Softwr

Game Development · head to head

Bevy vs Steam

Bevy logo

Bevy

Game Development

A refreshingly simple data-driven game engine built in Rust

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
S

Steam

Gaming

The ultimate destination for playing, discussing, and creating games

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Bevy has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Bevy rust only, so it assumes a language most game teams do not already use; Steam publishing a game requires developers to pay a non-refundable $100 Steam Direct fee per title, recouped only once the product earns $1,000 in adjusted gross revenue

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bevy and Steam actually diverge.

Attributes where Bevy and Steam differ
AttributeBevySteam
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, WebglWeb
CategoryGame DevelopmentGaming
Founded2020Unknown

Identical on both: 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 Steam

Nothing recorded that Bevy does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Bevy

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

Steam

No use cases recorded yet. See the Steam review.

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

Steam

  • Publishing a game requires developers to pay a non-refundable $100 Steam Direct fee per title, recouped only once the product earns $1,000 in adjusted gross revenue
  • Core purchases and library are tied to a single Steam account with no vendor-stated official resale or transfer mechanism for owned games

Pricing, plan by plan

Bevy

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

Steam

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Steam review.

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 Steam if

Nothing in the data separates Steam from Bevy on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Steam review

Questions people ask

Is Bevy or Steam better?
Neither clearly leads. Bevy starts at Free and Steam at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bevy or Steam?
Bevy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Bevy and On request for Steam.
Does Bevy or Steam run on more platforms?
Bevy runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Webgl. Steam runs on Web.
Can I use Bevy for free?
Yes. Bevy has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Steam starts at On request.
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 Steam is typically brought in for.
What can Bevy do that Steam cannot?
Bevy covers Entity Component System, 2D/3D rendering, Audio system, Asset pipeline.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Bevy

More on Steam

Keep looking

Other head to heads