PlayCanvas vs CRYENGINE

PlayCanvas6.0Visit CRYENGINE8.8Visit

PlayCanvas #2 in Game Engine Software 6.0/10 Free plan · paid from $15/mo Free plan✓ 1 of 4 features Visit PlayCanvas

vs

Higher score CRYENGINE #6 in Game Engine Software 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit CRYENGINE

• PlayCanvas fits best

  Web-first collaborative game teams

• CRYENGINE fits best

  Desktop and console-focused 3D teams

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Side by side

Feature	PlayCanvas 6.0/10 Visit ↗	CRYENGINE 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	6.0	8.8
Ranking	#2 in Game Engine Software	#6 in Game Engine Software
Best for	Web-first collaborative game teams	Desktop and console-focused 3D teams
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free
Starting price	Not published	Not published
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Self-hosted	Self-hosted, Desktop
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android	Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android
Support	Email, Docs	Community, Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features PlayCanvas 1/4 · CRYENGINE 4/4
Visual scripting	Not published	✓ (best)
Multiplayer tools	✓	✓
Mobile export	Not published	✓ (best)
Console export	Not published	✓ (best)
Specs
Source code model	Not published	Source_available
Target platforms	Not published	Windows, Linux, macOS, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, Web, VR
Scripting languages	Not published	C++, Lua, Schematyc visual scripting
Our review
Pros	Browser-based editor with real-time team collaboration Built-in version control, checkpoints, testing and visual profiling WebXR, one-click publishing and CDN hosting support	Sandbox editor combines rendering, physics, AI, audio, and networking tools Supports C++ and C# alongside Flowgraph visual scripting Includes console and VR deployment targets with multiplayer functionality
Cons	Free plan limits projects and teammates to public work Organization pricing is $50 per seat per month Best aligned with browser-based development workflows	Free commercial use applies a 5% royalty after the royalty-free threshold Enterprise pricing is custom rather than published as a standard plan Verified platform coverage centers on Windows and Linux
Our verdict	PlayCanvas combines an open-source WebGL and WebGPU engine with a browser-based visual editor for games and interactive 3D applications. It is aimed at individuals, educators, teams, studios and businesses creating web-based games, AR/VR… Read the review →	CRYENGINE is a real-time game engine for developers and studios creating interactive entertainment experiences. Its Sandbox editor brings together content authoring, physically based rendering, real-time global illumination, physics,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• PlayCanvas — where it wins

  • Browser-based editor with real-time team collaboration
  • Built-in version control, checkpoints, testing and visual profiling
  • WebXR, one-click publishing and CDN hosting support

  Where it doesn't

  • Free plan limits projects and teammates to public work
  • Organization pricing is $50 per seat per month
  • Best aligned with browser-based development workflows

• CRYENGINE — where it wins

  • Sandbox editor combines rendering, physics, AI, audio, and networking tools
  • Supports C++ and C# alongside Flowgraph visual scripting
  • Includes console and VR deployment targets with multiplayer functionality

  Where it doesn't

  • Free commercial use applies a 5% royalty after the royalty-free threshold
  • Enterprise pricing is custom rather than published as a standard plan
  • Verified platform coverage centers on Windows and Linux

• PlayCanvas6.0/10 · Free plan · paid from $15/mo

  A capable web-first engine for collaborative 2D and 3D game development.

  Visit PlayCanvasFull verdict →
• CRYENGINE8.8/10 · Free plan

  A capable 3D engine for teams targeting desktop, console, and VR projects.

  Visit CRYENGINEFull verdict →