Game Development · head to head
DragonBones vs GDevelop
The short version
- Each has a real cost: DragonBones javaScript/TypeScript runtime limited to specific game engines (Egret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator); GDevelop the free tier allows 3 cloud projects and one desktop or Android build per day
- They diverge on capability: DragonBones covers Skeletal animation, GDevelop covers Visual event editor.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which DragonBones and GDevelop actually diverge.
| Attribute | DragonBones | GDevelop |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | open-source | free |
| Platforms | Egret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator | Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web |
| Founded | 2014 | 2010 |
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 GDevelop
- Visual event editor
- Drag-and-drop interface
- Physics engine
- Particle effects
- Sprite editor
- Sound editor
- Scene editor
- Extensions 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 GDevelop
- Cross-engine animation library for indie game developmentnot GDevelop
- Animation creation with LoongBones editornot GDevelop
GDevelop
- Building 2D games with visual event logic rather than codenot DragonBones
- Exporting one project to web, desktop, Android and iOSnot 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)
GDevelop
- The free tier allows 3 cloud projects and one desktop or Android build per day
- Free accounts get one leaderboard per game
- Publishing to the iOS App Store requires the Gold plan, which caps those exports at 15 a month
- AI credits are metered per tier, from 40 a month on free to 3,000 a week on Pro
Pricing, plan by plan
DragonBones
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the DragonBones review.
GDevelop
Free- FreeFree
- Full editor
- Cross-platform export
- Asset library
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 GDevelop if
- You need visual event editor.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
- You also want drag-and-drop interface.
Questions people ask
- Is DragonBones or GDevelop better?
- Neither clearly leads. DragonBones starts at Free and GDevelop at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, DragonBones or GDevelop?
- DragonBones starts at Free and GDevelop at Free.
- Does DragonBones or GDevelop run on more platforms?
- DragonBones runs on Egret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator. GDevelop 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 GDevelop is typically brought in for.
- What can DragonBones do that GDevelop cannot?
- DragonBones covers Skeletal animation, Mesh deformation, IK system, Texture atlas. GDevelop covers Visual event editor, Drag-and-drop interface, Physics engine, Particle effects. Both handle Local deployment, Windows support, Macos support.