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Game Development · head to head

Godot Engine vs Substance 3D Painter

Godot Engine logo

Godot Engine

Game Development

Free and open-source 2D and 3D game engine

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Substance 3D Painter logo

Substance 3D Painter

Game Development

3D texture painting software

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Godot Engine has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Godot Engine no royalties or licensing fees, but requires self-hosting and maintenance of the engine builds; Substance 3D Painter the Internet Archive's capture of Adobe's Substance 3D Painter page on 23 June 2021 priced the Substance 3D Collection plan (which bundles Painter, Stager, Sampler, Designer and Modeler) at US$39.99/month for the first year.
  • They diverge on capability: Godot Engine covers Scene system, Substance 3D Painter covers 3D painting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Godot Engine and Substance 3D Painter actually diverge.

Attributes where Godot Engine and Substance 3D Painter differ
AttributeGodot EngineSubstance 3D Painter
Starting priceFree$29/month
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, Web, ConsolesWindows, MacOS, Linux
Founded20071982

Identical on both: 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 Godot Engine

  • Scene system
  • GDScript language
  • Visual shader editor
  • 2D and 3D rendering
  • Physics engine
  • Built-in animation tools
  • Debugging tools
  • Asset library

Only in Substance 3D Painter

  • 3D painting
  • Smart materials
  • Generators
  • PBR workflow
  • Baking
  • Export presets
  • Scripting
  • Maya

Both cover

  • Blender
  • Windows support
  • Linux support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Godot Engine

  • 2D game developmentnot Substance 3D Painter
  • 3D game developmentnot Substance 3D Painter
  • Cross-platform game deploymentnot Substance 3D Painter
  • VFX and simulation projectsnot Substance 3D Painter

Substance 3D Painter

  • Game texturingnot Godot Engine
  • Film assetsnot Godot Engine
  • Product visualizationnot Godot Engine

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Godot Engine

  • No royalties or licensing fees, but requires self-hosting and maintenance of the engine builds
  • Console export support exists but requires additional SDK setup and licensing with each console manufacturer separately

Substance 3D Painter

  • The Internet Archive's capture of Adobe's Substance 3D Painter page on 23 June 2021 priced the Substance 3D Collection plan (which bundles Painter, Stager, Sampler, Designer and Modeler) at US$39.99/month for the first year.

Pricing, plan by plan

Godot Engine

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Godot Engine review.

Substance 3D Painter

$29/month
  • Substance 3D Texturing$19.99/month
    • Painter + Sampler
  • Substance 3D Collection$49.99/month
    • All Substance apps

Which should you pick?

Choose Godot Engine if

  • You need scene system.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, Web, Consoles.
  • You also want gdscript language.
Godot Engine review

Choose Substance 3D Painter if

  • You need 3d painting.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • You also want smart materials.
Substance 3D Painter review

Questions people ask

Is Godot Engine or Substance 3D Painter better?
Neither clearly leads. Godot Engine starts at Free and Substance 3D Painter at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Godot Engine or Substance 3D Painter?
Godot Engine has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Godot Engine and $29/month for Substance 3D Painter.
Does Godot Engine or Substance 3D Painter run on more platforms?
Godot Engine runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, Web, Consoles. Substance 3D Painter runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
Can I use Godot Engine for free?
Yes. Godot Engine has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Substance 3D Painter starts at $29/month.
What is Godot Engine best used for?
Godot Engine is most often used for 2d game development, 3d game development, cross-platform game deployment, vfx and simulation projects. Of those, 2d game development and 3d game development are not what Substance 3D Painter is typically brought in for.
What can Godot Engine do that Substance 3D Painter cannot?
Godot Engine covers Scene system, GDScript language, Visual shader editor, 2D and 3D rendering. Substance 3D Painter covers 3D painting, Smart materials, Generators, PBR workflow. Both handle Blender, Windows support, Linux support.
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