Software · head to head
Pygame vs Bevy
Bevy
Software
A refreshingly simple data-driven game engine built in Rust
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Pygame licensed under GNU LGPL v2.1, free to use even in closed-source and commercial games, no paid tier; Bevy rust only, so it assumes a language most game teams do not already use
- They diverge on capability: Pygame covers Graphics rendering, Bevy covers Entity Component System.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Pygame and Bevy actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (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 Pygame
- Graphics rendering
- Audio playback
- Input handling
- Sprite system
- Collision detection
- Font rendering
- Animation support
- Event system
Only in Bevy
- Entity Component System
- 2D/3D rendering
- Audio system
- Asset pipeline
- Hot reloading
- Cross-platform
- Modular architecture
- Parallel systems
Both cover
- Local deployment
- Windows support
- Macos support
- Linux support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Pygame
- 2D game developmentnot Bevy
- Game prototypingnot Bevy
- Educational gamesnot Bevy
- Learning game developmentnot Bevy
Bevy
- 2D and 3D game development in Rustnot Pygame
- Data-driven design using an entity component systemnot Pygame
- Shipping to Windows, macOS, Linux, web, iOS and Android from one codebasenot Pygame
- Projects wanting a permissive licence with no royalties or feesnot Pygame
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Pygame
- Licensed under GNU LGPL v2.1, free to use even in closed-source and commercial games, no paid tier
Bevy
- Rust only, so it assumes a language most game teams do not already use
- No visual editor of the kind Unity or Godot provide, so scenes and logic are written in code
- Built around ECS, which is a different mental model from the scene-graph engines most developers come from
Pricing, plan by plan
Pygame
Free- FreeFree
- Full library
- Python support
- Graphics rendering
Bevy
Free- Open SourceFree
- Full engine access
- ECS architecture
- Hot reloading
Which should you pick?
Choose Pygame if
- You need graphics rendering.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Android.
- You also want audio playback.
Choose Bevy if
- You need entity component system.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Webgl.
- You also want 2d/3d rendering.
Questions people ask
- Is Pygame or Bevy better?
- Neither clearly leads. Pygame starts at Free and Bevy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Pygame or Bevy?
- Pygame starts at Free and Bevy at Free.
- Does Pygame or Bevy run on more platforms?
- Pygame runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Android. Bevy runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Webgl.
- Can I use Pygame for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Pygame best used for?
- Pygame is most often used for 2d game development, game prototyping, educational games, learning game development. Of those, 2d game development and game prototyping are not what Bevy is typically brought in for.
- What can Pygame do that Bevy cannot?
- Pygame covers Graphics rendering, Audio playback, Input handling, Sprite system. Bevy covers Entity Component System, 2D/3D rendering, Audio system, Asset pipeline. Both handle Local deployment, Windows support, Macos support, Linux support.