Software · head to head
Cocos2d-x vs PlayCanvas
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Cocos2d-x cocos2d-x is MIT licensed with no commercial tier, and the vendor's own site directs users toward its newer engine, Cocos Creator, as the actively developed product, leaving Cocos2d-x without a first-party paid support or upgrade path.; PlayCanvas private projects require a paid plan; the Free plan only allows public projects
- They diverge on capability: Cocos2d-x covers 2D rendering, PlayCanvas covers Cloud-based editor.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Cocos2d-x and PlayCanvas actually diverge.
| Attribute | Cocos2d-x | PlayCanvas |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | free | freemium |
| Platforms | Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android | Web, Mobile |
| Founded | 2010 | 2013 |
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 Cocos2d-x
- 2D rendering
- Physics engine (Chipmunk)
- Particle effects
- Animation system
- Audio engine
- Touch input handling
- Tilemap support
- Sprite batching
Only in PlayCanvas
- Cloud-based editor
- Real-time collaboration
- WebGL rendering
- Physics engine
- Visual scripting
- Asset library
- Version control
- Instant deployment
Both cover
- GitHub
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Cocos2d-x
- Mobile game developmentnot PlayCanvas
- 2D gamesnot PlayCanvas
- Lightweight gamesnot PlayCanvas
- Cross-platform gamesnot PlayCanvas
PlayCanvas
- Building WebGL games and interactive 3D that run in a browsernot Cocos2d-x
- Browser based collaborative 3D editing across a teamnot Cocos2d-x
- Web AR and VR experiences, product configurators and playable adsnot Cocos2d-x
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Cocos2d-x
- Cocos2d-x is MIT licensed with no commercial tier, and the vendor's own site directs users toward its newer engine, Cocos Creator, as the actively developed product, leaving Cocos2d-x without a first-party paid support or upgrade path.
PlayCanvas
- Private projects require a paid plan; the Free plan only allows public projects
- The Free plan is capped at 1GB of storage, Personal at 10GB and Organization at 50GB
- Personal costs $15 per month and Organization costs $50 per seat per month
- Team management is only available on the Organization plan
- Private projects become locked and inaccessible if the subscription is cancelled, unless they are made public
- There is no formal educational discount
- There is no self serve trial of the Personal or Organization plan; an upgrade code must be requested from sales
Pricing, plan by plan
Cocos2d-x
Free- FreeFree
- Full engine source
- MIT License
- Community support
PlayCanvas
Free- FreeFree
- Cloud editor
- WebGL export
- Community projects
- Pro$19/month
- Private projects
- Advanced features
- Priority support
Which should you pick?
Choose Cocos2d-x if
- You need 2d rendering.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android.
- You also want physics engine (chipmunk).
Choose PlayCanvas if
- You need cloud-based editor.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Mobile.
- You also want real-time collaboration.
Questions people ask
- Is Cocos2d-x or PlayCanvas better?
- Neither clearly leads. Cocos2d-x starts at Free and PlayCanvas at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Cocos2d-x or PlayCanvas?
- Cocos2d-x starts at Free and PlayCanvas at Free.
- Does Cocos2d-x or PlayCanvas run on more platforms?
- Cocos2d-x runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android. PlayCanvas runs on Web, Mobile.
- Can I use Cocos2d-x for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Cocos2d-x best used for?
- Cocos2d-x is most often used for mobile game development, 2d games, lightweight games, cross-platform games. Of those, mobile game development and 2d games are not what PlayCanvas is typically brought in for.
- What can Cocos2d-x do that PlayCanvas cannot?
- Cocos2d-x covers 2D rendering, Physics engine (Chipmunk), Particle effects, Animation system. PlayCanvas covers Cloud-based editor, Real-time collaboration, WebGL rendering, Physics engine. Both handle GitHub.
Related pages
Keep looking
Other head to heads
- Cocos2d-x vs DragonBones
- Cocos2d-x vs Unity
- Cocos2d-x vs Aseprite
- Cocos2d-x vs Godot Engine
- Cocos2d-x vs Cascadeur
- Cocos2d-x vs Construct 3
- Cocos2d-x vs GameMaker Studio 2
- Cocos2d-x vs Mixamo
- Cocos2d-x vs Pico-8
- Cocos2d-x vs Substance 3D Painter
- Cocos2d-x vs Adventure Game Studio
- Cocos2d-x vs AppGameKit
- Cocos2d-x vs Armory3D
- Cocos2d-x vs Bevy
- Cocos2d-x vs Buildbox
- Cocos2d-x vs Clickteam Fusion
- Cocos2d-x vs CryEngine
- Cocos2d-x vs Defold
- PlayCanvas vs DragonBones
- PlayCanvas vs Unity
- PlayCanvas vs Aseprite
- PlayCanvas vs Godot Engine
- PlayCanvas vs Cascadeur
- PlayCanvas vs Construct 3
- PlayCanvas vs GameMaker Studio 2
- PlayCanvas vs Mixamo
- PlayCanvas vs Pico-8
- PlayCanvas vs Substance 3D Painter
- PlayCanvas vs Adventure Game Studio
- PlayCanvas vs AppGameKit
- PlayCanvas vs Armory3D
- PlayCanvas vs Bevy
- PlayCanvas vs Buildbox
- PlayCanvas vs Clickteam Fusion
- PlayCanvas vs CryEngine
- PlayCanvas vs Defold