{
    "products": [
        {
            "slug": "defold",
            "name": "Defold",
            "kind": "app",
            "website": "https://defold.com/",
            "page": "https://listme.name/software/defold",
            "tagline": "Free game engine with Lua scripting and a small runtime footprint",
            "summary": "Defold is a free 2D and 3D game engine from the Defold Foundation, scripted in Lua and built for publishing to desktop, mobile, web and console platforms. Its source is available, and the Defold License allows you to sell the games you make with it.",
            "developer": "Defold Foundation",
            "platforms": [
                "windows",
                "macos",
                "linux"
            ],
            "pricing": "free",
            "price_note": "Free forever with no runtime fees; source available under the Defold License",
            "free_to_use": true,
            "open_source": false,
            "strengths": [
                "Free forever with no runtime fees",
                "Small engine footprint with Live Update support",
                "Publishes to consoles, Steam and web from one project"
            ],
            "limits": [
                "Game logic uses Lua, which limits the choice of languages",
                "Modified editor or engine builds cannot be sold"
            ],
            "checked": "2026-10-10",
            "connected_to_publisher": false,
            "overview": "Defold combines a small engine with an editor for Windows, macOS and Linux. Game logic is written in Lua, native extensions can be added, and hot reload and a profiler speed up iteration. The publishing list on the vendor's site includes PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Steam, Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and HTML5.\n\nDefold is free forever with no runtime fees, and its source code is published under the Defold License. That license is derived from Apache 2.0 but limits commercial use of the editor and engine: you may sell games and tools built with Defold, but you may not sell original or modified copies of the editor or engine itself. Teams that want a light engine and Lua will find it a direct alternative to GameMaker and Godot for 2D work."
        },
        {
            "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": [
                "windows",
                "macos",
                "linux"
            ],
            "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": [
        "Defold: free. Unity: free plan, paid upgrades."
    ],
    "shared_rankings": [
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            "list": "game-engines",
            "name": "Game engines",
            "page": "https://listme.name/best/game-engines",
            "of": 12,
            "results": [
                {
                    "product": "defold",
                    "rank": 4,
                    "score": 89.5,
                    "verdict": "Free forever with no runtime fees and a small footprint, but the source-available license bars selling modified editor or engine builds. Game logic is written in Lua, which narrows the choice.",
                    "best_for": "Small Lua-based games that ship to many platforms",
                    "spec": {
                        "language": "Lua",
                        "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"
                    }
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "ranks_higher_in_closest_shared_list": "unity",
    "page": "https://listme.name/compare/defold-vs-unity",
    "json": "https://listme.name/api/v1/compare/defold-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"
}