Software · head to head
Phaser vs Construct 3
Phaser
Software
Fast, free, and fun open source framework for Canvas and WebGL
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Construct 3
Software
Create games without coding. Powered by the Scirra engine.
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Phaser the Phaser framework is open source but Phaser Editor is a commercial product at $12 per month; Construct 3 the free version caps projects at 50 events, or 25 when used without an account
- They diverge on capability: Phaser covers Canvas and WebGL rendering, Construct 3 covers Visual event system.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Phaser and Construct 3 actually diverge.
| Attribute | Phaser | Construct 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | free | freemium |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android | Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web |
| Founded | 2013 | 2007 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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
- Tilemaps
- Event system
- JavaScript frameworks
Only in Construct 3
- Visual event system
- Drag-and-drop editor
- Physics engine
- Sprite editor
- Sound effects
- Web-based
- HTML5 support
- GitHub
Both cover
- Particle effects
- Web deployment
- Mobile deployment
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 Construct 3
- Rapid browser game prototyping with a code editor, tilemap and atlas toolsnot Construct 3
- Publishing web games with one click hostingnot Construct 3
Construct 3
- Building 2D browser games without writing codenot Phaser
- Publishing HTML5 games to the web, desktop and mobile stores from one projectnot 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
Construct 3
- The free version caps projects at 50 events, or 25 when used without an account
- Free projects are limited to 2 layers, 2 special effects, 1 timeline animation of up to 5 seconds and 1 web font
- The free version can only publish to HTML5 and the Construct Arcade, so desktop, Android, iOS and Facebook Instant Games all need a paid plan
- Licences are per seat and annual, at $129.99 for Personal, $168.99 for Startup Business and $468.99 for Business
Pricing, plan by plan
Phaser
Free- FreeFree
- Full source code
- Community support
- Game examples
Construct 3
Free- FreeFree
- Web-based editor
- HTML5 export
- Asset library
- Personal$99/year
- All Free features
- Offline editor
- Advanced export
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).
Choose Construct 3 if
- You need visual event system.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
- You also want drag-and-drop editor.
Questions people ask
- Is Phaser or Construct 3 better?
- Neither clearly leads. Phaser starts at Free and Construct 3 at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Phaser or Construct 3?
- Phaser starts at Free and Construct 3 at Free.
- Does Phaser or Construct 3 run on more platforms?
- Phaser runs on Web, Ios, Android. Construct 3 runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
- Can I use Phaser for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- 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 Construct 3 is typically brought in for.
- What can Phaser do that Construct 3 cannot?
- Phaser covers Canvas and WebGL rendering, Physics engine (Arcade), Input handling, Animation system. Construct 3 covers Visual event system, Drag-and-drop editor, Physics engine, Sprite editor. Both handle Particle effects, Web deployment, Mobile deployment.