Software · head to head
Bevy vs Phaser
Bevy
Software
A refreshingly simple data-driven game engine built in Rust
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Phaser
Software
Fast, free, and fun open source framework for Canvas and WebGL
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Bevy rust only, so it assumes a language most game teams do not already use; Phaser the Phaser framework is open source but Phaser Editor is a commercial product at $12 per month
- They diverge on capability: Bevy covers Entity Component System, Phaser covers Canvas and WebGL rendering.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Bevy and Phaser actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (free), free tier (Yes), 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 Bevy
- Entity Component System
- 2D/3D rendering
- Audio system
- Asset pipeline
- Hot reloading
- Cross-platform
- Modular architecture
- Parallel systems
Only in Phaser
- Canvas and WebGL rendering
- Physics engine (Arcade)
- Input handling
- Animation system
- Audio support
- Particle effects
- Tilemaps
- Event system
Both cover
- Web deployment
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Bevy
- 2D and 3D game development in Rustnot Phaser
- Data-driven design using an entity component systemnot Phaser
- Shipping to Windows, macOS, Linux, web, iOS and Android from one codebasenot Phaser
- Projects wanting a permissive licence with no royalties or feesnot Phaser
Phaser
- Building 2D HTML5 games that run in the browsernot Bevy
- Rapid browser game prototyping with a code editor, tilemap and atlas toolsnot Bevy
- Publishing web games with one click hostingnot Bevy
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Bevy
- Rust only, so it assumes a language most game teams do not already use
- No visual editor of the kind Unity or Godot provide, so scenes and logic are written in code
- Built around ECS, which is a different mental model from the scene-graph engines most developers come from
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
Bevy
Free- Open SourceFree
- Full engine access
- ECS architecture
- Hot reloading
Phaser
Free- FreeFree
- Full source code
- Community support
- Game examples
Which should you pick?
Choose Bevy if
- You need entity component system.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Webgl.
- You also want 2d/3d rendering.
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).
Questions people ask
- Is Bevy or Phaser better?
- Neither clearly leads. Bevy starts at Free and Phaser at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Bevy or Phaser?
- Bevy starts at Free and Phaser at Free.
- Does Bevy or Phaser run on more platforms?
- Bevy runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Webgl. Phaser runs on Web, Ios, Android.
- Can I use Bevy for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Bevy best used for?
- Bevy is most often used for 2d and 3d game development in rust, data-driven design using an entity component system, shipping to windows, macos, linux, web, ios and android from one codebase, projects wanting a permissive licence with no royalties or fees. Of those, 2d and 3d game development in rust and data-driven design using an entity component system are not what Phaser is typically brought in for.
- What can Bevy do that Phaser cannot?
- Bevy covers Entity Component System, 2D/3D rendering, Audio system, Asset pipeline. Phaser covers Canvas and WebGL rendering, Physics engine (Arcade), Input handling, Animation system. Both handle Web deployment.
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