head to head · open source
libgdx vs MonoGame
libgdx has 25,507 GitHub stars, 6,522 forks, 337 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. MonoGame has 14,602 stars, 3,121 forks, 766 open issues and last shipped yesterday. libgdx leads on adoption by 75% (25,507 vs 14,602 stars). libgdx is written in Java under Apache-2.0; MonoGame is written in C# under a custom or non-standard licence. libgdx has attracted 26% as many forks as stars, MonoGame 21%. MonoGame was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 5 topic tags (3d, cross-platform, 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
| libgdx | MonoGame | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 26K | ★ 15K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Custom / other |
| Written in | Java | C# |
| Last push | 2026-11-03 | 2026-11-04 |
| Forks | ⑂ 6.5K | ⑂ 3.1K |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick libgdx if
- You weight community size — 26K stars and counting
- You want the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Java
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick MonoGame if
- You want the MonoGame feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Custom / other license terms
- Your stack matches C#
- You evaluated both and MonoGame fits your workflow better
About libgdx
Cross platform Game Development Framework libGDX is a cross platform Java game development framework based on OpenGL (ES), designed for Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, web browsers, and iOS. It provides a robust and well established environment for rapid prototyping and iterative development. Unlike other frameworks, libGDX does not impose a specific design or coding style, allowing you the freedom to create games according to your preferences. Open Source, Feature Packed, and Fostering a Large Third Party Ecosystem libGDX is released under the Apache 2.0 License, offering unrestricted usage in both commercial…
read the full libgdx overview →
About MonoGame
MonoGame One framework for creating powerful cross platform games Supported Platforms • Resources • Samples • Support and Contributions • Source Code • Helpful Links • License Overview MonoGame is a simple and powerful .NET framework for creating games for desktop PCs, video game consoles, and mobile devices using the C programming language. It has been successfully used to create games such as Streets of Rage 4, Carrion, Celeste, Stardew Valley, and many others. It is an open source re implementation of the discontinued Microsoft's XNA Framework. Supported Platforms We support a growing list of platforms across…
read the full MonoGame overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is libgdx or MonoGame more popular?
libgdx has 25,507 GitHub stars and MonoGame has 14,602. libgdx has the larger community by that measure.
Are libgdx and MonoGame free?
Both are open source. libgdx is licensed under Apache-2.0, and MonoGame has no licence declared in this registry. Both are free to self-host.
What is the difference between libgdx and MonoGame?
libgdx is written in Java and MonoGame in C#. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, libgdx or MonoGame?
Choose libgdx if you want the larger community (25,507 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose MonoGame if its feature set, stack or Custom / other licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.