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Defold vs KeyShot

Defold logo

Defold

Software

The game engine for the creators of King

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
KeyShot logo

KeyShot

Software

Real-time 3D rendering and animation

From
$108.25/month
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; KeyShot professional plan costs £108.25/month per user; total cost for small teams can be substantial
  • They diverge on capability: Defold covers Lua scripting, KeyShot covers Real-time rendering.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Defold and KeyShot actually diverge.

Attributes where Defold and KeyShot differ
AttributeDefoldKeyShot
Starting priceFree$108.25/month
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, WebWindows
Founded20052003

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 KeyShot

  • Real-time rendering
  • Ray tracing
  • Animation
  • Material library
  • HDR lighting
  • VR output
  • GPU rendering
  • Denoising

Both cover

  • Windows 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 KeyShot
  • Shipping small-footprint HTML5 gamesnot KeyShot
  • Teams wanting a free engine with no revenue share on gamesnot KeyShot

KeyShot

  • Product rendering and visualisationnot Defold
  • Real-time ray tracing for design reviewnot Defold
  • 3D animation and motion graphicsnot Defold
  • Interactive 3D product presentationsnot 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

KeyShot

  • Professional plan costs £108.25/month per user; total cost for small teams can be substantial
  • 3-year commitment reduces to £3,897 per user, but locks in pricing for extended period
  • Network Rendering, Studio VR, and Cloud Rendering are paid add-ons (£29-£99/month additional)
  • No clear platform support information; likely Windows-only based on CAD tool integrations

Pricing, plan by plan

Defold

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

KeyShot

$108.25/month

No published plan breakdown. See the KeyShot review.

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 KeyShot if

  • You need real-time rendering.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want ray tracing.
KeyShot review

Questions people ask

Is Defold or KeyShot better?
Neither clearly leads. Defold starts at Free and KeyShot at $108.25/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Defold or KeyShot?
Defold has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Defold and $108.25/month for KeyShot.
Does Defold or KeyShot run on more platforms?
Defold runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web. KeyShot runs on Windows.
Can I use Defold for free?
Yes. Defold has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. KeyShot starts at $108.25/month.
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 KeyShot is typically brought in for.
What can Defold do that KeyShot cannot?
Defold covers Lua scripting, Physics engine, Sprite system, Particle effects. KeyShot covers Real-time rendering, Ray tracing, Animation, Material library. Both handle Windows support.
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