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Phaser vs Unity

Phaser logo

Phaser

Software

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Unity logo

Unity

Software

Create beautiful interactive content with the world's leading real-time engine

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Unity unity Personal is free only for businesses with under $200,000 in funding or annual revenue; above that a Pro subscription is required
  • They diverge on capability: Phaser covers Canvas and WebGL rendering, Unity covers Visual editor.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Phaser and Unity actually diverge.

Attributes where Phaser and Unity differ
AttributePhaserUnity
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Webgl
Founded20132004

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
  • Audio support
  • Particle effects
  • Tilemaps
  • Event system
  • JavaScript frameworks

Only in Unity

  • Visual editor
  • Physics engine (PhysX)
  • Particle system
  • Built-in audio engine
  • Scripting with C#
  • Asset Store
  • Version control integration
  • Visual Studio Code

Both cover

  • Animation system

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 Unity
  • Rapid browser game prototyping with a code editor, tilemap and atlas toolsnot Unity
  • Publishing web games with one click hostingnot Unity

Unity

  • Building 2D and 3D games for desktop, mobile, web, AR and VRnot Phaser
  • Shipping console titles under a Pro or Enterprise licencenot Phaser
  • Real time 3D for manufacturing, automotive and retail visualisationnot Phaser
  • Live operations and in-app purchase management for mobile gamesnot 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

Unity

  • Unity Personal is free only for businesses with under $200,000 in funding or annual revenue; above that a Pro subscription is required
  • Unity Pro costs $210.00 per month or $2,310.00 per year per seat
  • Businesses with more than $25M in annual revenue are required to be on Unity Enterprise, which is custom priced and requires contacting sales
  • Deploying to game consoles and to Apple Vision Pro requires Unity Pro or above
  • Splash screen customization is not available on Unity Personal
  • Unity Personal is licensed for gaming and entertainment applications only
  • Read-only engine source code access is an Enterprise feature and carries an additional cost
  • Asset Manager storage on Personal is capped at 10 GB per organization
  • Unity AI tools are free for a 14 day trial on Personal, after which a paid subscription is required
  • Enterprise terms note that minimum subscription or spending commitments may apply

Pricing, plan by plan

Phaser

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

Unity

Free
  • PersonalFree
    • Full engine access
    • Asset Store access
    • Community support
  • Professional$399/month
    • All Personal features
    • Priority support
    • Advanced analytics

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 Unity if

  • You need visual editor.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Webgl.
  • You also want physics engine (physx).
Unity review

Questions people ask

Is Phaser or Unity better?
Neither clearly leads. Phaser starts at Free and Unity at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Phaser or Unity?
Phaser starts at Free and Unity at Free.
Does Phaser or Unity run on more platforms?
Phaser runs on Web, Ios, Android. Unity runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Webgl.
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 Unity is typically brought in for.
What can Phaser do that Unity cannot?
Phaser covers Canvas and WebGL rendering, Physics engine (Arcade), Input handling, Audio support. Unity covers Visual editor, Physics engine (PhysX), Particle system, Built-in audio engine. Both handle Animation system.
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