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Game Development · head to head

Construct 3 vs Phaser

Construct 3 logo

Construct 3

Game Development

Create games without coding. Powered by the Scirra engine.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Phaser logo

Phaser

Game Development

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Construct 3 the free version caps projects at 50 events, or 25 when used without an account; Phaser the Phaser framework is open source but Phaser Editor is a commercial product at $12 per month
  • They diverge on capability: Construct 3 covers Visual event system, Phaser covers Canvas and WebGL rendering.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Construct 3 and Phaser actually diverge.

Attributes where Construct 3 and Phaser differ
AttributeConstruct 3Phaser
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, WebWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20072013

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), 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 Construct 3

  • Visual event system
  • Drag-and-drop editor
  • Physics engine
  • Sprite editor
  • Sound effects
  • Web-based
  • HTML5 support
  • GitHub

Only in Phaser

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

Both cover

  • Particle effects
  • Web deployment
  • Mobile deployment

What people use each for

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

Construct 3

  • Building 2D browser games without writing codenot Phaser
  • Publishing HTML5 games to the web, desktop and mobile stores from one projectnot Phaser

Phaser

  • Game development with JavaScriptnot Construct 3
  • Interactive creative tools for developersnot Construct 3
  • Professional game engine for studiosnot Construct 3

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Construct 3

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Web-based editor
    • HTML5 export
    • Asset library
  • Personal$99/year
    • All Free features
    • Offline editor
    • Advanced export

Phaser

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 25+ creative & coding tools
    • AI tools require credit purchases
  • Phaser Editor$12/month
    • professional development tools
    • requires active subscription

Which should you pick?

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.
Construct 3 review

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

Questions people ask

Is Construct 3 or Phaser better?
Neither clearly leads. Construct 3 starts at Free and Phaser at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Construct 3 or Phaser?
Construct 3 starts at Free and Phaser at Free.
Does Construct 3 or Phaser run on more platforms?
Construct 3 runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web. Phaser runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Construct 3 for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Construct 3 best used for?
Construct 3 is most often used for building 2d browser games without writing code, publishing html5 games to the web, desktop and mobile stores from one project. Of those, building 2d browser games without writing code and publishing html5 games to the web, desktop and mobile stores from one project are not what Phaser is typically brought in for.
What can Construct 3 do that Phaser cannot?
Construct 3 covers Visual event system, Drag-and-drop editor, Physics engine, Sprite editor. Phaser covers Canvas and WebGL rendering, Physics engine (Arcade), Input handling, Animation system. Both handle Particle effects, Web deployment, Mobile deployment.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Phaser: How much does Phaser Editor cost?

$12 per month. Users must have an active subscription to use the editor.

Source
Phaser: Is there a free trial for Phaser Editor?

No, Phaser does not provide a free trial. Access begins immediately upon subscription.

Source
Phaser: Can I cancel my subscription and get a refund?

Subscriptions can be cancelled anytime. Access continues until the end of the billing period, but no pro-rata refunds are issued.

Source
Phaser: Can I transfer my Phaser license to someone else?

Yes, users can transfer an active license or subscription to another registered Phaser user completely free.

Source
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