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FMOD vs PlayCanvas

FMOD logo

FMOD

Software

Professional audio middleware for games

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PlayCanvas logo

PlayCanvas

Software

Cloud-based WebGL game development platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • They diverge on capability: FMOD covers FMOD Studio, PlayCanvas covers Cloud-based editor.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which FMOD and PlayCanvas actually diverge.

Attributes where FMOD and PlayCanvas differ
AttributeFMODPlayCanvas
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, ConsolesWeb, Mobile
Founded20022013

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), 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 FMOD

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

Only in PlayCanvas

  • Cloud-based editor
  • Real-time collaboration
  • WebGL rendering
  • Physics engine
  • Visual scripting
  • Asset library
  • Version control
  • Instant deployment

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

FMOD

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

PlayCanvas

  • Building WebGL games and interactive 3D that run in a browsernot FMOD
  • Browser based collaborative 3D editing across a teamnot FMOD
  • Web AR and VR experiences, product configurators and playable adsnot FMOD

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

FMOD

Nothing recorded yet. See the FMOD review.

PlayCanvas

  • Private projects require a paid plan; the Free plan only allows public projects
  • The Free plan is capped at 1GB of storage, Personal at 10GB and Organization at 50GB
  • Personal costs $15 per month and Organization costs $50 per seat per month
  • Team management is only available on the Organization plan
  • Private projects become locked and inaccessible if the subscription is cancelled, unless they are made public
  • There is no formal educational discount
  • There is no self serve trial of the Personal or Organization plan; an upgrade code must be requested from sales

Pricing, plan by plan

FMOD

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

PlayCanvas

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Cloud editor
    • WebGL export
    • Community projects
  • Pro$19/month
    • Private projects
    • Advanced features
    • Priority support

Which should you pick?

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

Choose PlayCanvas if

  • You need cloud-based editor.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want real-time collaboration.
PlayCanvas review

Questions people ask

Is FMOD or PlayCanvas better?
Neither clearly leads. FMOD starts at Free and PlayCanvas at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, FMOD or PlayCanvas?
FMOD starts at Free and PlayCanvas at Free.
Does FMOD or PlayCanvas run on more platforms?
FMOD runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Consoles. PlayCanvas runs on Web, Mobile.
Can I use FMOD for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is FMOD best used for?
FMOD is most often used for game audio, adaptive music, sound effects, vr audio. Of those, game audio and adaptive music are not what PlayCanvas is typically brought in for.
What can FMOD do that PlayCanvas cannot?
FMOD covers FMOD Studio, Real-time mixing, Adaptive music, 3D audio. PlayCanvas covers Cloud-based editor, Real-time collaboration, WebGL rendering, Physics engine.
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