Software · head to head
Stencyl vs Gamesparks
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Stencyl the free Starter tier can publish to the web only; Gamesparks aWS states "Starting October 1, 2022, access to the GameSparks console will no longer be available" and that all existing games and data needed to be migrated off the platform before that date
- They diverge on capability: Stencyl covers Visual block programming, Gamesparks covers Real-time features.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Stencyl and Gamesparks actually diverge.
| Attribute | Stencyl | Gamesparks |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | free | usage-based |
| Platforms | Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Flash | Cross-platform |
| Founded | 2011 | 2006 |
Identical on both: starting price (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 Gamesparks
- Real-time features
- Multiplayer support
- User authentication
- Data storage
- Matchmaking
- WebSocket support
- Cloud integration
- Analytics
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 Gamesparks
- Publishing the same project to web, desktop and mobilenot Gamesparks
Gamesparks
- Multiplayer gamesnot Stencyl
- Real-time gamesnot Stencyl
- Cloud gamingnot Stencyl
- Game analyticsnot 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
Gamesparks
- AWS states "Starting October 1, 2022, access to the GameSparks console will no longer be available" and that all existing games and data needed to be migrated off the platform before that date
Pricing, plan by plan
Stencyl
Free- FreeFree
- Full editor access
- Desktop export
- Mobile export
Gamesparks
Free- Free TierFree
- 1M API requests
- 1M CloudWatch logs
- Free for first year
- Pay-as-you-go$0.01/request
- Unlimited API requests
- Real-time multiplayer
- CloudWatch integration
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.
Choose Gamesparks if
- You need real-time features.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Cross-platform.
- You also want multiplayer support.
Questions people ask
- Is Stencyl or Gamesparks better?
- Neither clearly leads. Stencyl starts at Free and Gamesparks at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Stencyl or Gamesparks?
- Stencyl starts at Free and Gamesparks at Free.
- Does Stencyl or Gamesparks run on more platforms?
- Stencyl runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Flash. Gamesparks runs on Cross-platform.
- 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 Gamesparks is typically brought in for.
- What can Stencyl do that Gamesparks cannot?
- Stencyl covers Visual block programming, Drag-and-drop interface, Physics engine, Sprite animation. Gamesparks covers Real-time features, Multiplayer support, User authentication, Data storage.