Game Development · head to head
GDevelop vs Buildbox
The short version
- Each has a real cost: GDevelop the free tier allows 3 cloud projects and one desktop or Android build per day; Buildbox buildbox splits its editor into two separate paid product lines, Buildbox Classic and Buildbox 3, priced and sold as different products rather than tiers of one app (archived pricing page, 8 March 2026)
- They diverge on capability: GDevelop covers Visual event editor, Buildbox covers Visual game builder.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which GDevelop and Buildbox actually diverge.
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 GDevelop
- Visual event editor
- Particle effects
- Sprite editor
- Sound editor
- Scene editor
- Extensions support
- GitHub
- Discord
Only in Buildbox
- Visual game builder
- Animation system
- Monetization SDK
- Analytics integration
- Cloud compilation
- Template library
- AdMob
Both cover
- Drag-and-drop interface
- Physics engine
- Firebase
- Mobile deployment
- Windows support
- Macos support
- Ios support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
GDevelop
- Building 2D games with visual event logic rather than codenot Buildbox
- Exporting one project to web, desktop, Android and iOSnot Buildbox
Buildbox
- Mobile game creationnot GDevelop
- Casual gamesnot GDevelop
- Monetized gamesnot GDevelop
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
GDevelop
- The free tier allows 3 cloud projects and one desktop or Android build per day
- Free accounts get one leaderboard per game
- Publishing to the iOS App Store requires the Gold plan, which caps those exports at 15 a month
- AI credits are metered per tier, from 40 a month on free to 3,000 a week on Pro
Buildbox
- Buildbox splits its editor into two separate paid product lines, Buildbox Classic and Buildbox 3, priced and sold as different products rather than tiers of one app (archived pricing page, 8 March 2026)
- Buildbox Classic Plus is $57.99 USD per year and Buildbox Classic Pro is $137.99 USD per year; Buildbox 3 Plus is $97.99 USD per year and Buildbox 3 Pro is $297.99 USD per year, with a companion audio tool Soundbox sold separately at $49.99 USD per year (archived pricing page, 8 March 2026)
- The only bundle combining Buildbox 3 Pro, Buildbox Classic Pro, and Soundbox is a separate $447.99 USD per year Ultimate Bundle rather than a natural upgrade path (archived pricing page, 8 March 2026)
Pricing, plan by plan
GDevelop
Free- FreeFree
- Full editor
- Cross-platform export
- Asset library
Buildbox
Free- FreeFree
- Basic game creation
- Mobile export
- Community support
- Premium$19.99/month
- Advanced features
- Monetization tools
- Custom integrations
Which should you pick?
Choose GDevelop if
- You need visual event editor.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
- You also want particle effects.
Choose Buildbox if
- You need visual game builder.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Ios, Android, Windows, Macos.
- You also want animation system.
Questions people ask
- Is GDevelop or Buildbox better?
- Neither clearly leads. GDevelop starts at Free and Buildbox at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, GDevelop or Buildbox?
- GDevelop starts at Free and Buildbox at Free.
- Does GDevelop or Buildbox run on more platforms?
- GDevelop runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web. Buildbox runs on Ios, Android, Windows, Macos.
- Can I use GDevelop for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is GDevelop best used for?
- GDevelop is most often used for building 2d games with visual event logic rather than code, exporting one project to web, desktop, android and ios. Of those, building 2d games with visual event logic rather than code and exporting one project to web, desktop, android and ios are not what Buildbox is typically brought in for.
- What can GDevelop do that Buildbox cannot?
- GDevelop covers Visual event editor, Particle effects, Sprite editor, Sound editor. Buildbox covers Visual game builder, Animation system, Monetization SDK, Analytics integration. Both handle Drag-and-drop interface, Physics engine, Firebase, Mobile deployment.