Software · head to head
Phaser vs GameMaker Studio 2
Phaser
Software
Fast, free, and fun open source framework for Canvas and WebGL
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
GameMaker Studio 2
Software
The fastest way to create games. For everyone.
- 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; GameMaker Studio 2 the free tier is a non-commercial licence; selling a game requires the Professional licence at $99.99
- They diverge on capability: Phaser covers Canvas and WebGL rendering, GameMaker Studio 2 covers Drag-and-drop interface.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Phaser and GameMaker Studio 2 actually diverge.
| Attribute | Phaser | GameMaker Studio 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | free | freemium |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android | Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox, Switch |
| Founded | 2013 | 1999 |
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 GameMaker Studio 2
- Drag-and-drop interface
- GML programming language
- Sprite editor
- Animation frames
- Sound editor
- Room editor
- Physics system
- GitHub
Both cover
- Particle effects
- Mobile deployment
- Ios support
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 GameMaker Studio 2
- Rapid browser game prototyping with a code editor, tilemap and atlas toolsnot GameMaker Studio 2
- Publishing web games with one click hostingnot GameMaker Studio 2
GameMaker Studio 2
- Building 2D games for desktop, web and mobilenot Phaser
- Indie game development with a drag and drop and GML scripting workflownot Phaser
- Publishing to consoles under an Enterprise subscriptionnot 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
GameMaker Studio 2
- The free tier is a non-commercial licence; selling a game requires the Professional licence at $99.99
- Console exports are available only on the Enterprise subscription, which is billed at $79.49 per month
- Source code access is limited to the Enterprise tier
- Older Creator and Indie subscriptions are no longer renewed when the licence expires
- Owners of a permanent GameMaker Studio 2 licence get no discount toward current licences
Pricing, plan by plan
Phaser
Free- FreeFree
- Full source code
- Community support
- Game examples
GameMaker Studio 2
Free- FreeFree
- Desktop game creation
- Community support
- Standard export options
- Pro$99/year
- All Free features
- Advanced export modules
- Mobile platforms
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 GameMaker Studio 2 if
- You need drag-and-drop interface.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox, Switch.
- You also want gml programming language.
Questions people ask
- Is Phaser or GameMaker Studio 2 better?
- Neither clearly leads. Phaser starts at Free and GameMaker Studio 2 at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Phaser or GameMaker Studio 2?
- Phaser starts at Free and GameMaker Studio 2 at Free.
- Does Phaser or GameMaker Studio 2 run on more platforms?
- Phaser runs on Web, Ios, Android. GameMaker Studio 2 runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox, Switch.
- 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 GameMaker Studio 2 is typically brought in for.
- What can Phaser do that GameMaker Studio 2 cannot?
- Phaser covers Canvas and WebGL rendering, Physics engine (Arcade), Input handling, Animation system. GameMaker Studio 2 covers Drag-and-drop interface, GML programming language, Sprite editor, Animation frames. Both handle Particle effects, Mobile deployment, Ios support.