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Game Development · head to head

GDevelop vs Raylib

GDevelop logo

GDevelop

Game Development

Create games without coding

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Raylib logo

Raylib

Game Development

A simple and easy-to-use library for game development

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: GDevelop the free tier allows 3 cloud projects and one desktop or Android build per day; Raylib raylib is entirely free and open source with no commercial support offered. Donations are encouraged but completely optional.
  • They diverge on capability: GDevelop covers Visual event editor, Raylib covers Graphics rendering.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GDevelop and Raylib actually diverge.

Attributes where GDevelop and Raylib differ
AttributeGDevelopRaylib
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, WebWindows, Macos, Linux, Android, Web
Founded20102013

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (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
  • Drag-and-drop interface
  • Physics engine
  • Particle effects
  • Sprite editor
  • Sound editor
  • Scene editor
  • Extensions support

Only in Raylib

  • Graphics rendering
  • Audio system
  • Input handling
  • Shapes drawing
  • Sprite management
  • Collision detection
  • Font rendering
  • Text input

Both cover

  • Open-source
  • Local deployment
  • Web deployment
  • Mobile deployment
  • Windows support
  • Macos support
  • Linux 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 Raylib
  • Exporting one project to web, desktop, Android and iOSnot Raylib

Raylib

  • Simple 2D gamesnot GDevelop
  • Game prototypingnot GDevelop
  • Educational gamesnot GDevelop
  • Learning game developmentnot 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

Raylib

  • Raylib is entirely free and open source with no commercial support offered. Donations are encouraged but completely optional.

Pricing, plan by plan

GDevelop

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full editor
    • Cross-platform export
    • Asset library

Raylib

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full library
    • C/C++ support
    • Graphics rendering

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.
GDevelop review

Choose Raylib if

  • You need graphics rendering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Android, Web.
  • You also want audio system.
Raylib review

Questions people ask

Is GDevelop or Raylib better?
Neither clearly leads. GDevelop starts at Free and Raylib at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GDevelop or Raylib?
GDevelop starts at Free and Raylib at Free.
Does GDevelop or Raylib run on more platforms?
GDevelop runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web. Raylib runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Android, Web.
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 Raylib is typically brought in for.
What can GDevelop do that Raylib cannot?
GDevelop covers Visual event editor, Drag-and-drop interface, Physics engine, Particle effects. Raylib covers Graphics rendering, Audio system, Input handling, Shapes drawing. Both handle Open-source, Local deployment, Web deployment, Mobile deployment.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

GDevelop: How much does GDevelop cost?

GDevelop offers a free plan. Silver, Gold, and Pro tiers are available with monthly and yearly billing options that provide up to 40% savings for annual commitment, but specific prices are not displayed on their website.

Source
Raylib: Is Raylib free?

Yes. Raylib is completely free and open source. The project is licensed under a permissive license with no fees or costs to download, use, or modify.

Source
GDevelop: What does GDevelop's free plan include?

The free plan includes a fully featured, open-source game engine with 3 cloud projects, 40 free AI credits per month, and limited publishing of 1 per day for desktop and Android.

Source
Raylib: Does Raylib require a paid license?

No. Raylib requires no paid license. Users can freely use it for personal, educational, and commercial projects without any licensing fees.

Source
Raylib: Does Raylib accept donations?

Yes. Raylib accepts voluntary donations through GitHub Sponsors, Patreon, Ko-fi, PayPal, and other platforms to support ongoing development. Donations are entirely optional.

Source
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