Software · head to head
PlayCanvas vs Cocos2d-x
The short version
- Each has a real cost: PlayCanvas private projects require a paid plan; the Free plan only allows public projects; Cocos2d-x cocos2d-x is MIT licensed with no commercial tier, and the vendor's own site directs users toward its newer engine, Cocos Creator, as the actively developed product, leaving Cocos2d-x without a first-party paid support or upgrade path.
- They diverge on capability: PlayCanvas covers Cloud-based editor, Cocos2d-x covers 2D rendering.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which PlayCanvas and Cocos2d-x actually diverge.
| Attribute | PlayCanvas | Cocos2d-x |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | free |
| Platforms | Web, Mobile | Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android |
| Founded | 2013 | 2010 |
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 PlayCanvas
- Cloud-based editor
- Real-time collaboration
- WebGL rendering
- Physics engine
- Visual scripting
- Asset library
- Version control
- Instant deployment
Only in Cocos2d-x
- 2D rendering
- Physics engine (Chipmunk)
- Particle effects
- Animation system
- Audio engine
- Touch input handling
- Tilemap support
- Sprite batching
Both cover
- GitHub
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
PlayCanvas
- Building WebGL games and interactive 3D that run in a browsernot Cocos2d-x
- Browser based collaborative 3D editing across a teamnot Cocos2d-x
- Web AR and VR experiences, product configurators and playable adsnot Cocos2d-x
Cocos2d-x
- Mobile game developmentnot PlayCanvas
- 2D gamesnot PlayCanvas
- Lightweight gamesnot PlayCanvas
- Cross-platform gamesnot PlayCanvas
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
PlayCanvas
- Private projects require a paid plan; the Free plan only allows public projects
- The Free plan is capped at 1GB of storage, Personal at 10GB and Organization at 50GB
- Personal costs $15 per month and Organization costs $50 per seat per month
- Team management is only available on the Organization plan
- Private projects become locked and inaccessible if the subscription is cancelled, unless they are made public
- There is no formal educational discount
- There is no self serve trial of the Personal or Organization plan; an upgrade code must be requested from sales
Cocos2d-x
- Cocos2d-x is MIT licensed with no commercial tier, and the vendor's own site directs users toward its newer engine, Cocos Creator, as the actively developed product, leaving Cocos2d-x without a first-party paid support or upgrade path.
Pricing, plan by plan
PlayCanvas
Free- FreeFree
- Cloud editor
- WebGL export
- Community projects
- Pro$19/month
- Private projects
- Advanced features
- Priority support
Cocos2d-x
Free- FreeFree
- Full engine source
- MIT License
- Community support
Which should you pick?
Choose PlayCanvas if
- You need cloud-based editor.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Mobile.
- You also want real-time collaboration.
Choose Cocos2d-x if
- You need 2d rendering.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android.
- You also want physics engine (chipmunk).
Questions people ask
- Is PlayCanvas or Cocos2d-x better?
- Neither clearly leads. PlayCanvas starts at Free and Cocos2d-x at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, PlayCanvas or Cocos2d-x?
- PlayCanvas starts at Free and Cocos2d-x at Free.
- Does PlayCanvas or Cocos2d-x run on more platforms?
- PlayCanvas runs on Web, Mobile. Cocos2d-x runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android.
- Can I use PlayCanvas for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is PlayCanvas best used for?
- PlayCanvas is most often used for building webgl games and interactive 3d that run in a browser, browser based collaborative 3d editing across a team, web ar and vr experiences, product configurators and playable ads. Of those, building webgl games and interactive 3d that run in a browser and browser based collaborative 3d editing across a team are not what Cocos2d-x is typically brought in for.
- What can PlayCanvas do that Cocos2d-x cannot?
- PlayCanvas covers Cloud-based editor, Real-time collaboration, WebGL rendering, Physics engine. Cocos2d-x covers 2D rendering, Physics engine (Chipmunk), Particle effects, Animation system. Both handle GitHub.
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