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Game Development · head to head

Defold vs Fyrox

Defold logo

Defold

Game Development

The game engine for the creators of King

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Fyrox logo

Fyrox

Game Development

Feature-rich 3D game engine written in Rust

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; Fyrox no pricing published; product is open-source and free
  • They diverge on capability: Defold covers Lua scripting, Fyrox covers Scene editor.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Defold and Fyrox actually diverge.

Attributes where Defold and Fyrox differ
AttributeDefoldFyrox
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, WebWindows, Macos, Linux, Webgl
Founded20052019

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

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

Only in Fyrox

  • Scene editor
  • 3D/2D rendering
  • Physics (Rapier)
  • Animation system
  • Sound engine
  • UI framework
  • Navmesh
  • Particle systems

Both cover

  • Local deployment
  • Web 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 Fyrox
  • Shipping small-footprint HTML5 gamesnot Fyrox
  • Teams wanting a free engine with no revenue share on gamesnot Fyrox

Fyrox

  • 3D game developmentnot Defold
  • 2D gamesnot Defold
  • Simulationnot Defold
  • Prototypingnot 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

Fyrox

  • No pricing published; product is open-source and free

Pricing, plan by plan

Defold

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

Fyrox

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Full engine access
    • Scene editor
    • Physics integration

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 Fyrox if

  • You need scene editor.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Webgl.
  • You also want 3d/2d rendering.
Fyrox review

Questions people ask

Is Defold or Fyrox better?
Neither clearly leads. Defold starts at Free and Fyrox at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Defold or Fyrox?
Defold starts at Free and Fyrox at Free.
Does Defold or Fyrox run on more platforms?
Defold runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web. Fyrox runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Webgl.
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 Fyrox is typically brought in for.
What can Defold do that Fyrox cannot?
Defold covers Lua scripting, Physics engine, Sprite system, Particle effects. Fyrox covers Scene editor, 3D/2D rendering, Physics (Rapier), Animation system. Both handle Local deployment, Web deployment, Windows support, Macos support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Defold: How much does Defold cost?

Defold is completely free with no up-front cost, no licensing cost, no royalties, and no runtime fees. The game engine is free forever, supported by the Defold Foundation with source code available under a developer-friendly license.

Source
Fyrox: How much does Fyrox Engine cost?

Fyrox is a free, open-source game engine built in Rust. There are no pricing tiers, subscription fees, or commercial licensing costs. The engine is available to download and use at no cost.

Source
Defold: Is Defold free to use commercially?

Yes, Defold is free forever with no royalties or revenue sharing required. Developers can create and monetize commercial games without any fees to Defold.

Source
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