{
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            "slug": "cocos-creator",
            "name": "Cocos Creator",
            "kind": "app",
            "website": "https://www.cocos.com/en/creator",
            "page": "https://listme.name/software/cocos-creator",
            "tagline": "Open source 2D and 3D engine and editor for cross-platform games",
            "summary": "Cocos Creator is the editor for the Cocos engine, made by Xiamen Yaji Software Co., Ltd. It builds 2D and 3D projects for many platforms, including the web, WeChat mini games and HarmonyOS, and the engine's source is published under the MIT license.",
            "developer": "Xiamen Yaji Software Co., Ltd.",
            "platforms": [
                "windows",
                "macos"
            ],
            "pricing": "open-source",
            "price_note": "Engine is MIT licensed; professional support is sold separately",
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            "open_source": true,
            "license": "MIT",
            "source": "https://github.com/cocos/cocos-engine",
            "strengths": [
                "Engine source published under the MIT license",
                "Wide target list including web, WeChat and HarmonyOS",
                "2D and 3D projects in one editor"
            ],
            "limits": [
                "Editor download listed for Windows and macOS",
                "Professional support is a paid, separate service"
            ],
            "checked": "2026-10-10",
            "connected_to_publisher": false,
            "overview": "Cocos Creator is a real-time 2D and 3D engine and editor for cross-platform content. The engine's source is on GitHub under the MIT license, and the vendor describes the engine as open source. The download page offers Windows and macOS builds of the editor.\n\nThe 3.8.8 release notes list work on WebGL2 and WebGPU rendering, WeChat template updates and game controller support on HarmonyOS, which shows how wide the target list is. Professional support is sold separately from the free tools. Check the release notes for the platform you need, because support differs between targets."
        },
        {
            "slug": "unity",
            "name": "Unity",
            "kind": "app",
            "website": "https://unity.com/",
            "page": "https://listme.name/software/unity",
            "tagline": "Cross-platform game engine with a free Personal plan and paid Pro plans",
            "summary": "Unity is a real-time 2D and 3D game engine and editor made by Unity Technologies. Its Personal plan is free for hobbyists and small businesses under a revenue or funding threshold, and larger businesses buy Pro or Enterprise subscriptions.",
            "developer": "Unity Technologies",
            "platforms": [
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                "macos",
                "linux"
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            "pricing": "freemium",
            "price_note": "Personal is free under $200K in revenue or funding; Pro and Enterprise are subscriptions",
            "free_to_use": true,
            "open_source": false,
            "strengths": [
                "Free Personal plan under the revenue threshold",
                "Targets PC, console, mobile, web and XR builds",
                "Free learning material through Unity Learn"
            ],
            "limits": [
                "Pro subscription required above the revenue threshold",
                "Subscriptions carry no refund once committed"
            ],
            "checked": "2026-10-10",
            "connected_to_publisher": false,
            "overview": "Unity is a game engine and editor for 2D and 3D projects, scripted in C# and built for PC, mobile, web and XR. The editor runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. The Pro plan adds console publishing and Apple Vision Pro builds, and the company also sells live operations, in-app purchase and multiplayer services alongside the engine.\n\nPricing depends on revenue or funding. The Personal plan is free for hobbyists and small businesses whose revenue or funding is under $200,000 in the prior 12 months. Businesses above that threshold must buy Pro, a monthly or yearly subscription, and larger companies buy Enterprise or Industry plans from sales. The pricing page describes subscriptions and does not list a royalty on game revenue, and subscriptions carry no refund once committed."
        }
    ],
    "differences": [
        "Only Unity runs on Linux.",
        "Cocos Creator is open source; Unity is not.",
        "Cocos Creator: free and open source. Unity: free plan, paid upgrades."
    ],
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                {
                    "product": "cocos-creator",
                    "rank": 6,
                    "score": 86.5,
                    "verdict": "MIT-licensed engine with a wide target list, including WeChat and HarmonyOS. Editor downloads are listed for Windows and macOS only, and professional support costs extra.",
                    "best_for": "2D and 3D games for WeChat and web platforms",
                    "spec": {
                        "language": "TypeScript and JavaScript",
                        "three_d": true,
                        "workflow": "Editor and code"
                    }
                },
                {
                    "product": "unity",
                    "rank": 2,
                    "score": 92.5,
                    "verdict": "Widest platform reach and a free Personal plan under the revenue threshold. Larger businesses pay a subscription, and the pricing page lists no per-game royalty.",
                    "best_for": "Cross-platform teams that can accept a subscription",
                    "spec": {
                        "language": "C#",
                        "three_d": true,
                        "workflow": "Editor and code"
                    }
                }
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    "ranks_higher_in_closest_shared_list": "unity",
    "page": "https://listme.name/compare/cocos-creator-vs-unity",
    "json": "https://listme.name/api/v1/compare/cocos-creator-vs-unity.json",
    "notes": [
        "Scores are editorial and only comparable inside one list. Products with connected_to_publisher true receive a disclosed ranking lift: https://listme.name/methodology"
    ],
    "source": "https://listme.name",
    "license": "Free to read and cite with attribution to listme.name.",
    "docs": "https://listme.name/developers"
}