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Game Development · head to head

Defold vs FMOD

Defold logo

Defold

Game Development

The game engine for the creators of King

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
FMOD logo

FMOD

Game Development

Professional audio middleware for games

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • They diverge on capability: Defold covers Lua scripting, FMOD covers FMOD Studio.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Defold and FMOD actually diverge.

Attributes where Defold and FMOD differ
AttributeDefoldFMOD
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, WebWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Consoles
Founded20052002

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 Defold

  • Lua scripting
  • Physics engine
  • Sprite system
  • Particle effects
  • Sound management
  • Collection editor
  • Mobile optimization
  • Lightweight

Only in FMOD

  • FMOD Studio
  • Real-time mixing
  • Adaptive music
  • 3D audio
  • Occlusion
  • DSP effects
  • Live update
  • Profiling tools

Both cover

  • Local deployment
  • Windows support
  • Macos support
  • Linux support
  • 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 FMOD
  • Shipping small-footprint HTML5 gamesnot FMOD
  • Teams wanting a free engine with no revenue share on gamesnot FMOD

FMOD

  • Game audionot Defold
  • Adaptive musicnot Defold
  • Sound effectsnot Defold
  • VR audionot 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

FMOD

Nothing recorded yet. See the FMOD review.

Pricing, plan by plan

Defold

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

FMOD

Free
  • IndieFree
    • Full feature set
    • Up to $200K budget
    • All platforms
  • Commercial$6000/project
    • Full feature set
    • Unlimited budget
    • Priority support

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 FMOD if

  • You need fmod studio.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Consoles.
  • You also want real-time mixing.
FMOD review

Questions people ask

Is Defold or FMOD better?
Neither clearly leads. Defold starts at Free and FMOD at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Defold or FMOD?
Defold starts at Free and FMOD at Free.
Does Defold or FMOD run on more platforms?
Defold runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web. FMOD runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Consoles.
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 FMOD is typically brought in for.
What can Defold do that FMOD cannot?
Defold covers Lua scripting, Physics engine, Sprite system, Particle effects. FMOD covers FMOD Studio, Real-time mixing, Adaptive music, 3D audio. Both handle Local deployment, Windows support, Macos support, Linux support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Defold: How much does Defold cost?

Defold is completely free with no up-front cost, no licensing cost, no royalties, and no runtime fees. The game engine is free forever, supported by the Defold Foundation with source code available under a developer-friendly license.

Source
Defold: Is Defold free to use commercially?

Yes, Defold is free forever with no royalties or revenue sharing required. Developers can create and monetize commercial games without any fees to Defold.

Source
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