NEWJoin 1M+ SaaS Professionals|Get Weekly Insights, Trends & Expert PicksSubscribe Free →

Spotsaas logo

Defold vs Cocos Creator vs GameMaker Comparison

Last updated:

Defold

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Freelancers / Consultants
  • Small Business

Defold is a free, lightweight, and powerful cross-platform game engine designed for creating 2D and lightweight 3D games across desktop, mobile, web, and consoles. It offers an all-in-one development environment with int…

Cocos Creator

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Small Business
  • Medium Business

Cocos Creator is a comprehensive game development platform designed for creating 2D and 3D games with ease. It offers an intuitive visual editor, powerful scripting capabilities, and a rich set of tools for animation, ph…

GameMaker

Starting at $0 /month

  • Indie Developers
  • Makerspaces

GameMaker is a versatile 2D game engine designed for both beginners and professional developers to create games quickly and efficiently. It offers an intuitive interface with tools such as a Room Editor, Object Editor, a…

Defold vs Cocos Creator vs GameMaker — at a glance

FeatureDefoldCocos CreatorGameMaker
Rating
Reviews
Starting priceContact for pricingContact for pricing$0 /month
Free trial No No No
Free version No No No
Best forFreelancers / Consultants, Small Business, Mid-MarketSmall Business, Medium BusinessIndie Developers, Makerspaces, Startups
CategoryGame Engine SoftwareGame Engine SoftwareGame Engine Software
PlatformsCloud, On-premiseCloud, On-Premise
APIAvailableAvailable
Support modesDocumentationDocumentationDocumentation
Data residencyGlobal

Key differences between Defold and Cocos Creator

  • Target audience: Defold is built for Freelancers / Consultants and Small Business, while Cocos Creator targets Small Business and Medium Business.
  • Deployment: Defold supports Cloud, On-premise; Cocos Creator supports Cloud, On-Premise.

Compare Defold vs Cocos Creator vs GameMaker — and walk away knowing which one fits.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Game Engine Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Defold Logo
Talk to an expert
Talk to an expert
Cocos Creator Logo
Talk to an expert
Talk to an expert
GameMaker Logo
Talk to an expert
Talk to an expert

Free PDF comparison

Download this Defold vs Cocos Creator vs GameMaker comparison

Get the full side-by-side as a PDF — these picks plus the top Game Engine Software tools, with verified ratings, pricing and features.

  • Side-by-side on pricing, features & ratings
  • Plus the category top 10, scored & ranked
  • Emailed to you — no on-screen download

No file downloads on screen — we email it to you. One-click unsubscribe anytime.

Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Defold

Best for indie and small studios needing a free, cross-platform 2D game engine with integrated tools.

Choose if
  • You want a no-cost, royalty-free game engine
  • You need to deploy games across multiple platforms easily
  • You prefer an integrated editor with visual and scripting tools
Consider alternatives if
  • You require advanced 3D graphics and AAA features
  • You rely heavily on large third-party asset marketplaces

Cocos Creator

Best for 2D game developers seeking a versatile, open-source engine with strong cross-platform support.

Choose if
  • You want an intuitive visual editor combined with scripting flexibility
  • You need to deploy games across multiple platforms easily
  • You prefer an open-source engine with active community support
Consider alternatives if
  • You require advanced 3D game development tools
  • You need built-in multiplayer networking features

GameMaker

Best for indie developers and educators creating 2D games with an easy-to-learn engine.

Choose if
  • You want to build 2D games quickly with minimal coding
  • You need cross-platform export including consoles
  • You value strong community and learning resources
Consider alternatives if
  • You require advanced 3D game development
  • You need a fully customizable engine for AAA projects

Defold: Best for indie and small studios needing a free, cross-platform 2D game engine with integrated tools. Cocos Creator: Best for 2D game developers seeking a versatile, open-source engine with strong cross-platform support.

