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Game Development · head to head

LÖVE vs Unity

LÖVE logo

LÖVE

Game Development

Framework for making 2D games in Lua

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Unity logo

Unity

Game Development

Create beautiful interactive content with the world's leading real-time engine

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: LÖVE lOVE is a 2D-only framework, with no 3D pipeline; Unity unity Personal is free only for businesses with under $200,000 in funding or annual revenue; above that a Pro subscription is required
  • They diverge on capability: LÖVE covers Lua scripting, Unity covers Visual editor.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which LÖVE and Unity actually diverge.

Attributes where LÖVE and Unity differ
AttributeLÖVEUnity
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, WebWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Webgl
Founded20082004

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 LÖVE

  • Lua scripting
  • Graphics rendering
  • Physics engine (Box2D)
  • Audio support
  • Input handling
  • File I/O
  • Vector math
  • Animation support

Only in Unity

  • Visual editor
  • Physics engine (PhysX)
  • Animation system
  • Particle system
  • Built-in audio engine
  • Scripting with C#
  • Asset Store
  • Version control integration

Both cover

  • GitHub
  • Local deployment

What people use each for

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

LÖVE

  • Making 2D games in Luanot Unity
  • Rapid prototyping of 2D gameplaynot Unity
  • Shipping small 2D games to desktop and mobile from one Lua codebasenot Unity

Unity

  • Building 2D and 3D games for desktop, mobile, web, AR and VRnot LÖVE
  • Shipping console titles under a Pro or Enterprise licencenot LÖVE
  • Real time 3D for manufacturing, automotive and retail visualisationnot LÖVE
  • Live operations and in-app purchase management for mobile gamesnot LÖVE

Where each one falls short

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

LÖVE

  • LOVE is a 2D-only framework, with no 3D pipeline
  • Games must be written in Lua, with no other supported scripting language
  • Supported platforms are limited to Windows Vista and later, macOS 10.11 and later, Linux, Android and iOS
  • The iOS build is distributed as source and libraries rather than a ready installer
  • There is no commercial support offering; help is through community forums, Discord and a subreddit

Unity

  • Unity Personal is free only for businesses with under $200,000 in funding or annual revenue; above that a Pro subscription is required
  • Unity Pro costs $210.00 per month or $2,310.00 per year per seat
  • Businesses with more than $25M in annual revenue are required to be on Unity Enterprise, which is custom priced and requires contacting sales
  • Deploying to game consoles and to Apple Vision Pro requires Unity Pro or above
  • Splash screen customization is not available on Unity Personal
  • Unity Personal is licensed for gaming and entertainment applications only
  • Read-only engine source code access is an Enterprise feature and carries an additional cost
  • Asset Manager storage on Personal is capped at 10 GB per organization
  • Unity AI tools are free for a 14 day trial on Personal, after which a paid subscription is required
  • Enterprise terms note that minimum subscription or spending commitments may apply

Pricing, plan by plan

LÖVE

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full framework
    • Lua scripting
    • Cross-platform support

Unity

Free
  • PersonalFree
    • Full engine access
    • Asset Store access
    • Community support
  • Professional$399/month
    • All Personal features
    • Priority support
    • Advanced analytics

Which should you pick?

Choose LÖVE if

  • You need lua scripting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want graphics rendering.
LÖVE review

Choose Unity if

  • You need visual editor.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Webgl.
  • You also want physics engine (physx).
Unity review

Questions people ask

Is LÖVE or Unity better?
Neither clearly leads. LÖVE starts at Free and Unity at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, LÖVE or Unity?
LÖVE starts at Free and Unity at Free.
Does LÖVE or Unity run on more platforms?
LÖVE runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web. Unity runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Webgl.
Can I use LÖVE for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is LÖVE best used for?
LÖVE is most often used for making 2d games in lua, rapid prototyping of 2d gameplay, shipping small 2d games to desktop and mobile from one lua codebase. Of those, making 2d games in lua and rapid prototyping of 2d gameplay are not what Unity is typically brought in for.
What can LÖVE do that Unity cannot?
LÖVE covers Lua scripting, Graphics rendering, Physics engine (Box2D), Audio support. Unity covers Visual editor, Physics engine (PhysX), Animation system, Particle system. Both handle GitHub, Local deployment.
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