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Game Development · head to head

CryEngine vs Substance 3D Painter

CryEngine logo

CryEngine

Game Development

Build worlds, break limits. Professional game development engine.

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 CryEngine has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • They diverge on capability: CryEngine covers Advanced graphics, 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 CryEngine and Substance 3D Painter actually diverge.

Attributes where CryEngine and Substance 3D Painter differ
AttributeCryEngineSubstance 3D Painter
Starting priceFree$29/month
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Playstation, Xbox, LinuxWindows, MacOS, Linux
Founded19991982

Identical on both: 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 CryEngine

  • Advanced graphics
  • Physics engine
  • AI system
  • Animation tools
  • Flow Graph visual scripting
  • C++ and Lua support
  • Entity component system
  • Sandbox editor

Only in Substance 3D Painter

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

Both cover

  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

CryEngine

  • Game engine for indie and professional game developmentnot Substance 3D Painter
  • Real-time 3D rendering and visualizationnot Substance 3D Painter
  • VR and immersive experience creationnot Substance 3D Painter
  • Environmental and industrial simulationnot Substance 3D Painter

Substance 3D Painter

  • Game texturingnot CryEngine
  • Film assetsnot CryEngine
  • Product visualizationnot CryEngine

Where each one falls short

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

CryEngine

  • A royalty of 5% of Gross Receipts is payable to Crytek on every game built with CRYENGINE
  • Royalties are waived only on the first USD 5,000.00 of Gross Receipts per year per game
  • Royalties are calculated at source on gross receipts before any publisher or platform deductions, so a developer receiving 70% of USD 100,000 still owes USD 4,750
  • Military projects, gambling, simulation, science, architecture and serious games are excluded from the standard licence and are not covered as Games
  • The licence forbids combining CRYENGINE with code from other game engine providers
  • Supported platforms are limited to those Crytek announces at its sole discretion, listed in the agreement as Windows, Linux, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One
  • Support is only provided against payment of a separate Support Fee that Crytek may change at its sole discretion
  • Crytek may modify the licence agreement at any time, with the only remedy for disagreement being to stop using CRYENGINE

Substance 3D Painter

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

Pricing, plan by plan

CryEngine

Free
  • Free CRYENGINEFree
    • Free download and use in development
    • 5% royalty on revenue after shipping
    • First $5,000 annual revenue per project royalty-free

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 CryEngine if

  • You need advanced graphics.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux.
  • You also want physics engine.
CryEngine 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 CryEngine or Substance 3D Painter better?
Neither clearly leads. CryEngine 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, CryEngine or Substance 3D Painter?
CryEngine has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for CryEngine and $29/month for Substance 3D Painter.
Does CryEngine or Substance 3D Painter run on more platforms?
CryEngine runs on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux. Substance 3D Painter runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
Can I use CryEngine for free?
Yes. CryEngine has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Substance 3D Painter starts at $29/month.
What is CryEngine best used for?
CryEngine is most often used for game engine for indie and professional game development, real-time 3d rendering and visualization, vr and immersive experience creation, environmental and industrial simulation. Of those, game engine for indie and professional game development and real-time 3d rendering and visualization are not what Substance 3D Painter is typically brought in for.
What can CryEngine do that Substance 3D Painter cannot?
CryEngine covers Advanced graphics, Physics engine, AI system, Animation tools. Substance 3D Painter covers 3D painting, Smart materials, Generators, PBR workflow. Both handle Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

CryEngine: Does CRYENGINE have a free version?

Yes, CRYENGINE is free to download and use for development. When you ship a project, a 5% royalty applies to revenue, but the first $5,000 annual revenue per project is royalty-free.

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
CryEngine: How much does CRYENGINE cost after launch?

CRYENGINE charges 5% royalty on revenue after your project ships. The first $5,000 in annual revenue per project is royalty-free; royalties apply only to revenue above that threshold.

Source
CryEngine: What does CRYENGINE free tier include?

Free CRYENGINE access includes full source code, all engine features, and access to all supported platforms. No payment required for development; only per-revenue royalties apply after shipping.

Source
CryEngine: Does CRYENGINE offer custom enterprise licensing?

Yes, CRYENGINE offers custom-tailored enterprise licensing built around individual needs. Specific pricing is not disclosed and requires contacting the vendor.

Source
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