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Game Development · head to head

Construct 3 vs Stride

Construct 3 logo

Construct 3

Game Development

Create games without coding. Powered by the Scirra engine.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Stride logo

Stride

Game Development

Open-source 3D game engine with editor

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Construct 3 the free version caps projects at 50 events, or 25 when used without an account; Stride free and open source under MIT license, editor and runtime fully open source with no commercial tier
  • They diverge on capability: Construct 3 covers Visual event system, Stride covers 3D graphics rendering.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Construct 3 and Stride actually diverge.

Attributes where Construct 3 and Stride differ
AttributeConstruct 3Stride
Pricing modelfreemiumfree
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, WebWindows, Linux, Playstation, Xbox
Founded20072015

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 Construct 3

  • Visual event system
  • Drag-and-drop editor
  • Physics engine
  • Sprite editor
  • Sound effects
  • Web-based
  • HTML5 support
  • GitHub

Only in Stride

  • 3D graphics rendering
  • Physics engine (Bullet)
  • Audio system
  • Scene editor
  • Material system
  • Lighting and shadows
  • Skeletal animation
  • C# scripting

Both cover

  • Particle effects
  • Local deployment
  • Windows support
  • Linux support

What people use each for

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

Construct 3

  • Building 2D browser games without writing codenot Stride
  • Publishing HTML5 games to the web, desktop and mobile stores from one projectnot Stride

Stride

  • 3D game developmentnot Construct 3
  • Console gamesnot Construct 3
  • Desktop gamesnot Construct 3

Where each one falls short

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

Construct 3

  • The free version caps projects at 50 events, or 25 when used without an account
  • Free projects are limited to 2 layers, 2 special effects, 1 timeline animation of up to 5 seconds and 1 web font
  • The free version can only publish to HTML5 and the Construct Arcade, so desktop, Android, iOS and Facebook Instant Games all need a paid plan
  • Licences are per seat and annual, at $129.99 for Personal, $168.99 for Startup Business and $468.99 for Business

Stride

  • Free and open source under MIT license, editor and runtime fully open source with no commercial tier

Pricing, plan by plan

Construct 3

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Web-based editor
    • HTML5 export
    • Asset library
  • Personal$99/year
    • All Free features
    • Offline editor
    • Advanced export

Stride

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full engine
    • C# scripting
    • 3D graphics

Which should you pick?

Choose Construct 3 if

  • You need visual event system.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want drag-and-drop editor.
Construct 3 review

Choose Stride if

  • You need 3d graphics rendering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Linux, Playstation, Xbox.
  • You also want physics engine (bullet).
Stride review

Questions people ask

Is Construct 3 or Stride better?
Neither clearly leads. Construct 3 starts at Free and Stride at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Construct 3 or Stride?
Construct 3 starts at Free and Stride at Free.
Does Construct 3 or Stride run on more platforms?
Construct 3 runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web. Stride runs on Windows, Linux, Playstation, Xbox.
Can I use Construct 3 for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Construct 3 best used for?
Construct 3 is most often used for building 2d browser games without writing code, publishing html5 games to the web, desktop and mobile stores from one project. Of those, building 2d browser games without writing code and publishing html5 games to the web, desktop and mobile stores from one project are not what Stride is typically brought in for.
What can Construct 3 do that Stride cannot?
Construct 3 covers Visual event system, Drag-and-drop editor, Physics engine, Sprite editor. Stride covers 3D graphics rendering, Physics engine (Bullet), Audio system, Scene editor. Both handle Particle effects, Local deployment, Windows support, Linux support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Stride: How much does Stride cost?

Stride is completely free. The C# game engine is available for download at no cost with no subscription fees, trials, or paywalls.

Source
Stride: What license does Stride use?

Stride is open source under the MIT license, which allows free use for commercial projects with minimal restrictions.

Source
Stride: Can I use Stride for commercial games?

Yes. The MIT license permits free commercial use. The source code is fully open source on GitHub with no licensing fees required.

Source
Stride: Is there a way to support Stride development?

The project accepts voluntary sponsorship through Open Collective to support development, but sponsorship is entirely optional and not required to use the engine.

Source
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