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Defold vs Aseprite

Defold logo

Defold

Software

The game engine for the creators of King

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Aseprite logo

Aseprite

Software

Animated sprite editor and pixel art tool

From
$19.99/once
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Defold has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Defold the Defold License requires you to include the Defold license and copyright notice in any work you create with the engine; Aseprite a one-off purchase with no free tier, only a trial
  • They diverge on capability: Defold covers Lua scripting, Aseprite covers Pixel art tools.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Defold and Aseprite actually diverge.

Attributes where Defold and Aseprite differ
AttributeDefoldAseprite
Starting priceFree$19.99/once
Pricing modelfreeone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, WebWindows, Macos, Linux
Founded20052001

Identical on both: 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 Defold

  • Lua scripting
  • Physics engine
  • Sprite system
  • Particle effects
  • Sound management
  • Collection editor
  • Mobile optimization
  • Lightweight

Only in Aseprite

  • Pixel art tools
  • Animation timeline
  • Onion skinning
  • Layers
  • Tilemap editor
  • Color palettes
  • Sprite sheets
  • Scripting (Lua)

Both cover

  • Local deployment
  • Windows support
  • Macos support
  • Linux support

What people use each for

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

Defold

  • Building 2D games for mobile, desktop, web and console from a single projectnot Aseprite
  • Shipping small-footprint HTML5 gamesnot Aseprite
  • Teams wanting a free engine with no revenue share on gamesnot Aseprite

Aseprite

  • Pixel art creation for gamesnot Defold
  • Frame-by-frame sprite animationnot Defold
  • Exporting sprite sheets and GIFsnot Defold
  • Scripting repetitive export tasks through the command linenot Defold

Where each one falls short

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

Defold

  • The Defold License requires you to include the Defold license and copyright notice in any work you create with the engine
  • The licence forbids commercialising original or modified versions of the Defold editor or engine itself
  • Significant changes made to the Defold source must be documented under the licence terms

Aseprite

  • A one-off purchase with no free tier, only a trial
  • Deliberately narrow: a pixel art and sprite animation editor rather than a general image editor
  • The site does not state supported platforms or licence terms, which are on GitHub instead

Pricing, plan by plan

Defold

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full editor
    • Lua scripting
    • Physics engine

Aseprite

$19.99/once
  • License$19.99/once
    • Full feature set
    • Free updates
    • Commercial use

Which should you pick?

Choose Defold if

  • You need lua scripting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want physics engine.
Defold review

Choose Aseprite if

  • You need pixel art tools.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux.
  • You also want animation timeline.
Aseprite review

Questions people ask

Is Defold or Aseprite better?
Neither clearly leads. Defold starts at Free and Aseprite at $19.99/once, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Defold or Aseprite?
Defold has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Defold and $19.99/once for Aseprite.
Does Defold or Aseprite run on more platforms?
Defold runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web. Aseprite runs on Windows, Macos, Linux.
Can I use Defold for free?
Yes. Defold has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Aseprite starts at $19.99/once.
What is Defold best used for?
Defold is most often used for building 2d games for mobile, desktop, web and console from a single project, shipping small-footprint html5 games, teams wanting a free engine with no revenue share on games. Of those, building 2d games for mobile, desktop, web and console from a single project and shipping small-footprint html5 games are not what Aseprite is typically brought in for.
What can Defold do that Aseprite cannot?
Defold covers Lua scripting, Physics engine, Sprite system, Particle effects. Aseprite covers Pixel art tools, Animation timeline, Onion skinning, Layers. Both handle Local deployment, Windows support, Macos support, Linux support.
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