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Game Development · head to head

Bevy vs Houdini

Bevy logo

Bevy

Game Development

A refreshingly simple data-driven game engine built in Rust

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Houdini logo

Houdini

3D & CAD

Procedural 3D animation and VFX

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Bevy rust only, so it assumes a language most game teams do not already use; Houdini houdini Indie at $299 per year requires annual gross revenue under $100K USD
  • They diverge on capability: Bevy covers Entity Component System, Houdini covers Procedural modeling.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bevy and Houdini actually diverge.

Attributes where Bevy and Houdini differ
AttributeBevyHoudini
Pricing modelfreesubscription
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, WebglWindows, MacOS, Linux
CategoryGame Development3D & CAD
Founded20201987

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Houdini

  • Procedural modeling
  • VFX
  • Simulations
  • Particle systems
  • Pyro FX
  • Ocean tools
  • Rigging
  • Rendering

Both cover

  • Windows support
  • Linux support

What people use each for

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

Bevy

  • 2D and 3D game development in Rustnot Houdini
  • Data-driven design using an entity component systemnot Houdini
  • Shipping to Windows, macOS, Linux, web, iOS and Android from one codebasenot Houdini
  • Projects wanting a permissive licence with no royalties or feesnot Houdini

Houdini

  • Procedural 3D modelling and environment generationnot Bevy
  • Visual effects simulation for pyro, fluids, cloth and rigid bodiesnot Bevy
  • Building reusable procedural assets for a studio pipelinenot 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

Houdini

  • Houdini Indie at $299 per year requires annual gross revenue under $100K USD
  • Houdini Indie cannot be used in the same pipeline as commercial versions of Houdini
  • Houdini Indie and Apprentice save to their own .hipnc file format, which commercial Houdini pipelines do not share
  • The free Apprentice edition is non commercial, caps render resolution at 1920x1080 and watermarks output images
  • Houdini Indie ships with only 2 render tokens
  • Full DOP level simulation node access requires Houdini FX at $4,495 per workstation; Core at $1,995 exposes only SOP level pre built simulation assets
  • Extra render tokens cost $195

Pricing, plan by plan

Bevy

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Full engine access
    • ECS architecture
    • Hot reloading

Houdini

Free
  • ApprenticeFree
    • Learning version
    • Non-commercial
  • Indie$269/month
    • Revenue limit $100K
  • Core$1995/month
    • Full commercial
  • FX$4495/month
    • Full + simulations

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.
Bevy review

Choose Houdini if

  • You need procedural modeling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • You also want vfx.
Houdini review

Questions people ask

Is Bevy or Houdini better?
Neither clearly leads. Bevy starts at Free and Houdini at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bevy or Houdini?
Bevy starts at Free and Houdini at Free.
Does Bevy or Houdini run on more platforms?
Bevy runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Webgl. Houdini runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
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 Houdini is typically brought in for.
What can Bevy do that Houdini cannot?
Bevy covers Entity Component System, 2D/3D rendering, Audio system, Asset pipeline. Houdini covers Procedural modeling, VFX, Simulations, Particle systems. Both handle Windows support, Linux support.
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