Game Development · head to head
Stencyl vs Godot Engine
Godot Engine
Game Development
Free and open-source 2D and 3D game engine
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Stencyl the free Starter tier can publish to the web only; Godot Engine no royalties or licensing fees, but requires self-hosting and maintenance of the engine builds
- They diverge on capability: Stencyl covers Visual block programming, Godot Engine covers Scene system.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Stencyl and Godot Engine actually diverge.
| Attribute | Stencyl | Godot Engine |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | free | open-source |
| Platforms | Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Flash | Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, Web, Consoles |
| Founded | 2011 | 2007 |
Identical on both: starting price (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 Stencyl
- Visual block programming
- Drag-and-drop interface
- Sprite animation
- Sound and music
- Tilemap editor
- Actor system
- Haxe support
- Dropbox
Only in Godot Engine
- Scene system
- GDScript language
- Visual shader editor
- 2D and 3D rendering
- Built-in animation tools
- Debugging tools
- Asset library
- Git
Both cover
- Physics engine
- GitHub
- 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 Godot Engine
- Publishing the same project to web, desktop and mobilenot Godot Engine
Godot Engine
- 2D game developmentnot Stencyl
- 3D game developmentnot Stencyl
- Cross-platform game deploymentnot Stencyl
- VFX and simulation projectsnot 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
Godot Engine
- No royalties or licensing fees, but requires self-hosting and maintenance of the engine builds
- Console export support exists but requires additional SDK setup and licensing with each console manufacturer separately
Pricing, plan by plan
Stencyl
Free- FreeFree
- Full editor access
- Desktop export
- Mobile export
Godot Engine
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Godot Engine review.
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 Godot Engine if
- You need scene system.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, Web, Consoles.
- You also want gdscript language.
Questions people ask
- Is Stencyl or Godot Engine better?
- Neither clearly leads. Stencyl starts at Free and Godot Engine at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Stencyl or Godot Engine?
- Stencyl starts at Free and Godot Engine at Free.
- Does Stencyl or Godot Engine run on more platforms?
- Stencyl runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Flash. Godot Engine runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, Web, Consoles.
- 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 Godot Engine is typically brought in for.
- What can Stencyl do that Godot Engine cannot?
- Stencyl covers Visual block programming, Drag-and-drop interface, Sprite animation, Sound and music. Godot Engine covers Scene system, GDScript language, Visual shader editor, 2D and 3D rendering. Both handle Physics engine, GitHub, Local deployment, Web deployment.