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Stencyl vs Bevy

Stencyl logo

Stencyl

Software

Create games with visual programming

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Bevy logo

Bevy

Software

A refreshingly simple data-driven game engine built in Rust

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Stencyl the free Starter tier can publish to the web only; Bevy rust only, so it assumes a language most game teams do not already use
  • They diverge on capability: Stencyl covers Visual block programming, Bevy covers Entity Component System.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Stencyl and Bevy actually diverge.

Attributes where Stencyl and Bevy differ
AttributeStencylBevy
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, FlashWindows, Macos, Linux, Webgl
Founded20112020

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 Stencyl

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

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
  • Web 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 Bevy
  • Publishing the same project to web, desktop and mobilenot Bevy

Bevy

  • 2D and 3D game development in Rustnot Stencyl
  • Data-driven design using an entity component systemnot Stencyl
  • Shipping to Windows, macOS, Linux, web, iOS and Android from one codebasenot Stencyl
  • Projects wanting a permissive licence with no royalties or feesnot 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

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

Stencyl

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

Bevy

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Full engine access
    • ECS architecture
    • Hot reloading

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 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.
Bevy review

Questions people ask

Is Stencyl or Bevy better?
Neither clearly leads. Stencyl 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, Stencyl or Bevy?
Stencyl starts at Free and Bevy at Free.
Does Stencyl or Bevy run on more platforms?
Stencyl runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Flash. Bevy runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Webgl.
Can I use Stencyl for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Bevy is typically brought in for.
What can Stencyl do that Bevy cannot?
Stencyl covers Visual block programming, Drag-and-drop interface, Physics engine, Sprite animation. Bevy covers Entity Component System, 2D/3D rendering, Audio system, Asset pipeline. Both handle Local deployment, Web deployment, Windows support, Macos support.
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