Software · head to head
Stride vs GDevelop
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Stride free and open source under MIT license, editor and runtime fully open source with no commercial tier; GDevelop the free tier allows 3 cloud projects and one desktop or Android build per day
- They diverge on capability: Stride covers 3D graphics rendering, GDevelop covers Visual event editor.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Stride and GDevelop actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (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 Stride
- 3D graphics rendering
- Physics engine (Bullet)
- Audio system
- Material system
- Lighting and shadows
- Skeletal animation
- C# scripting
- C#
Only in GDevelop
- Visual event editor
- Drag-and-drop interface
- Physics engine
- Sprite editor
- Sound editor
- Extensions support
- GitHub
- Firebase
Both cover
- Scene editor
- Particle effects
- Open-source
- Local deployment
- Windows support
- Linux support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Stride
- 3D game developmentnot GDevelop
- Console gamesnot GDevelop
- Desktop gamesnot GDevelop
GDevelop
- Building 2D games with visual event logic rather than codenot Stride
- Exporting one project to web, desktop, Android and iOSnot Stride
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Stride
- Free and open source under MIT license, editor and runtime fully open source with no commercial tier
GDevelop
- The free tier allows 3 cloud projects and one desktop or Android build per day
- Free accounts get one leaderboard per game
- Publishing to the iOS App Store requires the Gold plan, which caps those exports at 15 a month
- AI credits are metered per tier, from 40 a month on free to 3,000 a week on Pro
Pricing, plan by plan
Stride
Free- FreeFree
- Full engine
- C# scripting
- 3D graphics
GDevelop
Free- FreeFree
- Full editor
- Cross-platform export
- Asset library
Which should you pick?
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).
Choose GDevelop if
- You need visual event editor.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
- You also want drag-and-drop interface.
Questions people ask
- Is Stride or GDevelop better?
- Neither clearly leads. Stride starts at Free and GDevelop at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Stride or GDevelop?
- Stride starts at Free and GDevelop at Free.
- Does Stride or GDevelop run on more platforms?
- Stride runs on Windows, Linux, Playstation, Xbox. GDevelop runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
- Can I use Stride for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Stride best used for?
- Stride is most often used for 3d game development, console games, desktop games. Of those, 3d game development and console games are not what GDevelop is typically brought in for.
- What can Stride do that GDevelop cannot?
- Stride covers 3D graphics rendering, Physics engine (Bullet), Audio system, Material system. GDevelop covers Visual event editor, Drag-and-drop interface, Physics engine, Sprite editor. Both handle Scene editor, Particle effects, Open-source, Local deployment.