head to head · open source
GDevelop vs Babylon.js
GDevelop has 26,665 GitHub stars, 1,557 forks, 633 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Babylon.js has 26,087 stars, 3,687 forks, 22 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. GDevelop leads on adoption by 2% (26,665 vs 26,087 stars). GDevelop is written in JavaScript under a custom or non-standard licence; Babylon.js is written in TypeScript under Apache-2.0. GDevelop has attracted 6% as many forks as stars, Babylon.js 14%. GDevelop was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 3 topic tags (3d, game-development, game-engine), so they are genuine substitutes rather than adjacent tools.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| GDevelop | Babylon.js | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 27K | ★ 26K |
| License | Custom / other | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-09-19 | 2026-09-18 |
| Forks | ⑂ 1.6K | ⑂ 3.7K |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick GDevelop if
- You weight community size — 27K stars and counting
- You want the Custom / other license terms
- Your stack matches JavaScript
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick Babylon.js if
- You want the Babylon.js feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You evaluated both and Babylon.js fits your workflow better
About GDevelop
GDevelop is an open source, cross platform game engine and editor for creating 2D, 3D, and multiplayer games without writing code. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and targets mobile (iOS, Android), desktop, and web platforms. Built with JavaScript, React, Electron, PixiJS, and Three.js, it combines a visual event based system with AI assisted development to lower the barrier to entry for game creation.
read the full GDevelop overview →
About Babylon.js
Babylon.js is an open source, Apache 2.0 licensed 3D game and rendering engine written in TypeScript, built for JavaScript and TypeScript developers who want to create browser based 3D games, visualizations and WebXR experiences inside a friendly JavaScript framework.
read the full Babylon.js overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is GDevelop or Babylon.js more popular?
GDevelop has 26,665 GitHub stars and Babylon.js has 26,087. GDevelop has the larger community by that measure.
Are GDevelop and Babylon.js free?
Both are open source. GDevelop has no licence declared in this registry, and Babylon.js is licensed under Apache-2.0. Both are free to self-host.
What is the difference between GDevelop and Babylon.js?
GDevelop is written in JavaScript and Babylon.js in TypeScript. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, GDevelop or Babylon.js?
Choose GDevelop if you want the larger community (26,665 stars) or its Custom / other licence terms. Choose Babylon.js if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.