Gaffer vs PopcornFX
Gaffer
gafferhq.org
PopcornFX
popcornfx.comSide by side
| Figure | Gaffer | PopcornFX |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | €20.83/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 10 |
| Spec score · Visual Effects Software | 7.7 (#19) | 8.8 (#2) |
| Support | Users can ask questions and discuss feature requests on the gaffer-dev mailing list and GitHub Discussions; a community-run Discord is also listed. | Editor support includes troubleshooting documentation, a public Discord server and a private support tracker for private issues or suggestions. |
| What it does | Gaffer is a free, open-source node-based VFX application for building, tweaking, iterating, and rendering scenes. | PopcornFX is a suite for authoring and simulating real-time visual effects with engine integrations and a runtime framework for custom engines. |
Plans
PopcornFX
- Personal Learning EditionFree
- Personal Learning Edition (PLE)Free
- Indie€25 a month
- Professional€125 a month
- Schools & Universities€250 a year
- Indie€300 a year
- Indie annual€300 a year
- Professional€1,500 a year
- Professional annual€1,500 a year
- EnterprisePriced on request
In their own words
PopcornFX
PopcornFX is a suite for authoring and simulating real-time visual effects, using visual programming, engine integrations, and a runtime framework for custom engines. Its Effect Editor supports real-time 3D editing and testing, node-based programming, reusable content, and performance and memory analysis. The editor also includes mesh, texture, vectorfield, and material tools, plus project and content management. It does not create textures, sound, meshes, or other assets usually made with DCC tools. Integrations are listed for Unity, Unreal Engine, Godot, O3DE, and a C++ SDK; plugin sources are available on GitHub, and plugins for Unity, Unreal Engine, O3DE, and Adobe After Effects are freely accessible. The Unity integration is described as compatible with Unity 2020.3 and later, including HDRP, URP, and legacy renderers. PopcornFX runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. Its Personal Learning Edition is free for non-commercial or educational use. The Indie plan costs €25 per user per month on an annual basis; commercial evaluations can start a one-month trial through an Indie, Professional, or Enterprise category.