Godot Engine vs GameMaker

Godot Engine—Visit GameMaker9.0Visit

Godot Engine #1 in Game Engine Software —/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 4 features Visit Godot

vs

Higher score GameMaker #3 in Game Engine Software 9.0/10 Free plan · paid from $79.99/mo Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit GameMaker

• Godot Engine fits best

  Open-source 2D/3D developers

• GameMaker fits best

  2D creators needing broad publishing

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you click some links. It never changes our verdict. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature	Godot Engine —/10 Visit ↗	GameMaker 9.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	—	9.0
Ranking	#1 in Game Engine Software	#3 in Game Engine Software
Best for	Open-source 2D/3D developers	2D creators needing broad publishing
Pricing model	Free	Free plan + paid
Starting price	Not published	Not published
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Self-hosted, Desktop	Desktop
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux
Support	Docs, Community	Community, Docs, Tickets
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Godot Engine 3/4 · GameMaker 4/4
Visual scripting	—	✓ (best)
Multiplayer tools	✓	✓
Mobile export	✓	✓
Console export	✓	✓
Specs
Source code model	Open_source	Source_available
Target platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web, consoles via third-party providers	GX.games, Windows, macOS, Ubuntu, HTML5, Android, iOS, tvOS, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch
Scripting languages	GDScript, C#, C++	GML Code, GML Visual
Our review
Pros	MIT license permits commercial use and provides source-code access Dedicated 2D workflow plus Vulkan, Direct3D 12, and Metal rendering Exports projects to desktop, mobile, and web platforms	Free access for non-commercial game development Exports to desktop, web, mobile, and GX.games Supports publishing for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch
Cons	No official console export is provided Visual scripting is not available in the Godot 4 codebase Console releases may require third-party porting or publishing services	Commercial publishing requires separate licensing Some export targets require separate licensing Its focus is 2D rather than a general-purpose engine
Our verdict	Godot Engine is a free, open-source game engine for developers building 2D and 3D games, cross-platform projects, multiplayer experiences, and XR applications. Its node-and-scene project design supports structured game development, while… Read the review →	GameMaker is a cross-platform 2D game development environment for indie developers and commercial studios. It provides an integrated environment for creating projects and supports publishing across desktop, web, mobile, GX.games, and… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Godot Engine — where it wins

  • MIT license permits commercial use and provides source-code access
  • Dedicated 2D workflow plus Vulkan, Direct3D 12, and Metal rendering
  • Exports projects to desktop, mobile, and web platforms

  Where it doesn't

  • No official console export is provided
  • Visual scripting is not available in the Godot 4 codebase
  • Console releases may require third-party porting or publishing services

• GameMaker — where it wins

  • Free access for non-commercial game development
  • Exports to desktop, web, mobile, and GX.games
  • Supports publishing for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch

  Where it doesn't

  • Commercial publishing requires separate licensing
  • Some export targets require separate licensing
  • Its focus is 2D rather than a general-purpose engine

• Godot Engine—/10 · Free plan

  A flexible open-source engine for 2D, 3D, multiplayer, and XR projects.

  Visit GodotFull verdict →
• GameMaker9.0/10 · Free plan · paid from $79.99/mo

  A focused 2D engine with free non-commercial access and wide export coverage.

  Visit GameMakerFull verdict →