Software · head to head
PlayFab vs Armory3D
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; Armory3D compiled binaries are sold to fund the project while the source code itself is free to build from scratch
- They diverge on capability: PlayFab covers Player authentication, Armory3D covers Blender integration.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which PlayFab and Armory3D actually diverge.
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 PlayFab
- Player authentication
- Data storage
- Analytics
- Multiplayer features
- Economy system
- Matchmaking
- Cloud saves
- Leaderboards
Only in Armory3D
- Blender integration
- 3D graphics rendering
- Physics engine (Bullet)
- Audio system
- Haxe scripting
- Particle effects
- Skeletal animation
- Material system
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 Armory3D
- Hosting dedicated multiplayer game servers on Azurenot Armory3D
- LiveOps, in-game economy and player segmentation for game studiosnot Armory3D
Armory3D
- 3D game developmentnot PlayFab
- Blender-based gamesnot PlayFab
- Web gamesnot 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
Armory3D
- Compiled binaries are sold to fund the project while the source code itself is free to build from scratch
Pricing, plan by plan
PlayFab
Free- FreeFree
- 100K monthly active users
- Basic API
- Player authentication
- Professional$100/month
- Unlimited MAU
- Advanced features
- Priority support
Armory3D
Free- FreeFree
- Full engine
- Blender integration
- 3D graphics
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 Armory3D if
- You need blender integration.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Html5, Android.
- You also want 3d graphics rendering.
Questions people ask
- Is PlayFab or Armory3D better?
- Neither clearly leads. PlayFab starts at Free and Armory3D at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, PlayFab or Armory3D?
- PlayFab starts at Free and Armory3D at Free.
- Does PlayFab or Armory3D run on more platforms?
- PlayFab runs on Cross-platform. Armory3D runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Html5, Android.
- 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 Armory3D is typically brought in for.
- What can PlayFab do that Armory3D cannot?
- PlayFab covers Player authentication, Data storage, Analytics, Multiplayer features. Armory3D covers Blender integration, 3D graphics rendering, Physics engine (Bullet), Audio system.