Defold
Defold: A free Lua-focused engine with broad deployment, networking, and built-in development tools. Ranked #5 of 91 in Game Engine Software by our editors (8.7/10); pricing: Free plan; best for free developers targeting many platforms.
At a glance
- Editor score8.7 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forFree developers targeting many platforms
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Source code modelSource_available
- Founded2016 · Stockholm, Sweden
- Facts checked24 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free engine with desktop, mobile, web, and console deployment
- Integrated editors, debugger, profiler, hot reload, and live updates
- Lua scripting with networking and native extension support
Where it doesn't
- No visual scripting support
- Console deployment requires approval from the platform holder
- Multiplayer features rely on the Photon Fusion extension
Our verdict on Defold
Defold is a free, source-available game engine for indie developers, students, and studios creating 2D and lightweight 3D games. Its workflow combines an editor, runtime, Lua-based game-logic scripting, build pipeline, and deployment tools. Integrated editors cover code, scenes, UI, particles, and tilemaps, while support for 2D and 3D rendering gives teams room to work across different game formats.
Platform coverage is a central strength. Defold supports deployment to Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, web, and consoles, including PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch. Native extensions can add platform-specific functionality through supported languages, with cloud build support included in that workflow. Networking APIs cover HTTP, sockets, and WebSockets. Multiplayer matchmaking, replication, and RPC support are available through the Photon Fusion extension, making the engine a fit for projects that need online features alongside desktop or mobile releases.
The free pricing model lowers the barrier for independent teams and learners, while the integrated debugger, profiler, hot reload, and live update workflows support iteration during development. Defold does not provide visual scripting, so teams that prefer node-based logic will need to work primarily in Lua. It is also described as source available rather than open source, and console-specific deployment requires approval from the relevant platform holder. Choose Defold for a free, Lua-centered workflow with broad platform targets; consider an alternative if visual scripting or a different source-code model is essential.
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Defold pricing
Defold fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Source code model | Source_available |
| Visual scripting | Not verified |
| Multiplayer tools | Yes |
| Mobile export | Yes |
| Console export | Yes |
| Target platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, HTML5, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch |
| Scripting languages | Lua, Teal, C, C++, C#, Objective-C, Java, JavaScript |
| Deployment | Desktop, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Support | Email, Live chat, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 8 integrations: Google Play Game Services, Firebase Analytics, AdMob, Nakama, PlayFab, Colyseus … See all → |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | defold.com |
| Facts checked | 24 Sep 2026 |
Defold integrations
Defold lists 8 integrations on its own site.
- Google Play Game Services
- Firebase Analytics
- AdMob
- Nakama
- PlayFab
- Colyseus
- Photon
- Google Play Asset Delivery
Alternatives to Defold
- Godot EngineA flexible open-source engine for 2D, 3D, multiplayer, and XR projects.9.2
- PlayCanvasA capable web-first engine for collaborative 2D and 3D game development.9.0
- GameMakerA focused 2D engine with free non-commercial access and wide export coverage.8.9
Defold vs the competition
- Defold vs Godot Engine
- Defold vs PlayCanvas
- Defold vs GameMaker
- Defold vs Construct 3
- Defold vs CRYENGINE
- Defold vs Cocos Creator
Compare Defold with any tool side by side →
Also Ranked In
Defold is ranked in 3 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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