Software · head to head
GameMaker Studio 2 vs Phaser
GameMaker Studio 2
Software
The fastest way to create games. For everyone.
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Phaser
Software
Fast, free, and fun open source framework for Canvas and WebGL
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: GameMaker Studio 2 the free tier is a non-commercial licence; selling a game requires the Professional licence at $99.99; Phaser the Phaser framework is open source but Phaser Editor is a commercial product at $12 per month
- They diverge on capability: GameMaker Studio 2 covers Drag-and-drop interface, Phaser covers Canvas and WebGL rendering.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which GameMaker Studio 2 and Phaser actually diverge.
| Attribute | GameMaker Studio 2 | Phaser |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | free |
| Platforms | Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox, Switch | Web, Ios, Android |
| Founded | 1999 | 2013 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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 GameMaker Studio 2
- Drag-and-drop interface
- GML programming language
- Sprite editor
- Animation frames
- Sound editor
- Room editor
- Physics system
- GitHub
Only in Phaser
- Canvas and WebGL rendering
- Physics engine (Arcade)
- Input handling
- Animation system
- Audio support
- Tilemaps
- Event system
- JavaScript frameworks
Both cover
- Particle effects
- Mobile deployment
- Ios support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
GameMaker Studio 2
- Building 2D games for desktop, web and mobilenot Phaser
- Indie game development with a drag and drop and GML scripting workflownot Phaser
- Publishing to consoles under an Enterprise subscriptionnot Phaser
Phaser
- Building 2D HTML5 games that run in the browsernot GameMaker Studio 2
- Rapid browser game prototyping with a code editor, tilemap and atlas toolsnot GameMaker Studio 2
- Publishing web games with one click hostingnot GameMaker Studio 2
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
GameMaker Studio 2
- The free tier is a non-commercial licence; selling a game requires the Professional licence at $99.99
- Console exports are available only on the Enterprise subscription, which is billed at $79.49 per month
- Source code access is limited to the Enterprise tier
- Older Creator and Indie subscriptions are no longer renewed when the licence expires
- Owners of a permanent GameMaker Studio 2 licence get no discount toward current licences
Phaser
- The Phaser framework is open source but Phaser Editor is a commercial product at $12 per month
- Phaser Editor stops working when the licence expires
- No free trial of Phaser Editor is offered
- AI tools in the free Phaser suite require purchasing credits
- SSO through Google Workspace, private support and Editor source code availability are Enterprise only, which is custom priced and requires contacting sales
- No educational discounts are offered
- Subscription cancellations are not refunded pro rata
Pricing, plan by plan
GameMaker Studio 2
Free- FreeFree
- Desktop game creation
- Community support
- Standard export options
- Pro$99/year
- All Free features
- Advanced export modules
- Mobile platforms
Phaser
Free- FreeFree
- Full source code
- Community support
- Game examples
Which should you pick?
Choose GameMaker Studio 2 if
- You need drag-and-drop interface.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox, Switch.
- You also want gml programming language.
Choose Phaser if
- You need canvas and webgl rendering.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want physics engine (arcade).
Questions people ask
- Is GameMaker Studio 2 or Phaser better?
- Neither clearly leads. GameMaker Studio 2 starts at Free and Phaser at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, GameMaker Studio 2 or Phaser?
- GameMaker Studio 2 starts at Free and Phaser at Free.
- Does GameMaker Studio 2 or Phaser run on more platforms?
- GameMaker Studio 2 runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox, Switch. Phaser runs on Web, Ios, Android.
- Can I use GameMaker Studio 2 for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is GameMaker Studio 2 best used for?
- GameMaker Studio 2 is most often used for building 2d games for desktop, web and mobile, indie game development with a drag and drop and gml scripting workflow, publishing to consoles under an enterprise subscription. Of those, building 2d games for desktop, web and mobile and indie game development with a drag and drop and gml scripting workflow are not what Phaser is typically brought in for.
- What can GameMaker Studio 2 do that Phaser cannot?
- GameMaker Studio 2 covers Drag-and-drop interface, GML programming language, Sprite editor, Animation frames. Phaser covers Canvas and WebGL rendering, Physics engine (Arcade), Input handling, Animation system. Both handle Particle effects, Mobile deployment, Ios support.