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Game Development · head to head

Defold vs OGRE

Defold logo

Defold

Game Development

The game engine for the creators of King

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OGRE logo

OGRE

Game Development

Object-Oriented Graphics Rendering Engine

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Defold the Defold License requires you to include the Defold license and copyright notice in any work you create with the engine; OGRE no commercial support tiers; open source community support only
  • They diverge on capability: Defold covers Lua scripting, OGRE covers 3D graphics rendering.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Defold and OGRE actually diverge.

Attributes where Defold and OGRE differ
AttributeDefoldOGRE
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, WebWindows, Macos, Linux, Android, Ios
Founded20052000

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (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 Defold

  • Lua scripting
  • Physics engine
  • Sprite system
  • Sound management
  • Collection editor
  • Mobile optimization
  • Lightweight
  • Visual Studio Code

Only in OGRE

  • 3D graphics rendering
  • Shader system
  • Material system
  • Lighting and shadows
  • Scene graph
  • Skeletal animation
  • Terrain rendering
  • C++

Both cover

  • Particle effects
  • Local deployment
  • Mobile deployment
  • Windows support
  • Macos support
  • Linux support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Defold

  • Building 2D games for mobile, desktop, web and console from a single projectnot OGRE
  • Shipping small-footprint HTML5 gamesnot OGRE
  • Teams wanting a free engine with no revenue share on gamesnot OGRE

OGRE

  • 3D game developmentnot Defold
  • Graphics applicationsnot Defold
  • Visualization projectsnot Defold

Where each one falls short

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

Defold

  • The Defold License requires you to include the Defold license and copyright notice in any work you create with the engine
  • The licence forbids commercialising original or modified versions of the Defold editor or engine itself
  • Significant changes made to the Defold source must be documented under the licence terms

OGRE

  • No commercial support tiers; open source community support only

Pricing, plan by plan

Defold

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full editor
    • Lua scripting
    • Physics engine

OGRE

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full rendering engine
    • C++ support
    • Graphics pipeline

Which should you pick?

Choose Defold if

  • You need lua scripting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want physics engine.
Defold review

Choose OGRE if

  • You need 3d graphics rendering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Android, Ios.
  • You also want shader system.
OGRE review

Questions people ask

Is Defold or OGRE better?
Neither clearly leads. Defold starts at Free and OGRE at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Defold or OGRE?
Defold starts at Free and OGRE at Free.
Does Defold or OGRE run on more platforms?
Defold runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web. OGRE runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Android, Ios.
Can I use Defold for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Defold best used for?
Defold is most often used for building 2d games for mobile, desktop, web and console from a single project, shipping small-footprint html5 games, teams wanting a free engine with no revenue share on games. Of those, building 2d games for mobile, desktop, web and console from a single project and shipping small-footprint html5 games are not what OGRE is typically brought in for.
What can Defold do that OGRE cannot?
Defold covers Lua scripting, Physics engine, Sprite system, Sound management. OGRE covers 3D graphics rendering, Shader system, Material system, Lighting and shadows. Both handle Particle effects, Local deployment, Mobile deployment, Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Defold: How much does Defold cost?

Defold is completely free with no up-front cost, no licensing cost, no royalties, and no runtime fees. The game engine is free forever, supported by the Defold Foundation with source code available under a developer-friendly license.

Source
OGRE: Is OGRE 3D free to use?

Yes, OGRE is completely free. The 3D graphics engine is released under the MIT License, a permissive open source license with no licensing costs.

Source
Defold: Is Defold free to use commercially?

Yes, Defold is free forever with no royalties or revenue sharing required. Developers can create and monetize commercial games without any fees to Defold.

Source
OGRE: What are the licensing requirements for using OGRE?

OGRE requires only that you distribute the license text included in the distribution with any software using OGRE. There are no costs or restrictions beyond this attribution requirement.

Source
OGRE: Can small teams use OGRE without paying licensing fees?

Yes, OGRE's open source MIT License allows small teams to use cutting edge 3D technology without licensing fees, making it valuable for teams on tight budgets.

Source
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