Kongregate vs Newgrounds

Kongregate is a web portal for free online games, including user-created and indie titles. Its library contains thousands of games across action, role-playing, strategy, arcade, and puzzle genres, with new indie releases added weekly according to the site. Player accounts can track progress, earn badges, and join the community, and player reviews are available. Developers can submit browser-playable games using HTML5/WebGL, Unity Web Player, or iframe options, but registration and Kongregate approval are required before publishing. New games cannot include third-party advertising or sponsorships, separate account systems, or non-Kongregate microtransactions. Developer tools include APIs, Kreds virtual goods, analytics, and performance metrics; revenue-share programs may provide up to 70%. Support portals serve players and developers. Kongregate says it stores personal data on secure servers, while noting security cannot be guaranteed. Forums and chat rooms are no longer hosted, though comments, profile shouts, and direct messages remain. Kong Plus is billed just under $30 per year and includes ad removal, profile features, and 200 Kreds at purchase and renewal.

Newgrounds is a web community for publishing and discussing user-submitted games, movies, music, art, writing, and other content. Its sections include Movies, Games, Audio, Art, Portal, and Community. Creators can upload animations such as MP4 videos and publish HTML5 games. An audio portal and co-authoring system support collaboration and creator credits, while users can review submissions and offer feedback. The service includes private spaces, event hosting, and moderation tools. A free plan is available, with Supporter memberships adding ad-free browsing, a badge, higher daily private-message limits, Tuesday front-page featuring, and custom profile-picture shapes. Supporters can place up to 40 art pieces in one project and 200 playlist items; the default playlist limit is 100. They can upload lossless audio for MP3 web conversion and provide up to 10 game save slots per player with an 8MB maximum, versus 3 slots and 2MB for non-Supporters. Monthly membership starts at $5 a month; yearly membership is $36 a year. Only scouted creators can enable audio downloads.