Game Development · head to head
Pygame vs Construct 3
Construct 3
Game Development
Create games without coding. Powered by the Scirra engine.
- 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; Construct 3 the free version caps projects at 50 events, or 25 when used without an account
- They diverge on capability: Pygame covers Graphics rendering, Construct 3 covers Visual event system.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Pygame and Construct 3 actually diverge.
| Attribute | Pygame | Construct 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | free | freemium |
| Platforms | Windows, Macos, Linux, Android | Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web |
| Founded | 2000 | 2007 |
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 Pygame
- Graphics rendering
- Audio playback
- Input handling
- Sprite system
- Collision detection
- Font rendering
- Animation support
- Event system
Only in Construct 3
- Visual event system
- Drag-and-drop editor
- Physics engine
- Sprite editor
- Particle effects
- Sound effects
- Web-based
- HTML5 support
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 Construct 3
- Game prototypingnot Construct 3
- Educational gamesnot Construct 3
- Learning game developmentnot Construct 3
Construct 3
- Building 2D browser games without writing codenot Pygame
- Publishing HTML5 games to the web, desktop and mobile stores from one projectnot 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
Construct 3
- The free version caps projects at 50 events, or 25 when used without an account
- Free projects are limited to 2 layers, 2 special effects, 1 timeline animation of up to 5 seconds and 1 web font
- The free version can only publish to HTML5 and the Construct Arcade, so desktop, Android, iOS and Facebook Instant Games all need a paid plan
- Licences are per seat and annual, at $129.99 for Personal, $168.99 for Startup Business and $468.99 for Business
Pricing, plan by plan
Pygame
Free- FreeFree
- Full library
- Python support
- Graphics rendering
Construct 3
Free- FreeFree
- Web-based editor
- HTML5 export
- Asset library
- Personal$99/year
- All Free features
- Offline editor
- Advanced export
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 Construct 3 if
- You need visual event system.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
- You also want drag-and-drop editor.
Questions people ask
- Is Pygame or Construct 3 better?
- Neither clearly leads. Pygame starts at Free and Construct 3 at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Pygame or Construct 3?
- Pygame starts at Free and Construct 3 at Free.
- Does Pygame or Construct 3 run on more platforms?
- Pygame runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Android. Construct 3 runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
- 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 Construct 3 is typically brought in for.
- What can Pygame do that Construct 3 cannot?
- Pygame covers Graphics rendering, Audio playback, Input handling, Sprite system. Construct 3 covers Visual event system, Drag-and-drop editor, Physics engine, Sprite editor. Both handle Local deployment, Windows support, Macos support, Linux support.