Softwr

Software · head to head

Gamesparks vs PlayCanvas

Gamesparks logo

Gamesparks

Software

Backend as a service for game development

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PlayCanvas logo

PlayCanvas

Software

Cloud-based WebGL game development platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Gamesparks aWS states "Starting October 1, 2022, access to the GameSparks console will no longer be available" and that all existing games and data needed to be migrated off the platform before that date; PlayCanvas private projects require a paid plan; the Free plan only allows public projects
  • They diverge on capability: Gamesparks covers Real-time features, PlayCanvas covers Cloud-based editor.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Gamesparks and PlayCanvas actually diverge.

Attributes where Gamesparks and PlayCanvas differ
AttributeGamesparksPlayCanvas
Pricing modelusage-basedfreemium
PlatformsCross-platformWeb, Mobile
Founded20062013

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 Gamesparks

  • Real-time features
  • Multiplayer support
  • User authentication
  • Data storage
  • Matchmaking
  • WebSocket support
  • Cloud integration
  • Analytics

Only in PlayCanvas

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

Both cover

  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

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

Gamesparks

  • Multiplayer gamesnot PlayCanvas
  • Real-time gamesnot PlayCanvas
  • Cloud gamingnot PlayCanvas
  • Game analyticsnot PlayCanvas

PlayCanvas

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

Where each one falls short

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

Gamesparks

  • AWS states "Starting October 1, 2022, access to the GameSparks console will no longer be available" and that all existing games and data needed to be migrated off the platform before that date

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

Gamesparks

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • 1M API requests
    • 1M CloudWatch logs
    • Free for first year
  • Pay-as-you-go$0.01/request
    • Unlimited API requests
    • Real-time multiplayer
    • CloudWatch integration

PlayCanvas

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Gamesparks if

  • You need real-time features.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cross-platform.
  • You also want multiplayer support.
Gamesparks 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 Gamesparks or PlayCanvas better?
Neither clearly leads. Gamesparks 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, Gamesparks or PlayCanvas?
Gamesparks starts at Free and PlayCanvas at Free.
Does Gamesparks or PlayCanvas run on more platforms?
Gamesparks runs on Cross-platform. PlayCanvas runs on Web, Mobile.
Can I use Gamesparks for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Gamesparks best used for?
Gamesparks is most often used for multiplayer games, real-time games, cloud gaming, game analytics. Of those, multiplayer games and real-time games are not what PlayCanvas is typically brought in for.
What can Gamesparks do that PlayCanvas cannot?
Gamesparks covers Real-time features, Multiplayer support, User authentication, Data storage. PlayCanvas covers Cloud-based editor, Real-time collaboration, WebGL rendering, Physics engine. Both handle Cloud deployment.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Gamesparks

More on PlayCanvas

Keep looking

Other head to heads