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Stencyl vs Aseprite

Stencyl logo

Stencyl

Software

Create games with visual programming

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Aseprite logo

Aseprite

Software

Animated sprite editor and pixel art tool

From
$19.99/once
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Stencyl has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Stencyl the free Starter tier can publish to the web only; Aseprite a one-off purchase with no free tier, only a trial
  • They diverge on capability: Stencyl covers Visual block programming, Aseprite covers Pixel art tools.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Stencyl and Aseprite actually diverge.

Attributes where Stencyl and Aseprite differ
AttributeStencylAseprite
Starting priceFree$19.99/once
Pricing modelfreeone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, FlashWindows, Macos, Linux
Founded20112001

Identical on both: 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 Stencyl

  • Visual block programming
  • Drag-and-drop interface
  • Physics engine
  • Sprite animation
  • Sound and music
  • Actor system
  • Haxe support
  • GitHub

Only in Aseprite

  • Pixel art tools
  • Animation timeline
  • Onion skinning
  • Layers
  • Color palettes
  • Sprite sheets
  • Scripting (Lua)
  • Unity

Both cover

  • Tilemap editor
  • Local deployment
  • Windows support
  • Macos support
  • Linux support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Stencyl

  • Building 2D games with visual block based logicnot Aseprite
  • Publishing the same project to web, desktop and mobilenot Aseprite

Aseprite

  • Pixel art creation for gamesnot Stencyl
  • Frame-by-frame sprite animationnot Stencyl
  • Exporting sprite sheets and GIFsnot Stencyl
  • Scripting repetitive export tasks through the command linenot Stencyl

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Stencyl

  • The free Starter tier can publish to the web only
  • Desktop publishing requires the Indie plan at $99 a year
  • iOS and Android publishing require the Studio plan at $199 a year
  • Licences are annual, so continuing to publish means continuing to pay

Aseprite

  • A one-off purchase with no free tier, only a trial
  • Deliberately narrow: a pixel art and sprite animation editor rather than a general image editor
  • The site does not state supported platforms or licence terms, which are on GitHub instead

Pricing, plan by plan

Stencyl

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full editor access
    • Desktop export
    • Mobile export

Aseprite

$19.99/once
  • License$19.99/once
    • Full feature set
    • Free updates
    • Commercial use

Which should you pick?

Choose Stencyl if

  • You need visual block programming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Flash.
  • You also want drag-and-drop interface.
Stencyl review

Choose Aseprite if

  • You need pixel art tools.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux.
  • You also want animation timeline.
Aseprite review

Questions people ask

Is Stencyl or Aseprite better?
Neither clearly leads. Stencyl starts at Free and Aseprite at $19.99/once, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Stencyl or Aseprite?
Stencyl has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Stencyl and $19.99/once for Aseprite.
Does Stencyl or Aseprite run on more platforms?
Stencyl runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Flash. Aseprite runs on Windows, Macos, Linux.
Can I use Stencyl for free?
Yes. Stencyl has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Aseprite starts at $19.99/once.
What is Stencyl best used for?
Stencyl is most often used for building 2d games with visual block based logic, publishing the same project to web, desktop and mobile. Of those, building 2d games with visual block based logic and publishing the same project to web, desktop and mobile are not what Aseprite is typically brought in for.
What can Stencyl do that Aseprite cannot?
Stencyl covers Visual block programming, Drag-and-drop interface, Physics engine, Sprite animation. Aseprite covers Pixel art tools, Animation timeline, Onion skinning, Layers. Both handle Tilemap editor, Local deployment, Windows support, Macos support.
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