Software · head to head
Cocos2d-x vs Houdini
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.; Houdini houdini Indie at $299 per year requires annual gross revenue under $100K USD
- They diverge on capability: Cocos2d-x covers 2D rendering, Houdini covers Procedural modeling.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Cocos2d-x and Houdini actually diverge.
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 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.
Cocos2d-x
- Mobile game developmentnot Houdini
- 2D gamesnot Houdini
- Lightweight gamesnot Houdini
- Cross-platform gamesnot Houdini
Houdini
- Procedural 3D modelling and environment generationnot Cocos2d-x
- Visual effects simulation for pyro, fluids, cloth and rigid bodiesnot Cocos2d-x
- Building reusable procedural assets for a studio pipelinenot 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.
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
Cocos2d-x
Free- FreeFree
- Full engine source
- MIT License
- Community support
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 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 Houdini if
- You need procedural modeling.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
- You also want vfx.
Questions people ask
- Is Cocos2d-x or Houdini better?
- Neither clearly leads. Cocos2d-x 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, Cocos2d-x or Houdini?
- Cocos2d-x starts at Free and Houdini at Free.
- Does Cocos2d-x or Houdini run on more platforms?
- Cocos2d-x runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android. Houdini runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
- 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 Houdini is typically brought in for.
- What can Cocos2d-x do that Houdini cannot?
- Cocos2d-x covers 2D rendering, Physics engine (Chipmunk), Particle effects, Animation system. Houdini covers Procedural modeling, VFX, Simulations, Particle systems. Both handle Windows support, Linux support.
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- Houdini vs Unity
- Houdini vs Aseprite
- Houdini vs Godot Engine
- Houdini vs Cascadeur
- Houdini vs Construct 3
- Houdini vs GameMaker Studio 2
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- Houdini vs Pico-8
- Houdini vs Substance 3D Painter
- Houdini vs Adventure Game Studio
- Houdini vs AppGameKit
- Houdini vs Armory3D
- Houdini vs Bevy
- Houdini vs Buildbox
- Houdini vs Clickteam Fusion
- Houdini vs CryEngine
- Houdini vs Defold
- Houdini vs Enscape
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- Houdini vs Corona Renderer
- Houdini vs D5 Render
- Houdini vs Twinmotion
- Houdini vs LightWave 3D
- Houdini vs OpenSCAD
- Houdini vs PrusaSlicer
- Houdini vs Siemens NX
- Houdini vs ZBrush
- Houdini vs 3D-Coat
- Houdini vs Alibre Design