
Phaser has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $19.99/once for Aseprite and Free for Phaser.
Does Aseprite or Phaser run on more platforms?
Aseprite runs on Windows, Macos, Linux. Phaser runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Phaser for free?
Yes. Phaser 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 Phaser is typically brought in for.
What can Aseprite do that Phaser cannot?
Aseprite covers Pixel art tools, Animation timeline, Onion skinning, Layers. Phaser covers Canvas and WebGL rendering, Physics engine (Arcade), Input handling, Animation system.
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