GDevelop vs Stencyl

GDevelop is an open-source game engine for creating and publishing games with visual, drag-and-drop tools that do not require code. JavaScript is available for scripting. It supports web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, with publishing destinations including Google Play, Steam, desktop, web, iOS, and gd.games. Built-in multiplayer services include lobbies, leaderboards, and player accounts. The Free plan costs nothing and includes multiplayer and online services, thousands of Asset Store assets, and Android and desktop publishing once per day. Paid plans include full access to the mobile app, and the Pro plan supports project sharing with teammates. Support options include community resources, professional Discord channels, commercial troubleshooting, and custom development. Education plans provide anonymous student accounts, project access, and classroom resources. Subscriptions can be billed monthly or yearly, with annual savings of up to 40%, and can be canceled at any time; access ends after the paid period.

Stencyl is game creation software for making mobile, web, and desktop games with visual logic or custom code. Its drag-and-drop designer uses snapping blocks and includes hundreds of ready-to-use blocks. Creators can also make and share blocks, import libraries, extend the engine with code, and write Haxe classes that work with block-based Behaviors. The Scene Designer provides selection, zooming, grid-snapping, and flood fill; the Actor Editor adjusts appearance, behaviors, and physical properties. Stencyl targets iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, and HTML5. The free Starter edition publishes HTML5 games and lets users test games on paid target platforms, but cannot publish desktop, iOS, or Android games and displays Stencyl branding. Indie costs $99 a year and adds web and desktop publishing without watermarks. Studio costs $199 a year and includes publishing to iOS and Android, ads, leaderboards, in-app purchases, and third-party plugins. Publishing iOS games to the App Store requires an active Apple developer license and a Mac. Stencyl says it collects no royalties on games.