Software · head to head
GDevelop vs Flax Engine
The short version
- Each has a real cost: GDevelop the free tier allows 3 cloud projects and one desktop or Android build per day; Flax Engine flax charges a 4% royalty on game earnings above $250,000, assessed per calendar quarter
- They diverge on capability: GDevelop covers Visual event editor, Flax Engine covers 3D graphics rendering.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which GDevelop and Flax Engine actually diverge.
| Attribute | GDevelop | Flax Engine |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web | Windows, Linux, Playstation, Xbox |
| Founded | 2010 | 2017 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (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 GDevelop
- Visual event editor
- Drag-and-drop interface
- Sprite editor
- Sound editor
- Scene editor
- Extensions support
- GitHub
- Firebase
Only in Flax Engine
- 3D graphics rendering
- Visual editor
- C# scripting
- Audio system
- Skeletal animation
- Material system
- Lighting system
- C#
Both cover
- Physics engine
- Particle effects
- Open-source
- Local deployment
- Windows support
- Linux 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 Flax Engine
- Exporting one project to web, desktop, Android and iOSnot Flax Engine
Flax Engine
- Building 3D games in C# and C++ with full engine source accessnot GDevelop
- Multi-platform deployment from one editornot GDevelop
- Prototyping with the bundled Flax Samples projectsnot 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
Flax Engine
- Flax charges a 4% royalty on game earnings above $250,000, assessed per calendar quarter
- Free use is granted for non-commercial or educational usage; commercial releases fall under the royalty
- Users must accept the Flax Engine End-User License Agreement before using the engine or its tools, so it is not an OSI open source licence despite the source being on GitHub
- Non-game uses such as in-house tools or SaaS products need a custom licence negotiated with the vendor, and no rate card is published for per-seat or flat-fee options
Pricing, plan by plan
GDevelop
Free- FreeFree
- Full editor
- Cross-platform export
- Asset library
Flax Engine
Free- FreeFree
- Full engine
- Visual editor
- C# scripting
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 Flax Engine if
- You need 3d graphics rendering.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Linux, Playstation, Xbox.
- You also want visual editor.
Questions people ask
- Is GDevelop or Flax Engine better?
- Neither clearly leads. GDevelop starts at Free and Flax Engine at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, GDevelop or Flax Engine?
- GDevelop starts at Free and Flax Engine at Free.
- Does GDevelop or Flax Engine run on more platforms?
- GDevelop runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web. Flax Engine runs on Windows, Linux, Playstation, Xbox.
- 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 Flax Engine is typically brought in for.
- What can GDevelop do that Flax Engine cannot?
- GDevelop covers Visual event editor, Drag-and-drop interface, Sprite editor, Sound editor. Flax Engine covers 3D graphics rendering, Visual editor, C# scripting, Audio system. Both handle Physics engine, Particle effects, Open-source, Local deployment.