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Game Development · head to head

Pico-8 vs Raylib

Pico-8 logo

Pico-8

Game Development

A fantasy console for making, sharing and playing tiny games

From
$14.99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Raylib logo

Raylib

Game Development

A simple and easy-to-use library for game development

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Raylib has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Pico-8 extremely limited display resolution of 128x128 pixels with 16-colour palette; Raylib free and open source with no commercial tier, per the vendor site features section
  • They diverge on capability: Pico-8 covers Pixel art editor, Raylib covers Graphics rendering.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Pico-8 and Raylib actually diverge.

Attributes where Pico-8 and Raylib differ
AttributePico-8Raylib
Starting price$14.99/one-timeFree
Pricing modelone-timefree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Linux, Raspberry PiWindows, Macos, Linux, Android, Web
Founded20052013

Identical on both: 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 Pico-8

  • Pixel art editor
  • Music composer
  • Lua scripting
  • Built-in palette
  • Sprite system
  • Map editor
  • Code editor
  • Game cartridges

Only in Raylib

  • Graphics rendering
  • Audio system
  • Input handling
  • Shapes drawing
  • Sprite management
  • Collision detection
  • Font rendering
  • Text input

Both cover

  • Local deployment
  • Web deployment
  • Windows support
  • Macos support
  • Linux support
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Pico-8

  • Retro-style indie game developmentnot Raylib
  • Educational game programmingnot Raylib
  • Game jam participationnot Raylib
  • Pixel art game creation with strict creative constraintsnot Raylib

Raylib

  • Simple 2D gamesnot Pico-8
  • Game prototypingnot Pico-8
  • Educational gamesnot Pico-8
  • Learning game developmentnot Pico-8

Where each one falls short

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

Pico-8

  • Extremely limited display resolution of 128x128 pixels with 16-colour palette
  • Cart size capped at 32 kilobytes
  • Only 256 sprites of 8x8 pixels available
  • Map limited to 128x32 tiles
  • Monophonic sound synthesis with 4-channel chip synthesis only
  • Lua programming language exclusively; no other language support

Raylib

  • Free and open source with no commercial tier, per the vendor site features section

Pricing, plan by plan

Pico-8

$14.99/one-time

No published plan breakdown. See the Pico-8 review.

Raylib

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full library
    • C/C++ support
    • Graphics rendering

Which should you pick?

Choose Pico-8 if

  • You need pixel art editor.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi.
  • You also want music composer.
Pico-8 review

Choose Raylib if

  • You need graphics rendering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Android, Web.
  • You also want audio system.
Raylib review

Questions people ask

Is Pico-8 or Raylib better?
Neither clearly leads. Pico-8 starts at $14.99/one-time and Raylib at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Pico-8 or Raylib?
Raylib has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $14.99/one-time for Pico-8 and Free for Raylib.
Does Pico-8 or Raylib run on more platforms?
Pico-8 runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi. Raylib runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Android, Web.
Can I use Raylib for free?
Yes. Raylib has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Pico-8 starts at $14.99/one-time.
What is Pico-8 best used for?
Pico-8 is most often used for retro-style indie game development, educational game programming, game jam participation, pixel art game creation with strict creative constraints. Of those, retro-style indie game development and educational game programming are not what Raylib is typically brought in for.
What can Pico-8 do that Raylib cannot?
Pico-8 covers Pixel art editor, Music composer, Lua scripting, Built-in palette. Raylib covers Graphics rendering, Audio system, Input handling, Shapes drawing. Both handle Local deployment, Web deployment, Windows support, Macos support.
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