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Phaser vs Aseprite

Phaser logo

Phaser

Software

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Aseprite logo

Aseprite

Software

Animated sprite editor and pixel art tool

From
$19.99/once
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Phaser has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Phaser the Phaser framework is open source but Phaser Editor is a commercial product at $12 per month; Aseprite a one-off purchase with no free tier, only a trial
  • They diverge on capability: Phaser covers Canvas and WebGL rendering, Aseprite covers Pixel art tools.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Phaser and Aseprite actually diverge.

Attributes where Phaser and Aseprite differ
AttributePhaserAseprite
Starting priceFree$19.99/once
Pricing modelfreeone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWindows, Macos, Linux
Founded20132001

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

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 Phaser

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

Only in Aseprite

  • Pixel art tools
  • Animation timeline
  • Onion skinning
  • Layers
  • Tilemap editor
  • Color palettes
  • Sprite sheets
  • Scripting (Lua)

What people use each for

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

Phaser

  • Building 2D HTML5 games that run in the browsernot Aseprite
  • Rapid browser game prototyping with a code editor, tilemap and atlas toolsnot Aseprite
  • Publishing web games with one click hostingnot Aseprite

Aseprite

  • Pixel art creation for gamesnot Phaser
  • Frame-by-frame sprite animationnot Phaser
  • Exporting sprite sheets and GIFsnot Phaser
  • Scripting repetitive export tasks through the command linenot Phaser

Where each one falls short

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

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

Aseprite

  • A one-off purchase with no free tier, only a trial
  • Deliberately narrow: a pixel art and sprite animation editor rather than a general image editor
  • The site does not state supported platforms or licence terms, which are on GitHub instead

Pricing, plan by plan

Phaser

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full source code
    • Community support
    • Game examples

Aseprite

$19.99/once
  • License$19.99/once
    • Full feature set
    • Free updates
    • Commercial use

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Aseprite if

  • You need pixel art tools.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux.
  • You also want animation timeline.
Aseprite review

Questions people ask

Is Phaser or Aseprite better?
Neither clearly leads. Phaser starts at Free and Aseprite at $19.99/once, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Phaser or Aseprite?
Phaser has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Phaser and $19.99/once for Aseprite.
Does Phaser or Aseprite run on more platforms?
Phaser runs on Web, Ios, Android. Aseprite runs on Windows, Macos, Linux.
Can I use Phaser for free?
Yes. Phaser has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Aseprite starts at $19.99/once.
What is Phaser best used for?
Phaser is most often used for building 2d html5 games that run in the browser, rapid browser game prototyping with a code editor, tilemap and atlas tools, publishing web games with one click hosting. Of those, building 2d html5 games that run in the browser and rapid browser game prototyping with a code editor, tilemap and atlas tools are not what Aseprite is typically brought in for.
What can Phaser do that Aseprite cannot?
Phaser covers Canvas and WebGL rendering, Physics engine (Arcade), Input handling, Animation system. Aseprite covers Pixel art tools, Animation timeline, Onion skinning, Layers.
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