Game Development · head to head
Raylib vs Bevy
Raylib
Game Development
A simple and easy-to-use library for game development
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Bevy
Game Development
A refreshingly simple data-driven game engine built in Rust
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Raylib free and open source with no commercial tier, per the vendor site features section; Bevy rust only, so it assumes a language most game teams do not already use
- They diverge on capability: Raylib covers Graphics rendering, Bevy covers Entity Component System.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Raylib and Bevy actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (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 Raylib
- Graphics rendering
- Input handling
- Shapes drawing
- Sprite management
- Collision detection
- Font rendering
- Text input
- C/C++
Only in Bevy
- Entity Component System
- 2D/3D rendering
- Asset pipeline
- Hot reloading
- Cross-platform
- Modular architecture
- Parallel systems
- Rust ecosystem
Both cover
- Audio system
- Local deployment
- Web deployment
- Windows support
- Macos support
- Linux support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Raylib
- Simple 2D gamesnot Bevy
- Game prototypingnot Bevy
- Educational gamesnot Bevy
- Learning game developmentnot Bevy
Bevy
- 2D and 3D game development in Rustnot Raylib
- Data-driven design using an entity component systemnot Raylib
- Shipping to Windows, macOS, Linux, web, iOS and Android from one codebasenot Raylib
- Projects wanting a permissive licence with no royalties or feesnot Raylib
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Raylib
- Free and open source with no commercial tier, per the vendor site features section
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
Raylib
Free- FreeFree
- Full library
- C/C++ support
- Graphics rendering
Bevy
Free- Open SourceFree
- Full engine access
- ECS architecture
- Hot reloading
Which should you pick?
Choose Raylib if
- You need graphics rendering.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Android, Web.
- You also want input handling.
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 Raylib or Bevy better?
- Neither clearly leads. Raylib 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, Raylib or Bevy?
- Raylib starts at Free and Bevy at Free.
- Does Raylib or Bevy run on more platforms?
- Raylib runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Android, Web. Bevy runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Webgl.
- Can I use Raylib for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Raylib best used for?
- Raylib is most often used for simple 2d games, game prototyping, educational games, learning game development. Of those, simple 2d games and game prototyping are not what Bevy is typically brought in for.
- What can Raylib do that Bevy cannot?
- Raylib covers Graphics rendering, Input handling, Shapes drawing, Sprite management. Bevy covers Entity Component System, 2D/3D rendering, Asset pipeline, Hot reloading. Both handle Audio system, Local deployment, Web deployment, Windows support.