Side by side
Stencyl vs UPBGE
Both stand on game visual scripting software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+3
Stencyl offers a visual game-building workflow with code extensions and publishing options that vary by plan. Check the Starter publishing limits and the separate Mac and Apple developer license requirement for App Store releases.
Visit Stencyl
Free plan LinuxMacWindows
UPBGE brings visual programming, scripting, rendering, and game preview into a Blender-based workflow at no cost. Check its Blender feature and BGE compatibility limits before building around unsupported objects or legacy games.
Visit UPBGEThe facts
| Stencyl | UPBGE | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Android, iPhone, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Indie: $99 a year | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 3 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | stencyl.com | upbge.org |
| On game visual scripting software | #9 of 26 | #13 of 26 |
Stencyl: what it does well
- Visual designer includes hundreds of ready-to-use blocks.
- Users can extend block behaviors with Haxe code.
- Targets HTML5, desktop, and mobile platforms.
- Company says it collects no royalties on games.
What to know first
- Starter cannot publish desktop, iOS, or Android games.
- Starter games display Stencyl branding.
- iOS App Store publishing requires a Mac and active Apple developer license.
- Subscriptions include no support contract.
UPBGE: what it does well
- Free and open source
- Integrated Blender modeling and game workflow
- More than 300 Logic Nodes
- Python scripting and custom GLSL shaders
- Runtime exports for Windows, Linux, and macOS
What to know first
- Some Blender object types are not rendered in-game
- BGE game compatibility is partial
- UPBGE games may not execute correctly in BGE
Alternatives to Stencyl Alternatives to UPBGE The whole list