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Game Development · head to head

Defold vs Phaser

Defold logo

Defold

Game Development

The game engine for the creators of King

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Phaser logo

Phaser

Game Development

Fast, free, and fun open source framework for Canvas and WebGL

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; Phaser the Phaser framework is open source but Phaser Editor is a commercial product at $12 per month
  • They diverge on capability: Defold covers Lua scripting, Phaser covers Canvas and WebGL rendering.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Defold and Phaser actually diverge.

Attributes where Defold and Phaser differ
AttributeDefoldPhaser
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, WebWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20052013

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
  • Sound management
  • Collection editor
  • Mobile optimization
  • Lightweight
  • Visual Studio Code

Only in Phaser

  • Canvas and WebGL rendering
  • Physics engine (Arcade)
  • Input handling
  • Animation system
  • Audio support
  • Tilemaps
  • Event system
  • JavaScript frameworks

Both cover

  • Particle effects
  • Mobile deployment
  • Web deployment
  • Ios support
  • Android 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 Phaser
  • Shipping small-footprint HTML5 gamesnot Phaser
  • Teams wanting a free engine with no revenue share on gamesnot Phaser

Phaser

  • Building 2D HTML5 games that run in the browsernot Defold
  • Rapid browser game prototyping with a code editor, tilemap and atlas toolsnot Defold
  • Publishing web games with one click hostingnot 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

Phaser

  • The Phaser framework is open source but Phaser Editor is a commercial product at $12 per month
  • Phaser Editor stops working when the licence expires
  • No free trial of Phaser Editor is offered
  • AI tools in the free Phaser suite require purchasing credits
  • SSO through Google Workspace, private support and Editor source code availability are Enterprise only, which is custom priced and requires contacting sales
  • No educational discounts are offered
  • Subscription cancellations are not refunded pro rata

Pricing, plan by plan

Defold

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

Phaser

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full source code
    • Community support
    • Game examples

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 Phaser if

  • You need canvas and webgl rendering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want physics engine (arcade).
Phaser review

Questions people ask

Is Defold or Phaser better?
Neither clearly leads. Defold starts at Free and Phaser at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Defold or Phaser?
Defold starts at Free and Phaser at Free.
Does Defold or Phaser run on more platforms?
Defold runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web. Phaser runs on Web, Ios, Android.
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 Phaser is typically brought in for.
What can Defold do that Phaser cannot?
Defold covers Lua scripting, Physics engine, Sprite system, Sound management. Phaser covers Canvas and WebGL rendering, Physics engine (Arcade), Input handling, Animation system. Both handle Particle effects, Mobile deployment, Web deployment, Ios support.
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