Free vs. Paid Unity

Hi,

My game is near complete, it is a smaller action game I want to release for multiple platforms. I don’t expect it to do really well so I was wondering if I should shell out the full $1500 for Unity or if I can comfortably release my game with the free Unity build.

If so, some questions:

  • What exact differences will the customer see if my game is released with the free Unity version vs. the paid?
  • Is there a way I could release my game with the free Unity version and if it does well then I pay the Unity full price?
  • If I don’t pay the full price up front will it pester the customer down the road for some kind of action?
  • Anything else I should be aware of for paid vs. free Unity release?

Thanks,

Vanz

Make the game with Unity free. Play the game. If you are happy with it then ship it. Simple.

If, on the other hand, you think your game might make a few hundred dollars a month, consider a subscription. Also simple.

  1. No differences, unless you specifically use some Pro feature. There are no free or Pro “versions” as such, there is only one Unity app, which has different licenses.
  2. Yes.
  3. No…it would be really strange if it did, since whatever Unity license you use has nothing to do with any customers who may play your game.
  4. Real-time tools for 3D, AR, and VR development | Products

–Eric

Sounds soo… simple…

yes, well obviously, if I thought it was going to make a few hundred dollars a month it would be an easy decision. I’m by nature a pessimist, so I’m thinking it won’t… now I need to understand the trade-offs per the questions above before blowing $1500…

Thanks for the useful reply Eric…

If you’re releasing it on mobile or as a webplayer, and haven’t explicitly used any of the Pro features, the biggest difference is going to be that Free puts a watermark (either in the splash screen on mobile, or the loading screen on web).

Actually publishing with a Pro license also has the same splash screen, it’s just that you have the option to replace it.

–Eric

its 2022 , we didn’t get right answer still

This is from 2014, the question was fully answered, and the entire payment structure of Unity has changed since this thread was last posted to. This one goes in the necroposting hall of fame.

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