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Game Development · head to head

Stencyl vs Substance 3D Painter

Stencyl logo

Stencyl

Game Development

Create games with visual programming

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Substance 3D Painter logo

Substance 3D Painter

Game Development

3D texture painting software

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Stencyl has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • They diverge on capability: Stencyl covers Visual block programming, Substance 3D Painter covers 3D painting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Stencyl and Substance 3D Painter actually diverge.

Attributes where Stencyl and Substance 3D Painter differ
AttributeStencylSubstance 3D Painter
Starting priceFree$29/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, FlashWindows, MacOS, Linux
Founded20111982

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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
  • Physics engine
  • Sprite animation
  • Sound and music
  • Tilemap editor
  • Actor system
  • Haxe support

Only in Substance 3D Painter

  • 3D painting
  • Smart materials
  • Generators
  • PBR workflow
  • Baking
  • Export presets
  • Scripting
  • Maya

Both cover

  • Windows support
  • Linux support

What people use each for

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

Stencyl

  • Game development for independent creatorsnot Substance 3D Painter
  • Cross-platform game publishing (iOS, Android, Web, Desktop)not Substance 3D Painter
  • Indie game studio platformnot Substance 3D Painter

Substance 3D Painter

  • Game texturingnot Stencyl
  • Film assetsnot Stencyl
  • Product visualizationnot 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

Substance 3D Painter

Nothing recorded yet. See the Substance 3D Painter review.

Pricing, plan by plan

Stencyl

Free
  • Starter (Free)Free
    • Publish to Web only
    • Includes Stencyl branding splash screen
  • Indie$99/year
    • Publish to Web and Desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux)
    • Early access to latest releases
    • No watermarks or forced Stencyl branding
  • Studio (Most Popular)$199/year
    • Publish to iOS, Android, Web and Desktop
    • Early access to latest releases
    • No watermarks or forced Stencyl branding

Substance 3D Painter

$29/month
  • Substance 3D Texturing$19.99/month
    • Painter + Sampler
  • Substance 3D Collection$49.99/month
    • All Substance apps

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 Substance 3D Painter if

  • You need 3d painting.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • You also want smart materials.
Substance 3D Painter review

Questions people ask

Is Stencyl or Substance 3D Painter better?
Neither clearly leads. Stencyl starts at Free and Substance 3D Painter at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Stencyl or Substance 3D Painter?
Stencyl has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Stencyl and $29/month for Substance 3D Painter.
Does Stencyl or Substance 3D Painter run on more platforms?
Stencyl runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Flash. Substance 3D Painter runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
Can I use Stencyl for free?
Yes. Stencyl has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Substance 3D Painter starts at $29/month.
What is Stencyl best used for?
Stencyl is most often used for game development for independent creators, cross-platform game publishing (ios, android, web, desktop), indie game studio platform. Of those, game development for independent creators and cross-platform game publishing (ios, android, web, desktop) are not what Substance 3D Painter is typically brought in for.
What can Stencyl do that Substance 3D Painter cannot?
Stencyl covers Visual block programming, Drag-and-drop interface, Physics engine, Sprite animation. Substance 3D Painter covers 3D painting, Smart materials, Generators, PBR workflow. Both handle Windows support, Linux support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Stencyl: How much does Stencyl cost?

Stencyl offers a free Starter plan, Indie at $99/year, and Studio at $199/year. All platforms include annual subscriptions with no royalties or per-game fees.

Source
Substance 3D Painter: Does Substance 3D Painter offer a free trial?

Free trial availability for Substance 3D Painter cannot be confirmed from publicly accessible pricing pages. Check the product page directly or contact Adobe for current trial offers.

Source
Stencyl: What platforms can I publish to with each Stencyl plan?

Starter publishes to Web only. Indie adds Desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux). Studio includes all Indie platforms plus iOS and Android mobile.

Source
Stencyl: Does Stencyl offer a money-back guarantee?

Yes, both Indie and Studio plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee from the date of purchase, provided you have not published any games.

Source
Stencyl: Can I use Stencyl after my subscription expires?

Yes, your games will continue to work after your subscription expires. However, you cannot publish new games or updates without an active subscription.

Source
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