# Defold review, pricing and alternatives

Source: https://listme.name/software/defold
Website: https://defold.com/

Free game engine with Lua scripting and a small runtime footprint

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.

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.

Defold 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.

- Free | Windows, macOS, Linux
- Price: Free forever with no runtime fees; source available under the Defold License
- Checked: 2026-10-10

## 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

## Rankings

- #4 of 12 in [best Game engines](https://listme.name/best/game-engines), score 89.5: 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.

## Alternatives

- [Godot Engine](https://listme.name/software/godot), score 94.0
- [Unity](https://listme.name/software/unity), score 92.5
- [Unreal Engine](https://listme.name/software/unreal-engine), score 91.5
- [GameMaker](https://listme.name/software/gamemaker), score 88.0
- [Cocos Creator](https://listme.name/software/cocos-creator), score 86.5
- [Bevy](https://listme.name/software/bevy), score 85.5
- [MonoGame](https://listme.name/software/monogame), score 84.5
- [O3DE](https://listme.name/software/o3de), score 81.5