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Defold vs Flax Engine

Defold logo

Defold

Software

The game engine for the creators of King

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Flax Engine logo

Flax Engine

Software

Modern 3D game engine with visual editor

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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; Flax Engine flax charges a 4% royalty on game earnings above $250,000, assessed per calendar quarter
  • They diverge on capability: Defold covers Lua scripting, Flax Engine covers 3D graphics rendering.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Defold and Flax Engine actually diverge.

Attributes where Defold and Flax Engine differ
AttributeDefoldFlax Engine
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, WebWindows, Linux, Playstation, Xbox
Founded20052017

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (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 Defold

  • Lua scripting
  • Sprite system
  • Sound management
  • Collection editor
  • Mobile optimization
  • Lightweight
  • Visual Studio Code
  • GitHub

Only in Flax Engine

  • 3D graphics rendering
  • Visual editor
  • C# scripting
  • Audio system
  • Skeletal animation
  • Material system
  • Lighting system
  • C#

Both cover

  • Physics engine
  • Particle effects
  • Local deployment
  • Windows 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 Flax Engine
  • Shipping small-footprint HTML5 gamesnot Flax Engine
  • Teams wanting a free engine with no revenue share on gamesnot Flax Engine

Flax Engine

  • Building 3D games in C# and C++ with full engine source accessnot Defold
  • Multi-platform deployment from one editornot Defold
  • Prototyping with the bundled Flax Samples projectsnot 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

Flax Engine

  • Flax charges a 4% royalty on game earnings above $250,000, assessed per calendar quarter
  • Free use is granted for non-commercial or educational usage; commercial releases fall under the royalty
  • Users must accept the Flax Engine End-User License Agreement before using the engine or its tools, so it is not an OSI open source licence despite the source being on GitHub
  • Non-game uses such as in-house tools or SaaS products need a custom licence negotiated with the vendor, and no rate card is published for per-seat or flat-fee options

Pricing, plan by plan

Defold

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

Flax Engine

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full engine
    • Visual editor
    • C# scripting

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 sprite system.
Defold review

Choose Flax Engine if

  • You need 3d graphics rendering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Linux, Playstation, Xbox.
  • You also want visual editor.
Flax Engine review

Questions people ask

Is Defold or Flax Engine better?
Neither clearly leads. Defold starts at Free and Flax Engine at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Defold or Flax Engine?
Defold starts at Free and Flax Engine at Free.
Does Defold or Flax Engine run on more platforms?
Defold runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web. Flax Engine runs on Windows, Linux, Playstation, Xbox.
Can I use Defold for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Flax Engine is typically brought in for.
What can Defold do that Flax Engine cannot?
Defold covers Lua scripting, Sprite system, Sound management, Collection editor. Flax Engine covers 3D graphics rendering, Visual editor, C# scripting, Audio system. Both handle Physics engine, Particle effects, Local deployment, Windows support.
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