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Software · head to head

Clickteam Fusion vs LightWave 3D

C

Clickteam Fusion

Software

Professional visual game development software

From
$99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
LightWave 3D logo

LightWave 3D

Software

Complete 3D production suite

From
$999/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Clickteam Fusion listed on Steam, the vendor's own storefront, at $99.99 for a perpetual licence of Clickteam Fusion 2.5, published directly by Clickteam; LightWave 3D user interface appears dated compared to modern competitors
  • They diverge on capability: Clickteam Fusion covers Visual event system, LightWave 3D covers Modeler.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Clickteam Fusion and LightWave 3D actually diverge.

Attributes where Clickteam Fusion and LightWave 3D differ
AttributeClickteam FusionLightWave 3D
Starting price$99/one-time$999/one-time
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, WebWindows, macOS, Linux
Founded19961990

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Clickteam Fusion

  • Visual event system
  • Drag-and-drop interface
  • Physics engine
  • Sound and music
  • Sprite animation
  • Extensions support
  • Multi-core support
  • Fast compiler

Only in LightWave 3D

  • Modeler
  • Layout
  • Animation
  • Rendering
  • VPR
  • FiberFX
  • Dynamics
  • Unity

Both cover

  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

Clickteam Fusion

  • 2D game developmentnot LightWave 3D
  • Professional gamesnot LightWave 3D
  • Cross-platform developmentnot LightWave 3D

LightWave 3D

  • Animationnot Clickteam Fusion
  • VFXnot Clickteam Fusion
  • Product visualizationnot Clickteam Fusion

Where each one falls short

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

Clickteam Fusion

  • Listed on Steam, the vendor's own storefront, at $99.99 for a perpetual licence of Clickteam Fusion 2.5, published directly by Clickteam

LightWave 3D

  • User interface appears dated compared to modern competitors
  • Smaller community than Blender or Maya, resulting in fewer learning resources
  • Less industry adoption in some sectors, potentially affecting job market relevance

Pricing, plan by plan

Clickteam Fusion

$99/one-time
  • Standard$99/one-time
    • Visual event editor
    • Desktop export
    • HTML5 export
  • Premium$199/one-time
    • All Standard features
    • Android export
    • iOS export

LightWave 3D

$999/one-time

No published plan breakdown. See the LightWave 3D review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Clickteam Fusion if

  • You need visual event system.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want drag-and-drop interface.
Clickteam Fusion review

Choose LightWave 3D if

  • You need modeler.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want layout.
LightWave 3D review

Questions people ask

Is Clickteam Fusion or LightWave 3D better?
Neither clearly leads. Clickteam Fusion starts at $99/one-time and LightWave 3D at $999/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Clickteam Fusion or LightWave 3D?
Clickteam Fusion starts at $99/one-time and LightWave 3D at $999/one-time.
Does Clickteam Fusion or LightWave 3D run on more platforms?
Clickteam Fusion runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web. LightWave 3D runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
What is Clickteam Fusion best used for?
Clickteam Fusion is most often used for 2d game development, professional games, cross-platform development. Of those, 2d game development and professional games are not what LightWave 3D is typically brought in for.
What can Clickteam Fusion do that LightWave 3D cannot?
Clickteam Fusion covers Visual event system, Drag-and-drop interface, Physics engine, Sound and music. LightWave 3D covers Modeler, Layout, Animation, Rendering. Both handle Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

LightWave 3D: What is the cost of LightWave 3D?

LightWave 3D 2026 license costs $1,096 USD. Upgrades from previous versions cost $620-$758 USD. There are no subscription fees, only one-time purchase costs.

Source
LightWave 3D: Is there a free trial available?

Yes. LightWave 3D offers a 30-day free full-feature trial, allowing users to evaluate all capabilities before purchase.

Source
LightWave 3D: What rendering engines does it include?

LightWave 2026 includes RiPR2, a next-generation viewport renderer with physically-based global illumination built on Nvidia OptiX and CUDA, plus traditional rendering options.

Source
LightWave 3D: What new features are in LightWave 2026?

LightWave 2026 adds Advanced Placement for physics-based object scattering, MotoRig for vehicle animation, THOR for lightning effects, Fracture tool, Snow Falling 3D, 3D Camera Tracker, and built-in asset browser.

Source
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Related pages

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