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O3DE vs VEGAS Pro

O3DE logo

O3DE

Game Development

Open 3D Engine - Professional game engine

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
VEGAS Pro logo

VEGAS Pro

Video Production

Professional timeline-based video editing software from Boris FX

From
$19.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only O3DE has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: O3DE minimum hardware is a quad-core 2.5 GHz x86 CPU with SSE 4.1, 16 GB RAM and a DirectX 12 or Vulkan GPU with 2 GB VRAM and Shader Model 6.2; VEGAS Pro windows-only, with no native macOS or Linux version.
  • They diverge on capability: O3DE covers 3D graphics rendering, VEGAS Pro covers Timeline-based editing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which O3DE and VEGAS Pro actually diverge.

Attributes where O3DE and VEGAS Pro differ
AttributeO3DEVEGAS Pro
Starting priceFree$19.99/month
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xboxwindows
CategoryGame DevelopmentVideo Production
Founded2021Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 O3DE

  • 3D graphics rendering
  • Modular architecture
  • Physics engine
  • Audio system
  • Animation tools
  • Particle effects
  • Material system
  • Lighting system

Only in VEGAS Pro

  • Timeline-based editing
  • Color grading tools
  • Audio mixing
  • Sound Forge integration
  • VFX and compositing (Post/Suite tiers)
  • Perpetual or subscription licensing

What people use each for

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

O3DE

  • Building 3D games and simulations on an open source Apache-licensed enginenot VEGAS Pro
  • Robotics and industrial simulation using O3DE Gemsnot VEGAS Pro
  • Projects that need full engine source access with no royaltynot VEGAS Pro

VEGAS Pro

  • Professional video editing on Windowsnot O3DE
  • Color grading and finishing for video projectsnot O3DE
  • Audio post-production paired with Sound Forgenot O3DE
  • Long-form video editing needing perpetual licensingnot O3DE

Where each one falls short

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

O3DE

  • Minimum hardware is a quad-core 2.5 GHz x86 CPU with SSE 4.1, 16 GB RAM and a DirectX 12 or Vulkan GPU with 2 GB VRAM and Shader Model 6.2
  • Raytracing features require Shader Model 6.3
  • Disk space required is 40 GB using the prebuilt installer and 100 GB or more when building from source
  • Building the engine from source needs 2 GB of RAM per build thread on top of normal system requirements
  • On Windows the editor requires Windows 10 version 20H2 or later plus Visual Studio 2019 16.11.x, 2022 17.3.x or 2026 18.0.x with the Game development with C++ workload
  • The only primary Linux distribution for the editor is Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, and Ubuntu on 64-bit ARMv8 is experimental
  • Linux builds need CMake 3.30.0 or later, which is newer than the 3.22 shipped by default with Ubuntu 22.04
  • Wayland support is experimental, requires building from source, and is limited to the Game Launcher with no editor support until O3DE moves to Qt6
  • Linux requires a long list of additional apt library packages to be installed before building

VEGAS Pro

  • Windows-only, with no native macOS or Linux version.
  • Subscription pricing across Edit/Post/Suite tiers can be more expensive than one-time-purchase competitors.
  • Smaller plugin/effects ecosystem compared to Adobe Premiere Pro.
  • Perpetual license versions can lag behind the latest subscription features.

Pricing, plan by plan

O3DE

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full engine
    • Modular architecture
    • Cross-platform

VEGAS Pro

$19.99/month
  • VEGAS Pro Edit$19.99/month
    • Core non-linear editing
    • Color grading
    • Audio tools
  • VEGAS Pro Post$29.99/month
    • Everything in Edit
    • Advanced finishing and VFX tools
  • VEGAS Pro Suite$49.99/month
    • Everything in Post
    • Full VFX and compositing suite

Which should you pick?

Choose O3DE if

  • You need 3d graphics rendering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox.
  • You also want modular architecture.
O3DE review

Choose VEGAS Pro if

  • You need timeline-based editing.
  • You work on windows.
  • You also want color grading tools.
VEGAS Pro review

Questions people ask

Is O3DE or VEGAS Pro better?
Neither clearly leads. O3DE starts at Free and VEGAS Pro at $19.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, O3DE or VEGAS Pro?
O3DE has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for O3DE and $19.99/month for VEGAS Pro.
Does O3DE or VEGAS Pro run on more platforms?
O3DE runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox. VEGAS Pro runs on windows.
Can I use O3DE for free?
Yes. O3DE has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. VEGAS Pro starts at $19.99/month.
What is O3DE best used for?
O3DE is most often used for building 3d games and simulations on an open source apache-licensed engine, robotics and industrial simulation using o3de gems, projects that need full engine source access with no royalty. Of those, building 3d games and simulations on an open source apache-licensed engine and robotics and industrial simulation using o3de gems are not what VEGAS Pro is typically brought in for.
What can O3DE do that VEGAS Pro cannot?
O3DE covers 3D graphics rendering, Modular architecture, Physics engine, Audio system. VEGAS Pro covers Timeline-based editing, Color grading tools, Audio mixing, Sound Forge integration.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

O3DE: Is O3DE free to download and use?

Yes, O3DE is completely free and open source, available for download at no cost under continuous development.

Source
VEGAS Pro: What does VEGAS Pro cost?

VEGAS Pro offers three subscription tiers: Edit at $19.99/month, Post at $29.99/month, and Suite at $49.99/month, each bundling more finishing and plugin tools than the last.

Source
O3DE: How is O3DE funded if it is free?

O3DE is supported through optional donations and member organization contributions rather than user licensing fees.

Source
VEGAS Pro: Is there a free trial of VEGAS Pro?

Yes, Boris FX offers a free trial of VEGAS Pro that does not require a credit card to start.

Source
VEGAS Pro: Can I buy VEGAS Pro as a one-time purchase instead of a subscription?

Yes, VEGAS Pro is available as perpetual licenses priced at $399 (Edit), $599 (Post), and $799 (Suite), in addition to the monthly subscription tiers.

Source
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