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Defold vs Mixamo

Defold logo

Defold

Software

The game engine for the creators of King

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Mixamo logo

Mixamo

Software

Free 3D character animation and rigging

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; Mixamo only supports bipedal humanoid characters, excluding animals, creatures, and non-standard character types
  • They diverge on capability: Defold covers Lua scripting, Mixamo covers Auto-rigging.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Defold and Mixamo actually diverge.

Attributes where Defold and Mixamo differ
AttributeDefoldMixamo
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, WebWeb
Founded20051982

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

Only in Mixamo

  • Auto-rigging
  • Animation library
  • Motion capture data
  • FBX export
  • Character customization
  • Animation blending
  • Retargeting
  • Web-based

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

Mixamo

  • Character animationnot Defold
  • Rapid prototypingnot Defold
  • Game developmentnot Defold
  • Film productionnot 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

Mixamo

  • Only supports bipedal humanoid characters, excluding animals, creatures, and non-standard character types
  • Auto-rigger requires T-pose or A-pose input, limiting flexibility in character modeling
  • Only last used character is stored; no cloud storage for multiple character projects
  • Not available for Enterprise and Federated Adobe IDs or users from China

Pricing, plan by plan

Defold

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

Mixamo

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited characters
    • Unlimited animations
    • Auto-rigging

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 Mixamo if

  • You need auto-rigging.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want animation library.
Mixamo review

Questions people ask

Is Defold or Mixamo better?
Neither clearly leads. Defold starts at Free and Mixamo at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Defold or Mixamo?
Defold starts at Free and Mixamo at Free.
Does Defold or Mixamo run on more platforms?
Defold runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web. Mixamo runs on Web.
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 Mixamo is typically brought in for.
What can Defold do that Mixamo cannot?
Defold covers Lua scripting, Physics engine, Sprite system, Particle effects. Mixamo covers Auto-rigging, Animation library, Motion capture data, FBX export.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Mixamo: Is Mixamo free to use?

Yes. Mixamo is completely free for anyone with an Adobe ID. The auto-rigger, animation libraries, and all core features are free. Animations and characters can be used royalty-free for personal, commercial, and non-profit projects without requiring a Creative Cloud subscription.

Source
Mixamo: What character types does Mixamo support?

Mixamo's auto-rigger and animation libraries are for bipedal humanoids only. The auto-rigger requires characters in roughly T-pose or A-pose stance with clear head, body, arms, and legs. Animals, quadrupeds, creatures, multi-leg characters, and characters with oversized wings or tails are not supported.

Source
Mixamo: Can I export animations for use in game engines?

Yes. Mixamo exports animations in FBX and DAE formats compatible with Unreal Engine, Unity, and other major game engines. For web games, you can convert FBX exports to GLB format using Blender or other tools.

Source
Mixamo: Do I need to install software to use Mixamo?

No. Mixamo operates entirely in a web browser, eliminating the need for software installation or compatibility checks. Users access the service directly through their web browser with just an Adobe ID.

Source
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