Description

Defold is a free, lightweight, and powerful cross-platform game engine designed for creating 2D and lightweight 3D games across desktop, mobile, web, and consoles. It offers an all-in-one ... Read More about Defold

Cocos Creator is a comprehensive game development platform designed for creating 2D and 3D games with ease. It offers an intuitive visual editor, powerful scripting capabilities, and a rich ... Read More about Cocos Creator

GameMaker is a versatile 2D game engine designed for both beginners and professional developers to create games quickly and efficiently. It offers an intuitive interface with tools such as ... Read More about GameMaker

Entry Level Pricing

  • Not Available
  • Not Available
  • Starts from $0 , Billed Monthly

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial
  • No free trial
  • No free trial

Best Company Size

1-50 employees51-500 employees
1-50 employees51-500 employees
1-50 employees51-500 employees
Get pricing help
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Software Demo

Demo

Need a second opinion?

Get shortlist help from a software advisor

Share your priorities, budget, and team needs, and we’ll help you narrow the options and understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors.

Spotsaas advisor
Get shortlist help from a software advisor
  • Independent advice — matched to your business
  • Understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors
  • Free 15-min call with a software advisor.

Step 1 of 4

How big is your team?

We tailor recommendations to companies your size.

Trusted by teams at

How do Defold, Cocos Creator and GameMaker Compare on Features?

Total Features

12 Features

12 Features

11 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

Get Quote
Get Quote
Get Quote

Compare Defold, Cocos Creator and GameMaker on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

        Starting From

        • Not Available
        • Not Available
        • $0 , Billed Monthly

        Pricing Plans

        • Not Available
        • Not Available
        • Free

          $0

          /month

          • Basic game creation

          • Export to non-commercial platforms

          • Access to tutorials

        • Professional

          $39

          /month

          • Commercial game release

          • Additional export platforms

          • Advanced tools

        • Enterprise

          $99

          /month

          • Full platform exports including consoles

          • Priority support

          • Enterprise features

        Other Details

        Organization Types supported

        • Large Enterprises
        • Medium Business
        • Freelancers
        • Small Business
        • Individuals
        • Large Enterprises
        • Medium Business
        • Freelancers
        • Small Business
        • Individuals
        • Large Enterprises
        • Medium Business
        • Freelancers
        • Small Business
        • Individuals

        Platforms Supported

        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Installed - Windows
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Installed - Windows
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Installed - Windows

        Modes of support

        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online
        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online
        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online

        API Support

        • Available
        • Available
        • Not Available
        Get help choosing
        Get help choosing
        Get help choosing

        Security & Compliance

        Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

        Data Residency

        🌐 Global

        Defold vs Cocos Creator User Reviews & Rating Comparison

        Pros and Cons

        • No-cost, royalty-free licensing

        • Cross-platform deployment with one codebase

        • Integrated development environment with visual editors

        • Limited advanced 3D features

        • Smaller ecosystem compared to Unity or Unreal

        • Intuitive visual editor

        • Strong cross-platform support

        • Open-source flexibility

        • Limited native multiplayer features

        • 3D capabilities less advanced than competitors

        • Ease of use for beginners

        • Robust 2D game creation tools

        • Cross-platform export capabilities

        • Limited 3D support

        • Some features behind paywall

        Media and Screenshots

        Videos

        video-0

        2 Videos

        video-0

        2 Videos

        video-0

        2 Videos

        Expand your shortlist

        Add another option to compare side by side

        Search by product name to compare pricing, fit, and buyer feedback in one view.

        Compare similar software options

        Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

        Frequently asked questions

        Which is better, Defold or Cocos Creator?
        Defold and Cocos Creator are closely matched with equal user ratings of -1.0. The right choice depends on your team size, budget, and specific Game Engine Software needs.
        Do Defold and Cocos Creator offer a free trial?
        Neither Defold nor Cocos Creator currently lists a free trial.
        What is the starting price of Defold vs Cocos Creator?
        Defold starts at Contact for pricing. Cocos Creator starts at Contact for pricing.
        What are the top alternatives to Defold?
        Top alternatives to Defold include Godot, Cocos Creator, Machinations, Mod.io, Unreal Engine.
        What are the top alternatives to Cocos Creator?
        Top alternatives to Cocos Creator include Godot, Flowlab, Unity, Haddock, Ludo AI.

        Grow your pipeline with buyers who are already looking for you

        254,000+ buyers use Spotsaas every month to evaluate and shortlist software. Get in front of them — for free, or with a managed growth plan built around your category.