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Game Development · head to head

Cocos2d-x vs Substance 3D Painter

Cocos2d-x logo

Cocos2d-x

Game Development

Open-source, lightweight 2D game engine

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Substance 3D Painter logo

Substance 3D Painter

Game Development

3D texture painting software

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Cocos2d-x has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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.; Substance 3D Painter the Internet Archive's capture of Adobe's Substance 3D Painter page on 23 June 2021 priced the Substance 3D Collection plan (which bundles Painter, Stager, Sampler, Designer and Modeler) at US$39.99/month for the first year.
  • They diverge on capability: Cocos2d-x covers 2D rendering, Substance 3D Painter covers 3D painting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cocos2d-x and Substance 3D Painter actually diverge.

Attributes where Cocos2d-x and Substance 3D Painter differ
AttributeCocos2d-xSubstance 3D Painter
Starting priceFree$29/month
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, AndroidWindows, MacOS, Linux
CategoryGame DevelopmentUnknown
Founded20101982

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 Cocos2d-x

  • 2D rendering
  • Physics engine (Chipmunk)
  • Particle effects
  • Animation system
  • Audio engine
  • Touch input handling
  • Tilemap support
  • Sprite batching

Only in Substance 3D Painter

  • 3D painting
  • Smart materials
  • Generators
  • PBR workflow
  • Baking
  • Export presets
  • Scripting
  • Maya

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 Substance 3D Painter
  • 2D gamesnot Substance 3D Painter
  • Lightweight gamesnot Substance 3D Painter
  • Cross-platform gamesnot Substance 3D Painter

Substance 3D Painter

  • Game texturingnot Cocos2d-x
  • Film assetsnot Cocos2d-x
  • Product visualizationnot 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.

Substance 3D Painter

  • The Internet Archive's capture of Adobe's Substance 3D Painter page on 23 June 2021 priced the Substance 3D Collection plan (which bundles Painter, Stager, Sampler, Designer and Modeler) at US$39.99/month for the first year.

Pricing, plan by plan

Cocos2d-x

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full engine source
    • MIT License
    • Community support

Substance 3D Painter

$29/month
  • Substance 3D Texturing$19.99/month
    • Painter + Sampler
  • Substance 3D Collection$49.99/month
    • All Substance apps

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).
Cocos2d-x review

Choose Substance 3D Painter if

  • You need 3d painting.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • You also want smart materials.
Substance 3D Painter review

Questions people ask

Is Cocos2d-x or Substance 3D Painter better?
Neither clearly leads. Cocos2d-x starts at Free and Substance 3D Painter at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cocos2d-x or Substance 3D Painter?
Cocos2d-x has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Cocos2d-x and $29/month for Substance 3D Painter.
Does Cocos2d-x or Substance 3D Painter run on more platforms?
Cocos2d-x runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android. Substance 3D Painter runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
Can I use Cocos2d-x for free?
Yes. Cocos2d-x has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Substance 3D Painter starts at $29/month.
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 Substance 3D Painter is typically brought in for.
What can Cocos2d-x do that Substance 3D Painter cannot?
Cocos2d-x covers 2D rendering, Physics engine (Chipmunk), Particle effects, Animation system. Substance 3D Painter covers 3D painting, Smart materials, Generators, PBR workflow. Both handle Windows support, Linux support.
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