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Arnold vs Defold

Arnold logo

Arnold

Software

Advanced Monte Carlo ray tracing renderer

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Defold logo

Defold

Software

The game engine for the creators of King

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Defold has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Arnold the Internet Archive's capture of Autodesk's Arnold overview page on 30 December 2022 stated a subscription can be installed on up to 3 computers or devices, though only the named user may run it on one machine at a time, and includes access to the 3 previous major versions.; Defold the Defold License requires you to include the Defold license and copyright notice in any work you create with the engine
  • They diverge on capability: Arnold covers Ray tracing, Defold covers Lua scripting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Arnold and Defold actually diverge.

Attributes where Arnold and Defold differ
AttributeArnoldDefold
Starting price$29/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, MacOS, LinuxWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web
Founded19982005

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 Arnold

  • Ray tracing
  • GPU rendering
  • Production shading
  • OSL
  • Denoising
  • Maya
  • 3ds Max
  • Cinema 4D

Only in Defold

  • Lua scripting
  • Physics engine
  • Sprite system
  • Particle effects
  • Sound management
  • Collection editor
  • Mobile optimization
  • Lightweight

Both cover

  • Windows support
  • Linux support

What people use each for

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

Arnold

  • Film productionnot Defold
  • Animationnot Defold
  • VFXnot Defold

Defold

  • Building 2D games for mobile, desktop, web and console from a single projectnot Arnold
  • Shipping small-footprint HTML5 gamesnot Arnold
  • Teams wanting a free engine with no revenue share on gamesnot Arnold

Where each one falls short

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

Arnold

  • The Internet Archive's capture of Autodesk's Arnold overview page on 30 December 2022 stated a subscription can be installed on up to 3 computers or devices, though only the named user may run it on one machine at a time, and includes access to the 3 previous major versions.

Defold

  • The Defold License requires you to include the Defold license and copyright notice in any work you create with the engine
  • The licence forbids commercialising original or modified versions of the Defold editor or engine itself
  • Significant changes made to the Defold source must be documented under the licence terms

Pricing, plan by plan

Arnold

$29/month
  • Arnold$360/month
    • Standalone renderer

Defold

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full editor
    • Lua scripting
    • Physics engine

Which should you pick?

Choose Arnold if

  • You need ray tracing.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • You also want gpu rendering.
Arnold review

Choose Defold if

  • You need lua scripting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want physics engine.
Defold review

Questions people ask

Is Arnold or Defold better?
Neither clearly leads. Arnold starts at $29/month and Defold at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Arnold or Defold?
Defold has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for Arnold and Free for Defold.
Does Arnold or Defold run on more platforms?
Arnold runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux. Defold runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
Can I use Defold for free?
Yes. Defold has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Arnold starts at $29/month.
What is Arnold best used for?
Arnold is most often used for film production, animation, vfx. Of those, film production and animation are not what Defold is typically brought in for.
What can Arnold do that Defold cannot?
Arnold covers Ray tracing, GPU rendering, Production shading, OSL. Defold covers Lua scripting, Physics engine, Sprite system, Particle effects. Both handle Windows support, Linux support.
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