Softwr

Game Development · head to head

GameMaker Studio 2 vs Vuforia

GameMaker Studio 2 logo

GameMaker Studio 2

Game Development

The fastest way to create games. For everyone.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Vuforia logo

Vuforia

AR/VR & Metaverse

Enterprise AR platform for industrial applications

From
$99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only GameMaker Studio 2 has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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; Vuforia image target recognition requires training images and performs poorly with low lighting
  • They diverge on capability: GameMaker Studio 2 covers Drag-and-drop interface, Vuforia covers Image recognition.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GameMaker Studio 2 and Vuforia actually diverge.

Attributes where GameMaker Studio 2 and Vuforia differ
AttributeGameMaker Studio 2Vuforia
Starting priceFree$99/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox, SwitchAndroid, iOS, Magic Leap, UWP, HoloLens
CategoryGame DevelopmentAR/VR & Metaverse
Founded19991985

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 GameMaker Studio 2

  • Drag-and-drop interface
  • GML programming language
  • Sprite editor
  • Animation frames
  • Sound editor
  • Room editor
  • Particle effects
  • Physics system

Only in Vuforia

  • Image recognition
  • Model targets
  • Area targets
  • Cloud recognition
  • Unity
  • ThingWorx
  • Creo
  • Ar support

Both cover

  • 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 Vuforia
  • Indie game development with a drag and drop and GML scripting workflownot Vuforia
  • Publishing to consoles under an Enterprise subscriptionnot Vuforia

Vuforia

  • VR Gamingnot GameMaker Studio 2
  • AR Marketingnot GameMaker Studio 2
  • Virtual Trainingnot GameMaker Studio 2
  • 3D Visualizationnot GameMaker Studio 2
  • Immersive Experiencesnot 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

Vuforia

  • Image target recognition requires training images and performs poorly with low lighting
  • Commercial licensing can be expensive for enterprise deployments
  • Image tracking performance degrades with poor lighting or reflective surfaces
  • Requires integration with Unity or native development environments

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

Vuforia

$99/month
  • Basic$99/month
    • Image targets
    • Model targets
    • Cloud recognition

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.
GameMaker Studio 2 review

Choose Vuforia if

  • You need image recognition.
  • You work on Android, iOS, Magic Leap, UWP, HoloLens.
  • You also want model targets.
Vuforia review

Questions people ask

Is GameMaker Studio 2 or Vuforia better?
Neither clearly leads. GameMaker Studio 2 starts at Free and Vuforia at $99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GameMaker Studio 2 or Vuforia?
GameMaker Studio 2 has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for GameMaker Studio 2 and $99/month for Vuforia.
Does GameMaker Studio 2 or Vuforia run on more platforms?
GameMaker Studio 2 runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox, Switch. Vuforia runs on Android, iOS, Magic Leap, UWP, HoloLens.
Can I use GameMaker Studio 2 for free?
Yes. GameMaker Studio 2 has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Vuforia starts at $99/month.
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 Vuforia is typically brought in for.
What can GameMaker Studio 2 do that Vuforia cannot?
GameMaker Studio 2 covers Drag-and-drop interface, GML programming language, Sprite editor, Animation frames. Vuforia covers Image recognition, Model targets, Area targets, Cloud recognition. Both handle Ios support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Vuforia: What platforms does Vuforia support?

Vuforia Engine supports AR development for Android, iOS, Magic Leap, and UWP devices. Applications can run on mobile phones, tablets, head-worn AR devices, and mixed reality headsets like HoloLens.

Source
Vuforia: What AR tracking capabilities does Vuforia provide?

Vuforia offers Image Targets for recognizing images, Model Targets for precise 3D object tracking, Area Targets for persistent AR experiences using 3D scans, VuMarks for QR-code-like identification, and Cylinder Targets for tracking cylindrical objects.

Source
Vuforia: Is Vuforia a free or paid product?

Vuforia offers both free development licenses and commercial licensing. The free tier allows development and testing, while commercial use requires appropriate licensing from PTC.

Source
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on GameMaker Studio 2

More on Vuforia

Keep looking

Other head to heads