Game Development · head to head
PlayFab vs AppGameKit
The short version
- Each has a real cost: PlayFab a title in development mode can only have up to 1,000 lifetime player account creations; AppGameKit exports to Windows, iOS and Android only, so there is no macOS, Linux or console target
- They diverge on capability: PlayFab covers Player authentication, AppGameKit covers BASIC-like scripting.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which PlayFab and AppGameKit actually diverge.
| Attribute | PlayFab | AppGameKit |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | free |
| Platforms | Cross-platform | Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Tvos |
| Founded | 1975 | 2004 |
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 PlayFab
- Player authentication
- Data storage
- Analytics
- Multiplayer features
- Economy system
- Matchmaking
- Cloud saves
- Leaderboards
Only in AppGameKit
- BASIC-like scripting
- Visual sprite editor
- Physics engine
- Sound and music
- Particle effects
- Tile support
- Multi-platform export
- Built-in debugger
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
PlayFab
- Backend as a service for live games, covering accounts, leaderboards and player datanot AppGameKit
- Hosting dedicated multiplayer game servers on Azurenot AppGameKit
- LiveOps, in-game economy and player segmentation for game studiosnot AppGameKit
AppGameKit
- 2D and 3D game development from a single codebasenot PlayFab
- Cross-platform mobile game builds for iOS and Androidnot PlayFab
- Learning game programming in a BASIC-derived languagenot PlayFab
- Prototyping small games quicklynot PlayFab
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
PlayFab
- A title in development mode can only have up to 1,000 lifetime player account creations
- Multiplayer server costs are billed per VM compute hour on Azure virtual machines and vary by region and VM family
- Network egress is charged per GB and varies by zone, at $0.05 in Zone 1, $0.08 in Zone 2 and $0.20 in Zone 3
- Pricing is consumption based across a set of separate meters rather than a flat plan
- The vendor states prices are subject to change and that actual costs depend on the PlayFab plan and usage
AppGameKit
- Exports to Windows, iOS and Android only, so there is no macOS, Linux or console target
- The price is not shown on the product page and the product is sold through Steam
- The vendor describes it as their last outing for traditional programming languages before AI-driven development, which is a poor signal for long-term support
- appgamekit.com now redirects into the darkbasic.com site
Pricing, plan by plan
PlayFab
Free- FreeFree
- 100K monthly active users
- Basic API
- Player authentication
- Professional$100/month
- Unlimited MAU
- Advanced features
- Priority support
AppGameKit
Free- FreeFree
- Full editor
- Multi-platform export
- Built-in IDE
Which should you pick?
Choose PlayFab if
- You need player authentication.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Cross-platform.
- You also want data storage.
Choose AppGameKit if
- You need basic-like scripting.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Tvos.
- You also want visual sprite editor.
Questions people ask
- Is PlayFab or AppGameKit better?
- Neither clearly leads. PlayFab starts at Free and AppGameKit at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, PlayFab or AppGameKit?
- PlayFab starts at Free and AppGameKit at Free.
- Does PlayFab or AppGameKit run on more platforms?
- PlayFab runs on Cross-platform. AppGameKit runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Tvos.
- Can I use PlayFab for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is PlayFab best used for?
- PlayFab is most often used for backend as a service for live games, covering accounts, leaderboards and player data, hosting dedicated multiplayer game servers on azure, liveops, in-game economy and player segmentation for game studios. Of those, backend as a service for live games, covering accounts, leaderboards and player data and hosting dedicated multiplayer game servers on azure are not what AppGameKit is typically brought in for.
- What can PlayFab do that AppGameKit cannot?
- PlayFab covers Player authentication, Data storage, Analytics, Multiplayer features. AppGameKit covers BASIC-like scripting, Visual sprite editor, Physics engine, Sound and music.