Softwr

Game Development · head to head

Lumberyard vs Phaser

Lumberyard logo

Lumberyard

Game Development

Build AAA games with a free, cross-platform engine

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Phaser logo

Phaser

Game Development

Fast, free, and fun open source framework for Canvas and WebGL

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Lumberyard aWS Lumberyard free tier has restricted access and is intended for getting started only; Phaser the Phaser framework is open source but Phaser Editor is a commercial product at $12 per month
  • They diverge on capability: Lumberyard covers CryEngine foundation, Phaser covers Canvas and WebGL rendering.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Lumberyard and Phaser actually diverge.

Attributes where Lumberyard and Phaser differ
AttributeLumberyardPhaser
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsWindows, Playstation, Xbox, LinuxWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20062013

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 Lumberyard

  • CryEngine foundation
  • Lua scripting
  • Flowgraph editor
  • Advanced graphics
  • Physics simulation
  • AWS GameLift integration
  • Multiplayer support
  • VR capabilities

Only in Phaser

  • Canvas and WebGL rendering
  • Physics engine (Arcade)
  • Input handling
  • Animation system
  • Audio support
  • Particle effects
  • Tilemaps
  • Event system

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 Phaser
  • Cloud-connected multiplayer game backendsnot Phaser
  • Twitch integration for streamed gameplay featuresnot Phaser

Phaser

  • Game development with JavaScriptnot Lumberyard
  • Interactive creative tools for developersnot Lumberyard
  • Professional game engine for studiosnot Lumberyard

Where each one falls short

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

Lumberyard

  • AWS Lumberyard free tier has restricted access and is intended for getting started only
  • Production use requires pay-as-you-go costs that scale with usage
  • Exact pricing depends on specific AWS services consumed and usage levels

Phaser

  • The Phaser framework is open source but Phaser Editor is a commercial product at $12 per month
  • Phaser Editor stops working when the licence expires
  • No free trial of Phaser Editor is offered
  • AI tools in the free Phaser suite require purchasing credits
  • SSO through Google Workspace, private support and Editor source code availability are Enterprise only, which is custom priced and requires contacting sales
  • No educational discounts are offered
  • Subscription cancellations are not refunded pro rata

Pricing, plan by plan

Lumberyard

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full engine source
    • AWS integration
    • Lua scripting

Phaser

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 25+ creative & coding tools
    • AI tools require credit purchases
  • Phaser Editor$12/month
    • professional development tools
    • requires active subscription

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.
Lumberyard review

Choose Phaser if

  • You need canvas and webgl rendering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want physics engine (arcade).
Phaser review

Questions people ask

Is Lumberyard or Phaser better?
Neither clearly leads. Lumberyard starts at Free and Phaser at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Lumberyard or Phaser?
Lumberyard starts at Free and Phaser at Free.
Does Lumberyard or Phaser run on more platforms?
Lumberyard runs on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux. Phaser runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Lumberyard for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Phaser is typically brought in for.
What can Lumberyard do that Phaser cannot?
Lumberyard covers CryEngine foundation, Lua scripting, Flowgraph editor, Advanced graphics. Phaser covers Canvas and WebGL rendering, Physics engine (Arcade), Input handling, Animation system.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Lumberyard: Does AWS Lumberyard cost money?

AWS Lumberyard is not free for production use. The service offers a free tier for getting started, hands-on experience, and development. Production deployments use AWS's pay-as-you-go pricing model where costs scale with your usage.

Source
Phaser: How much does Phaser Editor cost?

$12 per month. Users must have an active subscription to use the editor.

Source
Lumberyard: How is AWS Lumberyard priced?

Lumberyard uses AWS's flexible consumption-based pricing. Customers can use the free tier to explore services, then pay for what they use in production. AWS also offers Savings Plans for lower prices on committed usage.

Source
Phaser: Is there a free trial for Phaser Editor?

No, Phaser does not provide a free trial. Access begins immediately upon subscription.

Source
Phaser: Can I cancel my subscription and get a refund?

Subscriptions can be cancelled anytime. Access continues until the end of the billing period, but no pro-rata refunds are issued.

Source
Phaser: Can I transfer my Phaser license to someone else?

Yes, users can transfer an active license or subscription to another registered Phaser user completely free.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Lumberyard

More on Phaser

Keep looking

Other head to heads