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Inventor vs Defold

Inventor logo

Inventor

Software

Professional-grade 3D mechanical design

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: Inventor autodesk publishes no licence price through UK G-Cloud: every listing found there is reseller delivered training at 750 to 1,500 pounds per day rather than software licensing, and neither AWS Marketplace nor GSA carries the product; 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: Inventor covers Parametric modeling, Defold covers Lua scripting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Inventor and Defold actually diverge.

Attributes where Inventor and Defold differ
AttributeInventorDefold
Starting price$29/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindowsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web
Founded19822005

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 Inventor

  • Parametric modeling
  • Assembly design
  • Sheet metal
  • Simulation
  • Rendering
  • Technical documentation
  • Frame generator
  • AutoCAD

Only in Defold

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

Both cover

  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

Inventor

  • Mechanical designnot Defold
  • Product developmentnot Defold
  • Manufacturing documentationnot Defold

Defold

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

Where each one falls short

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

Inventor

  • Autodesk publishes no licence price through UK G-Cloud: every listing found there is reseller delivered training at 750 to 1,500 pounds per day rather than software licensing, and neither AWS Marketplace nor GSA carries the product

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

Inventor

$29/month
  • Inventor$2085/month
    • Full mechanical design
    • Simulation
    • Documentation
  • Product Design & Manufacturing Collection$2475/month
    • Inventor + AutoCAD + more

Defold

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Inventor if

  • You need parametric modeling.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want assembly design.
Inventor 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 Inventor or Defold better?
Neither clearly leads. Inventor 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, Inventor or Defold?
Defold has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for Inventor and Free for Defold.
Does Inventor or Defold run on more platforms?
Inventor runs on Windows. 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. Inventor starts at $29/month.
What is Inventor best used for?
Inventor is most often used for mechanical design, product development, manufacturing documentation. Of those, mechanical design and product development are not what Defold is typically brought in for.
What can Inventor do that Defold cannot?
Inventor covers Parametric modeling, Assembly design, Sheet metal, Simulation. Defold covers Lua scripting, Physics engine, Sprite system, Particle effects. Both handle Windows support.
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