Software · head to head
Lumberyard vs Aseprite
Lumberyard
Software
Build AAA games with a free, cross-platform engine
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Lumberyard has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Lumberyard aws.amazon.com/lumberyard now redirects to the AWS homepage; Amazon Lumberyard is no longer offered as an AWS product; Aseprite a one-off purchase with no free tier, only a trial
- They diverge on capability: Lumberyard covers CryEngine foundation, Aseprite covers Pixel art tools.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Lumberyard and Aseprite actually diverge.
| Attribute | Lumberyard | Aseprite |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $19.99/once |
| Pricing model | free | one-time |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux | Windows, Macos, Linux |
| Founded | 2006 | 2001 |
Identical on both: 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 Lumberyard
- CryEngine foundation
- Lua scripting
- Flowgraph editor
- Advanced graphics
- Physics simulation
- AWS GameLift integration
- Multiplayer support
- VR capabilities
Only in Aseprite
- Pixel art tools
- Animation timeline
- Onion skinning
- Layers
- Tilemap editor
- Color palettes
- Sprite sheets
- Scripting (Lua)
Both cover
- Local deployment
- Windows support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Lumberyard
- Building 3D games with an AWS-integrated enginenot Aseprite
- Cloud-connected multiplayer game backendsnot Aseprite
- Twitch integration for streamed gameplay featuresnot Aseprite
Aseprite
- Pixel art creation for gamesnot Lumberyard
- Frame-by-frame sprite animationnot Lumberyard
- Exporting sprite sheets and GIFsnot Lumberyard
- Scripting repetitive export tasks through the command linenot Lumberyard
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Lumberyard
- aws.amazon.com/lumberyard now redirects to the AWS homepage; Amazon Lumberyard is no longer offered as an AWS product
- The engine's successor is the Open 3D Engine, governed by the Open 3D Foundation rather than AWS, so migration means moving to a differently governed project
- No Lumberyard-branded documentation, download or support commitment remains at the original AWS product URL
Aseprite
- A one-off purchase with no free tier, only a trial
- Deliberately narrow: a pixel art and sprite animation editor rather than a general image editor
- The site does not state supported platforms or licence terms, which are on GitHub instead
Pricing, plan by plan
Lumberyard
Free- FreeFree
- Full engine source
- AWS integration
- Lua scripting
Aseprite
$19.99/once- License$19.99/once
- Full feature set
- Free updates
- Commercial use
Which should you pick?
Choose Lumberyard if
- You need cryengine foundation.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux.
- You also want lua scripting.
Choose Aseprite if
- You need pixel art tools.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux.
- You also want animation timeline.
Questions people ask
- Is Lumberyard or Aseprite better?
- Neither clearly leads. Lumberyard starts at Free and Aseprite at $19.99/once, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Lumberyard or Aseprite?
- Lumberyard has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Lumberyard and $19.99/once for Aseprite.
- Does Lumberyard or Aseprite run on more platforms?
- Lumberyard runs on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux. Aseprite runs on Windows, Macos, Linux.
- Can I use Lumberyard for free?
- Yes. Lumberyard has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Aseprite starts at $19.99/once.
- What is Lumberyard best used for?
- Lumberyard is most often used for building 3d games with an aws-integrated engine, cloud-connected multiplayer game backends, twitch integration for streamed gameplay features. Of those, building 3d games with an aws-integrated engine and cloud-connected multiplayer game backends are not what Aseprite is typically brought in for.
- What can Lumberyard do that Aseprite cannot?
- Lumberyard covers CryEngine foundation, Lua scripting, Flowgraph editor, Advanced graphics. Aseprite covers Pixel art tools, Animation timeline, Onion skinning, Layers. Both handle Local deployment, Windows support.