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Game Development · head to head

GameMaker Studio 2 vs Stride

GameMaker Studio 2 logo

GameMaker Studio 2

Game Development

The fastest way to create games. For everyone.

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: GameMaker Studio 2 the free tier is a non-commercial licence; selling a game requires the Professional licence at $99.99; Stride free and open source under MIT license, editor and runtime fully open source with no commercial tier
  • They diverge on capability: GameMaker Studio 2 covers Drag-and-drop interface, Stride covers 3D graphics rendering.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GameMaker Studio 2 and Stride actually diverge.

Attributes where GameMaker Studio 2 and Stride differ
AttributeGameMaker Studio 2Stride
Pricing modelfreemiumfree
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox, SwitchWindows, Linux, Playstation, Xbox
Founded19992015

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 GameMaker Studio 2

  • Drag-and-drop interface
  • GML programming language
  • Sprite editor
  • Animation frames
  • Sound editor
  • Room editor
  • Physics system
  • 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
  • Console deployment
  • Windows support
  • Linux support

What people use each for

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

GameMaker Studio 2

  • Building 2D games for desktop, web and mobilenot Stride
  • Indie game development with a drag and drop and GML scripting workflownot Stride
  • Publishing to consoles under an Enterprise subscriptionnot Stride

Stride

  • 3D game developmentnot GameMaker Studio 2
  • Console gamesnot GameMaker Studio 2
  • Desktop gamesnot GameMaker Studio 2

Where each one falls short

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

GameMaker Studio 2

  • The free tier is a non-commercial licence; selling a game requires the Professional licence at $99.99
  • Console exports are available only on the Enterprise subscription, which is billed at $79.49 per month
  • Source code access is limited to the Enterprise tier
  • Older Creator and Indie subscriptions are no longer renewed when the licence expires
  • Owners of a permanent GameMaker Studio 2 licence get no discount toward current licences

Stride

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

Pricing, plan by plan

GameMaker Studio 2

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Desktop game creation
    • Community support
    • Standard export options
  • Pro$99/year
    • All Free features
    • Advanced export modules
    • Mobile platforms

Stride

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

Which should you pick?

Choose GameMaker Studio 2 if

  • You need drag-and-drop interface.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox, Switch.
  • You also want gml programming language.
GameMaker Studio 2 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 GameMaker Studio 2 or Stride better?
Neither clearly leads. GameMaker Studio 2 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, GameMaker Studio 2 or Stride?
GameMaker Studio 2 starts at Free and Stride at Free.
Does GameMaker Studio 2 or Stride run on more platforms?
GameMaker Studio 2 runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Playstation, Xbox, Switch. Stride runs on Windows, Linux, Playstation, Xbox.
Can I use GameMaker Studio 2 for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is GameMaker Studio 2 best used for?
GameMaker Studio 2 is most often used for building 2d games for desktop, web and mobile, indie game development with a drag and drop and gml scripting workflow, publishing to consoles under an enterprise subscription. Of those, building 2d games for desktop, web and mobile and indie game development with a drag and drop and gml scripting workflow are not what Stride is typically brought in for.
What can GameMaker Studio 2 do that Stride cannot?
GameMaker Studio 2 covers Drag-and-drop interface, GML programming language, Sprite editor, Animation frames. Stride covers 3D graphics rendering, Physics engine (Bullet), Audio system, Scene editor. Both handle Particle effects, Local deployment, Console deployment, Windows 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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