Game Development · head to head
DragonBones vs Construct 3
Construct 3
Game Development
Create games without coding. Powered by the Scirra engine.
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: DragonBones javaScript/TypeScript runtime limited to specific game engines (Egret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator); Construct 3 the free version caps projects at 50 events, or 25 when used without an account
- They diverge on capability: DragonBones covers Skeletal animation, Construct 3 covers Visual event system.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which DragonBones and Construct 3 actually diverge.
| Attribute | DragonBones | Construct 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | open-source | freemium |
| Platforms | Egret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator | Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web |
| Founded | 2014 | 2007 |
Identical on both: starting price (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 DragonBones
- Skeletal animation
- Mesh deformation
- IK system
- Texture atlas
- Animation blending
- Bone constraints
- FFD
- Multi-resolution
Only in Construct 3
- Visual event system
- Drag-and-drop editor
- Physics engine
- Sprite editor
- Particle effects
- Sound effects
- Web-based
- HTML5 support
Both cover
- Local deployment
- Windows support
- Macos support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
DragonBones
- 2D skeletal animation for JavaScript and TypeScript game enginesnot Construct 3
- Cross-engine animation library for indie game developmentnot Construct 3
- Animation creation with LoongBones editornot Construct 3
Construct 3
- Building 2D browser games without writing codenot DragonBones
- Publishing HTML5 games to the web, desktop and mobile stores from one projectnot DragonBones
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
DragonBones
- JavaScript/TypeScript runtime limited to specific game engines (Egret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator)
Construct 3
- The free version caps projects at 50 events, or 25 when used without an account
- Free projects are limited to 2 layers, 2 special effects, 1 timeline animation of up to 5 seconds and 1 web font
- The free version can only publish to HTML5 and the Construct Arcade, so desktop, Android, iOS and Facebook Instant Games all need a paid plan
- Licences are per seat and annual, at $129.99 for Personal, $168.99 for Startup Business and $468.99 for Business
Pricing, plan by plan
DragonBones
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the DragonBones review.
Construct 3
Free- FreeFree
- Web-based editor
- HTML5 export
- Asset library
- Personal$99/year
- All Free features
- Offline editor
- Advanced export
Which should you pick?
Choose DragonBones if
- You need skeletal animation.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Egret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator.
- You also want mesh deformation.
Choose Construct 3 if
- You need visual event system.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
- You also want drag-and-drop editor.
Questions people ask
- Is DragonBones or Construct 3 better?
- Neither clearly leads. DragonBones starts at Free and Construct 3 at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, DragonBones or Construct 3?
- DragonBones starts at Free and Construct 3 at Free.
- Does DragonBones or Construct 3 run on more platforms?
- DragonBones runs on Egret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator. Construct 3 runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
- Can I use DragonBones for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is DragonBones best used for?
- DragonBones is most often used for 2d skeletal animation for javascript and typescript game engines, cross-engine animation library for indie game development, animation creation with loongbones editor. Of those, 2d skeletal animation for javascript and typescript game engines and cross-engine animation library for indie game development are not what Construct 3 is typically brought in for.
- What can DragonBones do that Construct 3 cannot?
- DragonBones covers Skeletal animation, Mesh deformation, IK system, Texture atlas. Construct 3 covers Visual event system, Drag-and-drop editor, Physics engine, Sprite editor. Both handle Local deployment, Windows support, Macos support.