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Game Development · head to head

DragonBones vs Quill

DragonBones logo

DragonBones

Game Development

Free 2D skeletal animation solution

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Quill logo

Quill

AR VR

VR illustration and animation tool

From
$24.99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only DragonBones has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: DragonBones javaScript/TypeScript runtime limited to specific game engines (Egret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator); Quill no pricing information published on the main website; users directed to contact for pricing
  • They diverge on capability: DragonBones covers Skeletal animation, Quill covers VR illustration.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which DragonBones and Quill actually diverge.

Attributes where DragonBones and Quill differ
AttributeDragonBonesQuill
Starting priceFree$24.99/one-time
Pricing modelopen-sourceone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsEgret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos CreatorVr, Quest
CategoryGame DevelopmentAR VR
Founded20142021

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Quill

  • VR illustration
  • Animation timeline
  • Layers
  • Brushes
  • FBX export
  • Video export
  • Alembic
  • Vr 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 Quill
  • Cross-engine animation library for indie game developmentnot Quill
  • Animation creation with LoongBones editornot Quill

Quill

  • VR Gamingnot DragonBones
  • AR Marketingnot DragonBones
  • Virtual Trainingnot DragonBones
  • 3D Visualizationnot DragonBones
  • Immersive Experiencesnot 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)

Quill

  • No pricing information published on the main website; users directed to contact for pricing

Pricing, plan by plan

DragonBones

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the DragonBones review.

Quill

$24.99/one-time
  • Quill$24.99/one-time
    • VR illustration
    • Animation
    • 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.
DragonBones review

Choose Quill if

  • You need vr illustration.
  • You work on Vr, Quest.
  • You also want animation timeline.
Quill review

Questions people ask

Is DragonBones or Quill better?
Neither clearly leads. DragonBones starts at Free and Quill at $24.99/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, DragonBones or Quill?
DragonBones has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for DragonBones and $24.99/one-time for Quill.
Does DragonBones or Quill run on more platforms?
DragonBones runs on Egret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator. Quill runs on Vr, Quest.
Can I use DragonBones for free?
Yes. DragonBones has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Quill starts at $24.99/one-time.
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 Quill is typically brought in for.
What can DragonBones do that Quill cannot?
DragonBones covers Skeletal animation, Mesh deformation, IK system, Texture atlas. Quill covers VR illustration, Animation timeline, Layers, Brushes.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

DragonBones: Where is DragonBones pricing information?

Pricing and licensing details are not available on the official DragonBones website. Consult GitHub or contact the project maintainers for more information.

Source
Quill: How much does Quill cost?

Quill does not publish pricing information on its website. Interested users are directed to contact the team at [email protected] or visit the Get Quill section to inquire about pricing and licensing options.

Source
Quill: Is Quill free to use?

The Quill website does not indicate whether the VR illustration and animation tool is free, paid, or subscription-based. Pricing details require contacting the company directly.

Source
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