Antidote vs Pretty Good Playtesting

Antidote is a cloud-based UX and analytics platform for game studios managing playtesting and research during development. Teams can run their own tests, commission managed playtesting, or use market research services. Data capture includes surveys, gameplay and face recording, think-aloud comments, mobile screen touches, controller inputs, game events, and AFK detection. Analysis options include AI Insights, top moments, annotations, transcripts, survey and sentiment analysis, face emotion detection, automated reports, and data exports. Studios can recruit from Antidote’s community or invite their own players. Games can be delivered through Antidote, a developer download link, or Steam, Epic, Google Play, and App Store launchers. Native support covers PC, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and browser games; console testing is possible by arrangement. Plans include a free Indie option with restrictions, pay-as-you-go from $25 per user, Starter at $115 per month per game, and Master at $475 per month per game. The company describes security measures including NDAs, controlled launches, watermarking, and encryption.

Pretty Good Playtesting is a Windows toolkit for indie game creators coordinating testers and analyzing feedback. Creators share an invite link, filter for a target audience, upload a build, and prepare instructions and a survey. Surveys present one question at a time. Tester management stays in one place, with automatic reminder emails. The product analyzes recordings for trends, creates automatic reports, and highlights moments when players appear confused or stuck. Gameplay recording uses a custom-tuned OBS build, with a stated minimum of a 2015 laptop with integrated graphics. Any game engine is supported, and the product is otherwise compatible with any analytics solution. Privacy and security options include an included or bring-your-own NDA, anonymised tester data, and encrypted builds. The Free tier costs nothing, with specific limits not stated. Hobbyists costs $15 a month and Studios costs $30 a month; both have build and video storage limits and unlimited testers. An event-timestamping API is described as planned, and automatic tester rewards are a future feature.