Game Development · head to head
Raylib vs GDevelop
Raylib
Game Development
A simple and easy-to-use library for game development
- 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; GDevelop the free tier allows 3 cloud projects and one desktop or Android build per day
- They diverge on capability: Raylib covers Graphics rendering, GDevelop covers Visual event editor.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Raylib and GDevelop 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
- Audio system
- Input handling
- Shapes drawing
- Sprite management
- Collision detection
- Font rendering
- Text input
Only in GDevelop
- Visual event editor
- Drag-and-drop interface
- Physics engine
- Particle effects
- Sprite editor
- Sound editor
- Scene editor
- Extensions support
Both cover
- Open-source
- Local deployment
- Web deployment
- Mobile deployment
- Windows support
- Macos support
- Linux support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Raylib
- Simple 2D gamesnot GDevelop
- Game prototypingnot GDevelop
- Educational gamesnot GDevelop
- Learning game developmentnot GDevelop
GDevelop
- Building 2D games with visual event logic rather than codenot Raylib
- Exporting one project to web, desktop, Android and iOSnot 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
GDevelop
- The free tier allows 3 cloud projects and one desktop or Android build per day
- Free accounts get one leaderboard per game
- Publishing to the iOS App Store requires the Gold plan, which caps those exports at 15 a month
- AI credits are metered per tier, from 40 a month on free to 3,000 a week on Pro
Pricing, plan by plan
Raylib
Free- FreeFree
- Full library
- C/C++ support
- Graphics rendering
GDevelop
Free- FreeFree
- Full editor
- Cross-platform export
- Asset library
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 audio system.
Choose GDevelop if
- You need visual event editor.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
- You also want drag-and-drop interface.
Questions people ask
- Is Raylib or GDevelop better?
- Neither clearly leads. Raylib starts at Free and GDevelop at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Raylib or GDevelop?
- Raylib starts at Free and GDevelop at Free.
- Does Raylib or GDevelop run on more platforms?
- Raylib runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Android, Web. GDevelop runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
- 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 GDevelop is typically brought in for.
- What can Raylib do that GDevelop cannot?
- Raylib covers Graphics rendering, Audio system, Input handling, Shapes drawing. GDevelop covers Visual event editor, Drag-and-drop interface, Physics engine, Particle effects. Both handle Open-source, Local deployment, Web deployment, Mobile deployment.