MIT App Inventor vs Solar2D
MIT App Inventor
appinventor.mit.eduSolar2D
solar2d.comSide by side
| Figure | MIT App Inventor | Solar2D |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 2 |
| Spec score · Mobile App Development Platforms | 8.7 (#2) | 8.2 (#7) |
| Documentation | The official library includes component and block references, tutorials, emulator and connection troubleshooting, templates, sharing, Google Play guidance and advanced extension material. | The documentation site provides getting-started material, guides, tutorials, an API reference, and plugin documentation. |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Privacy | MIT says it tracks site usage and information about projects and their development, and may log IP address operating system and browser software. | The maker says Solar2D does not track app users or gather anonymized data, and that built games make only the network requests their developers specify. |
Plans
In their own words
MIT App Inventor
MIT App Inventor is a free, browser-based platform for creating, testing, and sharing mobile apps with block-based programming. Its Designer is used to choose components, and its Blocks Editor is where users program app behavior. Projects can include games and media, AI for images, sounds, and text, surveys and charts, maps, sensors, and internet-connected devices. The MIT AI2 Companion app supports testing as an app is built on iOS and Android devices over Wi-Fi. Users can share projects for others to load and remix, then package completed apps for installation on Android. Although apps can be built for Android and iOS, the getting-started information says packaged app building and installation are Android-only for now. The browser tool supports Chrome, Firefox, and Safari on most laptops and desktops, plus Chromebooks, iPads, and Android tablets. A Google account is required. Creators own their apps and can download or delete them from the server. MIT says it tracks site usage and project-development information and may log device and browser details.
Solar2D
Solar2D is a free, open-source 2D game engine that uses Lua. It is intended for making games and apps for mobile, desktop, and connected TV devices from one codebase. Listed targets include iOS, tvOS, Android, Android TV, macOS, Windows, Linux, and HTML5. Its Simulator displays code changes immediately, and deployed apps can receive code and asset updates over a local network. Plugins from a free directory and third-party stores can add capabilities such as advertising, analytics, and media. Solar2D Native can call libraries or APIs written in C, C++, Objective-C, and Java. The project’s source and resources use the MIT license, and the maker says there are no engine fees, charges, or royalties. The maker also says Solar2D does not track app users or collect anonymized data; games make only the network requests their developers specify. Documentation includes guides, tutorials, an API reference, and plugin material. Community support and discussion are available through forums and Discord. Solar2D is listed for Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and web as well as its other targets.