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Game Development · head to head

Defold vs Panda3D

Defold logo

Defold

Game Development

The game engine for the creators of King

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Panda3D logo

Panda3D

Game Development

Free, open-source 3D engine for game development

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; Panda3D completely free to use including for commercial projects, with source code available under the permissive BSD license, no paid tier
  • They diverge on capability: Defold covers Lua scripting, Panda3D 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 Panda3D actually diverge.

Attributes where Defold and Panda3D differ
AttributeDefoldPanda3D
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, WebWindows, Macos, Linux
Founded20051999

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 Panda3D

  • 3D graphics rendering
  • Physics engine (Bullet)
  • Audio system
  • Input handling
  • Skeletal animation
  • Shading
  • Scene management
  • Python

Both cover

  • Particle effects
  • Local deployment
  • Windows support
  • Macos support
  • Linux 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 Panda3D
  • Shipping small-footprint HTML5 gamesnot Panda3D
  • Teams wanting a free engine with no revenue share on gamesnot Panda3D

Panda3D

  • 3D game developmentnot Defold
  • 3D applicationsnot Defold
  • Game prototypingnot Defold
  • Visualizationnot 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

Panda3D

  • Completely free to use including for commercial projects, with source code available under the permissive BSD license, no paid tier

Pricing, plan by plan

Defold

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

Panda3D

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full engine
    • Python and C++
    • 3D graphics

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 Panda3D if

  • You need 3d graphics rendering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux.
  • You also want physics engine (bullet).
Panda3D review

Questions people ask

Is Defold or Panda3D better?
Neither clearly leads. Defold starts at Free and Panda3D at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Defold or Panda3D?
Defold starts at Free and Panda3D at Free.
Does Defold or Panda3D run on more platforms?
Defold runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web. Panda3D runs on Windows, Macos, Linux.
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 Panda3D is typically brought in for.
What can Defold do that Panda3D cannot?
Defold covers Lua scripting, Physics engine, Sprite system, Sound management. Panda3D covers 3D graphics rendering, Physics engine (Bullet), Audio system, Input handling. Both handle Particle effects, Local deployment, Windows support, Macos 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
Panda3D: Is Panda3D free to use?

Yes, Panda3D is completely free to use with no royalties, license payments, registration, or costs of any kind, even for commercial use.

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
Panda3D: What license does Panda3D use?

Panda3D is distributed under a permissive BSD license, allowing users to study and modify the source code.

Source
Panda3D: Are there any costs for deploying Panda3D applications?

No, the SDK includes deployment tools at no additional charge and has no external paid dependencies required for deployment.

Source
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