Game Development · head to head
GDevelop vs Cocos2d-x
The short version
- Each has a real cost: GDevelop the free tier allows 3 cloud projects and one desktop or Android build per day; Cocos2d-x cocos2d-x is MIT licensed with no commercial tier, and the vendor's own site directs users toward its newer engine, Cocos Creator, as the actively developed product, leaving Cocos2d-x without a first-party paid support or upgrade path.
- They diverge on capability: GDevelop covers Visual event editor, Cocos2d-x covers 2D rendering.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which GDevelop and Cocos2d-x actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Game Development), founded (2010).
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
- Drag-and-drop interface
- Physics engine
- Sprite editor
- Sound editor
- Scene editor
- Extensions support
- Firebase
Only in Cocos2d-x
- 2D rendering
- Physics engine (Chipmunk)
- Animation system
- Audio engine
- Touch input handling
- Tilemap support
- Sprite batching
- Visual Studio
Both cover
- Particle effects
- GitHub
- Local deployment
- Mobile deployment
- Windows support
- Macos support
- Linux 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 Cocos2d-x
- Exporting one project to web, desktop, Android and iOSnot Cocos2d-x
Cocos2d-x
- Mobile game developmentnot GDevelop
- 2D gamesnot GDevelop
- Lightweight gamesnot GDevelop
- Cross-platform 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
Cocos2d-x
- Cocos2d-x is MIT licensed with no commercial tier, and the vendor's own site directs users toward its newer engine, Cocos Creator, as the actively developed product, leaving Cocos2d-x without a first-party paid support or upgrade path.
Pricing, plan by plan
GDevelop
Free- FreeFree
- Full editor
- Cross-platform export
- Asset library
Cocos2d-x
Free- FreeFree
- Full engine source
- MIT License
- Community support
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 drag-and-drop interface.
Choose Cocos2d-x if
- You need 2d rendering.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android.
- You also want physics engine (chipmunk).
Questions people ask
- Is GDevelop or Cocos2d-x better?
- Neither clearly leads. GDevelop starts at Free and Cocos2d-x at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, GDevelop or Cocos2d-x?
- GDevelop starts at Free and Cocos2d-x at Free.
- Does GDevelop or Cocos2d-x run on more platforms?
- GDevelop runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web. Cocos2d-x runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android.
- 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 Cocos2d-x is typically brought in for.
- What can GDevelop do that Cocos2d-x cannot?
- GDevelop covers Visual event editor, Drag-and-drop interface, Physics engine, Sprite editor. Cocos2d-x covers 2D rendering, Physics engine (Chipmunk), Animation system, Audio engine. Both handle Particle effects, GitHub, Local deployment, Mobile deployment.