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Game Development · head to head

Clickteam Fusion vs Perforce Helix Core

C

Clickteam Fusion

Game Development

Professional visual game development software

From
$99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Perforce Helix Core logo

Perforce Helix Core

Game Development

Centralised version control for multi-terabyte binary game projects

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Perforce Helix Core has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Clickteam Fusion listed on Steam, the vendor's own storefront, at $99.99 for a perpetual licence of Clickteam Fusion 2.5, published directly by Clickteam; Perforce Helix Core the free tier covers only a handful of users, which maps badly onto how the product is actually used, because asset version control is needed by the whole studio, artists and audio staff included, not by the engineers alone.
  • They diverge on capability: Clickteam Fusion covers Visual event system, Perforce Helix Core covers Exclusive checkout.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Clickteam Fusion and Perforce Helix Core actually diverge.

Attributes where Clickteam Fusion and Perforce Helix Core differ
AttributeClickteam FusionPerforce Helix Core
Starting price$99/one-timeFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, WebWindows, macOS, Linux
Founded1996Unknown

Identical on both: 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 Clickteam Fusion

  • Visual event system
  • Drag-and-drop interface
  • Physics engine
  • Sound and music
  • Sprite animation
  • Extensions support
  • Multi-core support
  • Fast compiler

Only in Perforce Helix Core

  • Exclusive checkout
  • Very large depots
  • Streams branching
  • Proxies and edge servers
  • Unreal and Unity integration
  • Fine grained permissions

What people use each for

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

Clickteam Fusion

  • 2D game developmentnot Perforce Helix Core
  • Professional gamesnot Perforce Helix Core
  • Cross-platform developmentnot Perforce Helix Core

Perforce Helix Core

  • A studio where artists and designers version hundreds of gigabytes of uncompressed assetsnot Clickteam Fusion
  • Unreal Engine projects that want the engine to talk to source control directlynot Clickteam Fusion
  • Console development where platform holders and publishers expect an auditable centralised depotnot Clickteam Fusion
  • Distributed teams with outsourcing partners who need path-level access to part of the project onlynot Clickteam Fusion

Where each one falls short

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

Clickteam Fusion

  • Listed on Steam, the vendor's own storefront, at $99.99 for a perpetual licence of Clickteam Fusion 2.5, published directly by Clickteam

Perforce Helix Core

  • The free tier covers only a handful of users, which maps badly onto how the product is actually used, because asset version control is needed by the whole studio, artists and audio staff included, not by the engineers alone.
  • Beyond the free tier pricing is quoted per seat and renewed annually, and it does not scale down for contractors or outsourcing partners who touch the depot for a single milestone and still consume a full licence.
  • It is centralised, so when the server or the connection to it is unavailable, work stops for everyone; edge servers reduce this but add another system to run.
  • Administration is a genuine role. Depot layout, streams, protections, proxies, checkpoints and backups all need someone who knows Perforce, and that person is expensive and hard to replace.
  • Exclusive checkout prevents merge conflicts on binaries but blocks colleagues outright; a file locked by someone on leave needs administrator intervention, which turns a holiday into a production stoppage.

Pricing, plan by plan

Clickteam Fusion

$99/one-time
  • Standard$99/one-time
    • Visual event editor
    • Desktop export
    • HTML5 export
  • Premium$199/one-time
    • All Standard features
    • Android export
    • iOS export

Perforce Helix Core

Free
  • Helix Core$undefined/year
    • Free for a small number of users and workspaces, intended for evaluation and very small teams
    • Beyond that, per user licensing quoted annually by Perforce sales
    • Cloud-hosted and self-managed deployments both available

Which should you pick?

Choose Clickteam Fusion if

  • You need visual event system.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want drag-and-drop interface.
Clickteam Fusion review

Choose Perforce Helix Core if

  • You need exclusive checkout.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want very large depots.
Perforce Helix Core review

Questions people ask

Is Clickteam Fusion or Perforce Helix Core better?
Neither clearly leads. Clickteam Fusion starts at $99/one-time and Perforce Helix Core at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Clickteam Fusion or Perforce Helix Core?
Perforce Helix Core has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $99/one-time for Clickteam Fusion and Free for Perforce Helix Core.
Does Clickteam Fusion or Perforce Helix Core run on more platforms?
Clickteam Fusion runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web. Perforce Helix Core runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Perforce Helix Core for free?
Yes. Perforce Helix Core has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Clickteam Fusion starts at $99/one-time.
What is Clickteam Fusion best used for?
Clickteam Fusion is most often used for 2d game development, professional games, cross-platform development. Of those, 2d game development and professional games are not what Perforce Helix Core is typically brought in for.
What can Clickteam Fusion do that Perforce Helix Core cannot?
Clickteam Fusion covers Visual event system, Drag-and-drop interface, Physics engine, Sound and music. Perforce Helix Core covers Exclusive checkout, Very large depots, Streams branching, Proxies and edge servers.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Clickteam Fusion: Is there a free version of Clickteam Fusion?

Yes, Clickteam Fusion 2.5 Free Edition is available for download. The paid version offers additional features and capabilities.

Source
Perforce Helix Core: Why not just use Git with LFS?

Git assumes text files that merge and a full local history. Game projects have terabytes of unmergeable binaries. LFS handles the size but not the locking or the clone time, which is why studios past a certain size move to Perforce.

Clickteam Fusion: What versions of Clickteam Fusion are available?

Clickteam offers Fusion 2.5 in Free Edition, standard edition, and Developer edition, as well as previous versions like Multimedia Fusion 2 and The Games Factory 2.

Source
Perforce Helix Core: How much does it cost?

Perforce does not publish prices. It is free for a small number of users and workspaces, after which licensing is quoted per user annually and depends on volume and support level.

Clickteam Fusion: What platforms can games made with Clickteam Fusion run on?

Clickteam Fusion supports multiple platforms with export modules for iOS, Android, HTML5, and Mac.

Source
Perforce Helix Core: Can programmers keep working in Git?

Partly. Helix4Git bridges Git repositories into the Helix Core depot, but it is another component to run and does not remove the difference in workflow between the two systems.

Clickteam Fusion: Where can I find additional resources for Clickteam Fusion?

Clickteam provides tutorials, extensions, SDKs, and a community for support. You can also purchase additional graphics, sounds, and assets through their Asset Store.

Source
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