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DragonBones vs Toon Boom Harmony

D

DragonBones

Software

Free 2D skeletal animation solution

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Toon Boom Harmony logo

Toon Boom Harmony

Software

Creating worlds of Animation

From
On request
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); Toon Boom Harmony licensing is subscription only across Essentials, Advanced and Premium tiers, with no perpetual license option offered on the pricing page

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which DragonBones and Toon Boom Harmony actually diverge.

Attributes where DragonBones and Toon Boom Harmony differ
AttributeDragonBonesToon Boom Harmony
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourceone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsEgret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos CreatorWeb
Founded2014Unknown

Identical on both: 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 DragonBones

  • Skeletal animation
  • Mesh deformation
  • IK system
  • Texture atlas
  • Animation blending
  • Bone constraints
  • FFD
  • Multi-resolution

Only in Toon Boom Harmony

Nothing recorded that DragonBones does not also cover.

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 Toon Boom Harmony
  • Cross-engine animation library for indie game developmentnot Toon Boom Harmony
  • Animation creation with LoongBones editornot Toon Boom Harmony

Toon Boom Harmony

No use cases recorded yet. See the Toon Boom Harmony review.

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)

Toon Boom Harmony

  • Licensing is subscription only across Essentials, Advanced and Premium tiers, with no perpetual license option offered on the pricing page
  • Access beyond the 14 day free trial requires purchasing a subscription through the shop

Pricing, plan by plan

DragonBones

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the DragonBones review.

Toon Boom Harmony

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Toon Boom Harmony review.

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 Toon Boom Harmony if

Nothing in the data separates Toon Boom Harmony from DragonBones on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Toon Boom Harmony review

Questions people ask

Is DragonBones or Toon Boom Harmony better?
Neither clearly leads. DragonBones starts at Free and Toon Boom Harmony at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, DragonBones or Toon Boom Harmony?
DragonBones has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for DragonBones and On request for Toon Boom Harmony.
Does DragonBones or Toon Boom Harmony run on more platforms?
DragonBones runs on Egret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator. Toon Boom Harmony runs on Web.
Can I use DragonBones for free?
Yes. DragonBones has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Toon Boom Harmony starts at On request.
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 Toon Boom Harmony is typically brought in for.
What can DragonBones do that Toon Boom Harmony cannot?
DragonBones covers Skeletal animation, Mesh deformation, IK system, Texture atlas.
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