Software · head to head
PlayFab vs DragonBones
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; DragonBones javaScript/TypeScript runtime limited to specific game engines (Egret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator)
- They diverge on capability: PlayFab covers Player authentication, DragonBones covers Skeletal animation.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which PlayFab and DragonBones actually diverge.
| Attribute | PlayFab | DragonBones |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | open-source |
| Platforms | Cross-platform | Egret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator |
| Founded | 1975 | 2014 |
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 DragonBones
- Skeletal animation
- Mesh deformation
- IK system
- Texture atlas
- Animation blending
- Bone constraints
- FFD
- Multi-resolution
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 DragonBones
- Hosting dedicated multiplayer game servers on Azurenot DragonBones
- LiveOps, in-game economy and player segmentation for game studiosnot DragonBones
DragonBones
- 2D skeletal animation for JavaScript and TypeScript game enginesnot PlayFab
- Cross-engine animation library for indie game developmentnot PlayFab
- Animation creation with LoongBones editornot 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
DragonBones
- JavaScript/TypeScript runtime limited to specific game engines (Egret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator)
Pricing, plan by plan
PlayFab
Free- FreeFree
- 100K monthly active users
- Basic API
- Player authentication
- Professional$100/month
- Unlimited MAU
- Advanced features
- Priority support
DragonBones
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the DragonBones review.
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 DragonBones if
- You need skeletal animation.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Egret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator.
- You also want mesh deformation.
Questions people ask
- Is PlayFab or DragonBones better?
- Neither clearly leads. PlayFab starts at Free and DragonBones at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, PlayFab or DragonBones?
- PlayFab starts at Free and DragonBones at Free.
- Does PlayFab or DragonBones run on more platforms?
- PlayFab runs on Cross-platform. DragonBones runs on Egret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator.
- 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 DragonBones is typically brought in for.
- What can PlayFab do that DragonBones cannot?
- PlayFab covers Player authentication, Data storage, Analytics, Multiplayer features. DragonBones covers Skeletal animation, Mesh deformation, IK system, Texture atlas.