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Software · head to head

Unity vs Armory3D

Unity logo

Unity

Software

Create beautiful interactive content with the world's leading real-time engine

From
Free
Rated
-
Armory3D logo

Armory3D

Software

Open-source 3D game engine integrated with Blender

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Unity unity Personal is free only for businesses with under $200,000 in funding or annual revenue; above that a Pro subscription is required; Armory3D compiled binaries are sold to fund the project while the source code itself is free to build from scratch
  • They diverge on capability: Unity covers Visual editor, Armory3D covers Blender integration.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Unity and Armory3D actually diverge.

Attributes where Unity and Armory3D differ
AttributeUnityArmory3D
Pricing modelfreemiumfree
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, WebglWindows, Macos, Linux, Html5, Android
Founded20042016

Identical on both: starting price (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 Unity

  • Visual editor
  • Physics engine (PhysX)
  • Animation system
  • Particle system
  • Built-in audio engine
  • Scripting with C#
  • Asset Store
  • Version control integration

Only in Armory3D

  • Blender integration
  • 3D graphics rendering
  • Physics engine (Bullet)
  • Audio system
  • Haxe scripting
  • Particle effects
  • Skeletal animation
  • Material system

Both cover

  • Blender
  • Local deployment

What people use each for

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

Unity

  • Building 2D and 3D games for desktop, mobile, web, AR and VRnot Armory3D
  • Shipping console titles under a Pro or Enterprise licencenot Armory3D
  • Real time 3D for manufacturing, automotive and retail visualisationnot Armory3D
  • Live operations and in-app purchase management for mobile gamesnot Armory3D

Armory3D

  • 3D game developmentnot Unity
  • Blender-based gamesnot Unity
  • Web gamesnot Unity

Where each one falls short

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

Unity

  • Unity Personal is free only for businesses with under $200,000 in funding or annual revenue; above that a Pro subscription is required
  • Unity Pro costs $210.00 per month or $2,310.00 per year per seat
  • Businesses with more than $25M in annual revenue are required to be on Unity Enterprise, which is custom priced and requires contacting sales
  • Deploying to game consoles and to Apple Vision Pro requires Unity Pro or above
  • Splash screen customization is not available on Unity Personal
  • Unity Personal is licensed for gaming and entertainment applications only
  • Read-only engine source code access is an Enterprise feature and carries an additional cost
  • Asset Manager storage on Personal is capped at 10 GB per organization
  • Unity AI tools are free for a 14 day trial on Personal, after which a paid subscription is required
  • Enterprise terms note that minimum subscription or spending commitments may apply

Armory3D

  • Compiled binaries are sold to fund the project while the source code itself is free to build from scratch

Pricing, plan by plan

Unity

Free
  • PersonalFree
    • Full engine access
    • Asset Store access
    • Community support
  • Professional$399/month
    • All Personal features
    • Priority support
    • Advanced analytics

Armory3D

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full engine
    • Blender integration
    • 3D graphics

Which should you pick?

Choose Unity if

  • You need visual editor.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Webgl.
  • You also want physics engine (physx).

Choose Armory3D if

  • You need blender integration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Html5, Android.
  • You also want 3d graphics rendering.

Questions people ask

Is Unity or Armory3D better?
Neither clearly leads. Unity starts at Free and Armory3D at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Unity or Armory3D?
Unity starts at Free and Armory3D at Free.
Does Unity or Armory3D run on more platforms?
Unity runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Webgl. Armory3D runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Html5, Android.
Can I use Unity for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Unity best used for?
Unity is most often used for building 2d and 3d games for desktop, mobile, web, ar and vr, shipping console titles under a pro or enterprise licence, real time 3d for manufacturing, automotive and retail visualisation, live operations and in-app purchase management for mobile games. Of those, building 2d and 3d games for desktop, mobile, web, ar and vr and shipping console titles under a pro or enterprise licence are not what Armory3D is typically brought in for.
What can Unity do that Armory3D cannot?
Unity covers Visual editor, Physics engine (PhysX), Animation system, Particle system. Armory3D covers Blender integration, 3D graphics rendering, Physics engine (Bullet), Audio system. Both handle Blender, Local deployment.

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