Game Development · head to head
GDevelop vs GameMaker Studio 2
GameMaker Studio 2
Game Development
The fastest way to create games. For everyone.
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: GDevelop the free tier allows 3 cloud projects and one desktop or Android build per day; GameMaker Studio 2 the free tier is a non-commercial licence; selling a game requires the Professional licence at $99.99
- They diverge on capability: GDevelop covers Visual event editor, GameMaker Studio 2 covers GML programming language.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which GDevelop and GameMaker Studio 2 actually diverge.
| Attribute | GDevelop | GameMaker Studio 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | free | freemium |
| Platforms | Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web | Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox, Switch |
| Founded | 2010 | 1999 |
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
- Physics engine
- Scene editor
- Extensions support
- Firebase
- Discord
- Open-source
- Web deployment
Only in GameMaker Studio 2
- GML programming language
- Animation frames
- Room editor
- Physics system
- Aseprite
- Audacity
- Visual Studio Code
- Game obfuscation
Both cover
- Drag-and-drop interface
- Particle effects
- Sprite editor
- Sound editor
- GitHub
- Local deployment
- Mobile deployment
- Windows support
- Macos support
- Linux support
- Ios 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 GameMaker Studio 2
- Exporting one project to web, desktop, Android and iOSnot GameMaker Studio 2
GameMaker Studio 2
- Building 2D games for desktop, web and mobilenot GDevelop
- Indie game development with a drag and drop and GML scripting workflownot GDevelop
- Publishing to consoles under an Enterprise subscriptionnot 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
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
Pricing, plan by plan
GDevelop
Free- FreeFree
- Full editor
- Cross-platform export
- Asset library
GameMaker Studio 2
Free- FreeFree
- Desktop game creation
- Community support
- Standard export options
- Pro$99/year
- All Free features
- Advanced export modules
- Mobile platforms
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 physics engine.
Choose GameMaker Studio 2 if
- You need gml programming language.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox, Switch.
- You also want animation frames.
Questions people ask
- Is GDevelop or GameMaker Studio 2 better?
- Neither clearly leads. GDevelop starts at Free and GameMaker Studio 2 at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, GDevelop or GameMaker Studio 2?
- GDevelop starts at Free and GameMaker Studio 2 at Free.
- Does GDevelop or GameMaker Studio 2 run on more platforms?
- GDevelop runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web. GameMaker Studio 2 runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox, Switch.
- 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 GameMaker Studio 2 is typically brought in for.
- What can GDevelop do that GameMaker Studio 2 cannot?
- GDevelop covers Visual event editor, Physics engine, Scene editor, Extensions support. GameMaker Studio 2 covers GML programming language, Animation frames, Room editor, Physics system. Both handle Drag-and-drop interface, Particle effects, Sprite editor, Sound editor.