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Blender vs Defold

Blender logo

Blender

Software

Free and Open Source 3D Creation Suite

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Defold logo

Defold

Software

The game engine for the creators of King

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Blender rendering performance lags behind dedicated render engines; 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: Blender covers 3D modeling, Defold covers Lua scripting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blender and Defold actually diverge.

Attributes where Blender and Defold differ
AttributeBlenderDefold
Pricing modelUnknownfree
PlatformsWeb, Windows, macOS, LinuxWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web
Founded20022005

Identical on both: starting price (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 Blender

  • 3D modeling
  • Sculpting
  • Animation
  • Rigging
  • Rendering
  • Compositing
  • Video editing
  • 2D animation

Only in Defold

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

Both cover

  • Local deployment
  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

Blender

  • 3D modeling and animationnot Defold
  • Visual effectsnot Defold
  • Game developmentnot Defold
  • Architectural visualizationnot Defold
  • Video editingnot Defold

Defold

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

Where each one falls short

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

Blender

  • Rendering performance lags behind dedicated render engines
  • Limited real-time viewport performance for very large scenes

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

Blender

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Blender review.

Defold

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Blender if

  • You need 3d modeling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want sculpting.
Blender 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 Blender or Defold better?
Neither clearly leads. Blender starts at Free and Defold at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blender or Defold?
Blender starts at Free and Defold at Free.
Does Blender or Defold run on more platforms?
Blender runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux. Defold runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
Can I use Blender for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Blender best used for?
Blender is most often used for 3d modeling and animation, visual effects, game development, architectural visualization. Of those, 3d modeling and animation and visual effects are not what Defold is typically brought in for.
What can Blender do that Defold cannot?
Blender covers 3D modeling, Sculpting, Animation, Rigging. Defold covers Lua scripting, Physics engine, Sprite system, Particle effects. Both handle Local deployment, Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Blender: Can I use Blender commercially for free?

Yes. Blender is distributed under the GNU GPL license, meaning it is completely free to use for any purpose, including commercially or for education, with no licensing fees or restrictions.

Source
Blender: What operating systems does Blender support?

Blender is cross-platform and runs equally well on Linux, Windows, and Macintosh computers.

Source
Blender: Can I extend Blender's functionality?

Yes. Blender has a flexible Python-controlled interface and you can use hundreds of add-ons by the community or create your own using Blender's accessible Python API.

Source
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