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Game Development · head to head

PlayCanvas vs Stencyl

PlayCanvas logo

PlayCanvas

Game Development

Cloud-based WebGL game development platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Stencyl logo

Stencyl

Game Development

Create games with visual programming

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: PlayCanvas private projects require a paid plan; the Free plan only allows public projects; Stencyl the free Starter tier can publish to the web only
  • They diverge on capability: PlayCanvas covers Cloud-based editor, Stencyl covers Visual block programming.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which PlayCanvas and Stencyl actually diverge.

Attributes where PlayCanvas and Stencyl differ
AttributePlayCanvasStencyl
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
PlatformsWeb, MobileWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Flash
Founded20132011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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 PlayCanvas

  • Cloud-based editor
  • Real-time collaboration
  • WebGL rendering
  • Visual scripting
  • Asset library
  • Version control
  • Instant deployment
  • Slack

Only in Stencyl

  • Visual block programming
  • Drag-and-drop interface
  • Sprite animation
  • Sound and music
  • Tilemap editor
  • Actor system
  • Haxe support
  • Dropbox

Both cover

  • Physics engine
  • GitHub
  • Web deployment

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 Stencyl
  • Browser based collaborative 3D editing across a teamnot Stencyl
  • Web AR and VR experiences, product configurators and playable adsnot Stencyl

Stencyl

  • Game development for independent creatorsnot PlayCanvas
  • Cross-platform game publishing (iOS, Android, Web, Desktop)not PlayCanvas
  • Indie game studio platformnot 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

Stencyl

  • The free Starter tier can publish to the web only
  • Desktop publishing requires the Indie plan at $99 a year
  • iOS and Android publishing require the Studio plan at $199 a year
  • Licences are annual, so continuing to publish means continuing to pay

Pricing, plan by plan

PlayCanvas

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1GB storage
    • Unlimited public projects
    • Free app hosting
  • Personal$15/month
    • 10GB storage
    • Unlimited private projects
    • REST API access
  • Organization$50/per seat/month
    • 50GB storage
    • Team management
    • Full feature access

Stencyl

Free
  • Starter (Free)Free
    • Publish to Web only
    • Includes Stencyl branding splash screen
  • Indie$99/year
    • Publish to Web and Desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux)
    • Early access to latest releases
    • No watermarks or forced Stencyl branding
  • Studio (Most Popular)$199/year
    • Publish to iOS, Android, Web and Desktop
    • Early access to latest releases
    • No watermarks or forced Stencyl branding

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.
PlayCanvas review

Choose Stencyl if

  • You need visual block programming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Flash.
  • You also want drag-and-drop interface.
Stencyl review

Questions people ask

Is PlayCanvas or Stencyl better?
Neither clearly leads. PlayCanvas starts at Free and Stencyl at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, PlayCanvas or Stencyl?
PlayCanvas starts at Free and Stencyl at Free.
Does PlayCanvas or Stencyl run on more platforms?
PlayCanvas runs on Web, Mobile. Stencyl runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Flash.
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 Stencyl is typically brought in for.
What can PlayCanvas do that Stencyl cannot?
PlayCanvas covers Cloud-based editor, Real-time collaboration, WebGL rendering, Visual scripting. Stencyl covers Visual block programming, Drag-and-drop interface, Sprite animation, Sound and music. Both handle Physics engine, GitHub, Web deployment.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

PlayCanvas: How much does PlayCanvas cost?

PlayCanvas is free to start with 1GB storage and unlimited public projects. Personal plans cost $15/month with 10GB storage and unlimited private projects. Organization plans are $50 per seat/month with 50GB storage and team management features.

Source
Stencyl: How much does Stencyl cost?

Stencyl offers a free Starter plan, Indie at $99/year, and Studio at $199/year. All platforms include annual subscriptions with no royalties or per-game fees.

Source
PlayCanvas: Does PlayCanvas have a free version?

Yes, PlayCanvas offers a free plan with 1GB storage, unlimited public projects, and free app hosting. Private projects and additional storage require a paid subscription.

Source
Stencyl: What platforms can I publish to with each Stencyl plan?

Starter publishes to Web only. Indie adds Desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux). Studio includes all Indie platforms plus iOS and Android mobile.

Source
PlayCanvas: What happens to my projects if I cancel my PlayCanvas subscription?

Private projects become locked upon subscription cancellation unless you switch them to public. Public projects remain accessible and editable.

Source
Stencyl: Does Stencyl offer a money-back guarantee?

Yes, both Indie and Studio plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee from the date of purchase, provided you have not published any games.

Source
Stencyl: Can I use Stencyl after my subscription expires?

Yes, your games will continue to work after your subscription expires. However, you cannot publish new games or updates without an active subscription.

Source
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