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Game Development · head to head

PlayCanvas vs Tilt Brush

PlayCanvas logo

PlayCanvas

Game Development

Cloud-based WebGL game development platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Tilt Brush logo

Tilt Brush

AR VR

Paint in 3D space with VR

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; Tilt Brush no longer actively developed by Google since January 2021; future updates and support are not guaranteed
  • They diverge on capability: PlayCanvas covers Cloud-based editor, Tilt Brush covers 3D painting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which PlayCanvas and Tilt Brush actually diverge.

Attributes where PlayCanvas and Tilt Brush differ
AttributePlayCanvasTilt Brush
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsWeb, MobileHTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, Windows Mixed Reality, Valve Index, PlayStation VR
CategoryGame DevelopmentAR VR
Founded20132016

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Tilt Brush

  • 3D painting
  • Dynamic brushes
  • Environment selection
  • Animation
  • Google Poly
  • Sketchfab
  • YouTube VR
  • Vr support

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

Tilt Brush

  • VR Gamingnot PlayCanvas
  • AR Marketingnot PlayCanvas
  • Virtual Trainingnot PlayCanvas
  • 3D Visualizationnot PlayCanvas
  • Immersive Experiencesnot 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

Tilt Brush

  • No longer actively developed by Google since January 2021; future updates and support are not guaranteed
  • Limited editing capabilities with no layers system and no 3D brushes for precise refinement
  • Not designed for professional branding or marketing work; better suited for creative expression than practical design
  • Tool limitations make it difficult to move, cut, or rearrange grouped elements after creation
  • VR hardware costs are high relative to software cost, and can cause motion sickness in some users

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

Tilt Brush

Free
  • Google Tilt Brush$19.99/one-time
    • VR painting and creative tools
    • Available on VR app stores
  • Open Brush (open-source)Free
    • Free open-source version
    • Available on Steam and Meta Quest

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 Tilt Brush if

  • You need 3d painting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, Windows Mixed Reality, Valve Index, PlayStation VR.
  • You also want dynamic brushes.
Tilt Brush review

Questions people ask

Is PlayCanvas or Tilt Brush better?
Neither clearly leads. PlayCanvas starts at Free and Tilt Brush at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, PlayCanvas or Tilt Brush?
PlayCanvas starts at Free and Tilt Brush at Free.
Does PlayCanvas or Tilt Brush run on more platforms?
PlayCanvas runs on Web, Mobile. Tilt Brush runs on HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, Windows Mixed Reality, Valve Index, PlayStation VR.
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 Tilt Brush is typically brought in for.
What can PlayCanvas do that Tilt Brush cannot?
PlayCanvas covers Cloud-based editor, Real-time collaboration, WebGL rendering, Physics engine. Tilt Brush covers 3D painting, Dynamic brushes, Environment selection, Animation.

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
Tilt Brush: Is Tilt Brush still available to use?

Yes. Although Google ended active development in January 2021, Tilt Brush remains available on VR app stores and continues to function. Google also open-sourced the code, enabling community-maintained alternatives like Open Brush to provide free versions for PC VR and Meta Quest.

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
Tilt Brush: Is there a free version of Tilt Brush?

The official Google Tilt Brush costs $19.99. However, Open Brush (the open-source community version) is completely free and available for PC VR via Steam and on Oculus Quest.

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
Tilt Brush: What VR headsets does Tilt Brush support?

Tilt Brush works on HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, Windows Mixed Reality, Valve Index, and PlayStation VR. The open-source Open Brush version also supports PC VR.

Source
Tilt Brush: Can I export my Tilt Brush creations?

Yes. Tilt Brush creations can be exported as room-scale VR pieces or animated GIFs to share with others. The app does not support direct export to 3D model formats like OBJ or FBX.

Source
Tilt Brush: Is Tilt Brush good for professional 3D design work?

Tilt Brush is primarily a creative expression and painting tool rather than a professional 3D design tool. It lacks features like layers, editable 3D brushes, and precise refinement controls needed for professional workflows. For professional VR sculpting, Adobe Medium or Quill are better choices.

Source
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