Game Development · head to head
CryEngine vs Buildbox
CryEngine
Game Development
Build worlds, break limits. Professional game development engine.
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: CryEngine a royalty of 5% of Gross Receipts is payable to Crytek on every game built with CRYENGINE; Buildbox buildbox splits its editor into two separate paid product lines, Buildbox Classic and Buildbox 3, priced and sold as different products rather than tiers of one app (archived pricing page, 8 March 2026)
- They diverge on capability: CryEngine covers Advanced graphics, Buildbox covers Visual game builder.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which CryEngine and Buildbox actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Game Development).
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 CryEngine
- Advanced graphics
- AI system
- Animation tools
- Flow Graph visual scripting
- C++ and Lua support
- Entity component system
- Sandbox editor
- Visual Studio
Only in Buildbox
- Visual game builder
- Drag-and-drop interface
- Animation system
- Monetization SDK
- Analytics integration
- Cloud compilation
- Template library
- AdMob
Both cover
- Physics engine
- Windows support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
CryEngine
- Building photorealistic first person and open world games with real time global illuminationnot Buildbox
- Developing with full engine source code accessnot Buildbox
- Sandbox based level design with what you see is what you get exportnot Buildbox
Buildbox
- Mobile game creationnot CryEngine
- Casual gamesnot CryEngine
- Monetized gamesnot CryEngine
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
CryEngine
- A royalty of 5% of Gross Receipts is payable to Crytek on every game built with CRYENGINE
- Royalties are waived only on the first USD 5,000.00 of Gross Receipts per year per game
- Royalties are calculated at source on gross receipts before any publisher or platform deductions, so a developer receiving 70% of USD 100,000 still owes USD 4,750
- Military projects, gambling, simulation, science, architecture and serious games are excluded from the standard licence and are not covered as Games
- The licence forbids combining CRYENGINE with code from other game engine providers
- Supported platforms are limited to those Crytek announces at its sole discretion, listed in the agreement as Windows, Linux, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One
- Support is only provided against payment of a separate Support Fee that Crytek may change at its sole discretion
- Crytek may modify the licence agreement at any time, with the only remedy for disagreement being to stop using CRYENGINE
Buildbox
- Buildbox splits its editor into two separate paid product lines, Buildbox Classic and Buildbox 3, priced and sold as different products rather than tiers of one app (archived pricing page, 8 March 2026)
- Buildbox Classic Plus is $57.99 USD per year and Buildbox Classic Pro is $137.99 USD per year; Buildbox 3 Plus is $97.99 USD per year and Buildbox 3 Pro is $297.99 USD per year, with a companion audio tool Soundbox sold separately at $49.99 USD per year (archived pricing page, 8 March 2026)
- The only bundle combining Buildbox 3 Pro, Buildbox Classic Pro, and Soundbox is a separate $447.99 USD per year Ultimate Bundle rather than a natural upgrade path (archived pricing page, 8 March 2026)
Pricing, plan by plan
CryEngine
Free- FreeFree
- Full engine access
- Source code
- Asset library
Buildbox
Free- FreeFree
- Basic game creation
- Mobile export
- Community support
- Premium$19.99/month
- Advanced features
- Monetization tools
- Custom integrations
Which should you pick?
Choose CryEngine if
- You need advanced graphics.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux.
- You also want ai system.
Choose Buildbox if
- You need visual game builder.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Ios, Android, Windows, Macos.
- You also want drag-and-drop interface.
Questions people ask
- Is CryEngine or Buildbox better?
- Neither clearly leads. CryEngine starts at Free and Buildbox at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, CryEngine or Buildbox?
- CryEngine starts at Free and Buildbox at Free.
- Does CryEngine or Buildbox run on more platforms?
- CryEngine runs on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux. Buildbox runs on Ios, Android, Windows, Macos.
- Can I use CryEngine for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is CryEngine best used for?
- CryEngine is most often used for building photorealistic first person and open world games with real time global illumination, developing with full engine source code access, sandbox based level design with what you see is what you get export. Of those, building photorealistic first person and open world games with real time global illumination and developing with full engine source code access are not what Buildbox is typically brought in for.
- What can CryEngine do that Buildbox cannot?
- CryEngine covers Advanced graphics, AI system, Animation tools, Flow Graph visual scripting. Buildbox covers Visual game builder, Drag-and-drop interface, Animation system, Monetization SDK. Both handle Physics engine, Windows support.