Unreal Engine vs Unity

by Gralio Feb 27, 2025

Unreal Engine and Unity are powerful 3D creation tools catering to different needs. Unreal Engine prioritizes high-end visuals and realistic physics, while Unity emphasizes ease of use, cross-platform compatibility, and a vast asset library. Choose Unreal for visually stunning, physics-driven projects and Unity for broader platform reach and faster development.

At Gralio.ai we help to simplify your decision-making process by offering detailed, side-by-side software comparisons like this one, to help you confidently choose the tool that aligns with your business goals.

This comparison was created by analysing 1304 reviews and 59 websites, saving 7 hours, 44 minutes of reading.

Unreal Engine

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Unity

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About

Unreal Engine is a powerful 3D creation tool used to develop video games, simulations, and interactive experiences. Originally designed for game development, its features allow for high-quality visuals, realistic physics, and immersive environments. Unreal Engine is free to use for individuals and companies earning under $1 million in revenue, with royalties applied to game developers after that threshold. Beyond gaming, Unreal Engine is utilized in industries such as film, architecture, and automotive design for visualization and simulation purposes.

Unity is a powerful software platform used worldwide to create interactive, real-time 2D and 3D experiences. While known for game development, its applications extend to industries like architecture, automotive, and film. Unity offers a complete set of tools for design, development, and deployment across various platforms, including mobile, desktop, web, and immersive technologies. Its comprehensive features and intuitive interface make it accessible for both individuals and large teams, with resources and support readily available.

Summary

Main difference

Unreal Engine excels in high-fidelity graphics and realistic physics simulations, making it ideal for visually demanding projects. Unity is known for its cross-platform compatibility, user-friendly interface, and large asset store, making it a versatile choice for a wider range of projects and skill levels.

Relative strengths of Unreal Engine (compared to Unity)

Superior graphics and visual fidelity for high-end visuals.
Advanced physics engine for realistic simulations.
Blueprint visual scripting system simplifies complex logic for non-programmers.

Relative weaknesses of Unreal Engine (compared to Unity)

Steeper learning curve and higher system requirements.
Larger project sizes and potential storage issues.
Less extensive cross-platform support compared to Unity.

Who should use Unreal Engine VS. Unity

Unreal Engine empowers creators to build stunning visuals and immersive experiences. From AAA games to architectural visualizations, its versatility shines. Users praise the Blueprint visual scripting and real-time rendering, but note the steep learning curve and high system requirements. A thriving community offers support and resources.

Unity is a versatile platform ideal for game developers, architects, automotive designers, and filmmakers seeking interactive 2D and 3D experiences. Its user-friendly interface simplifies game development, while the extensive Asset Store and supportive community offer ample resources. However, users note potential challenges with large team collaboration, a steep learning curve, and frequent updates.

Ideal for businesses of all sizes, from indie developers to large enterprises.
Best fit for media/entertainment, game development, architecture, and automotive design.

Ideal for small businesses, medium businesses, and large enterprises.
Excellent fit for software, IT, and telecommunications companies; suitable for various other industries.

Unreal Engine and Unity features

Supported

Partially supported

Not supported

Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need

Student benefits

Supported

Unreal Engine offers free access and full features for verified students globally.

Supported

Unity offers a free Student plan with benefits like Unity Learn Premium and 20% off assets.
Pro plan

Partially supported

Unreal Engine supports console publishing and prioritized support, but not Unity Cloud.

Supported

Unity Pro offers publishing to consoles, priority support, and cloud collaboration.
Pro plan for startups

Not supported

Unreal Engine's pricing is based on revenue, not a startup plan.

Not supported

Unity offers a Personal plan for startups with under $200,000 revenue, not a Pro plan.
Optimization tools

Supported

Unreal Engine offers various built-in tools for game optimization, including LODs and culling.

Supported

Unity provides built-in profilers and supports third-party optimization tools.
PC deployment

Supported

Unreal Engine supports building games for Windows PCs.

Supported

Unity supports building games for Windows, Mac and Linux PCs.
Console deployment

Supported

Unreal Engine supports console deployment after joining a console developer program and building the engine from source.

Supported

Unity supports building games for PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

Qualities

Value and Pricing Transparency

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Customer Service

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Ease of Use

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Reliability and Performance

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Ease of Implementation

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Scalability

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Unreal Engine and Unity Pricing

Unreal Engine offers different licensing options based on revenue and usage. For those earning under $1 million, it's free with royalties applied after exceeding that limit for game developers. Businesses over $1 million in revenue have royalty-based or seat-based options. Royalty-based is for games and applications licensed to end-users, requiring a 5% royalty on revenue above $1 million (Epic Games Store sales are royalty-free). Seat-based licensing is for other commercial uses, costing $1,850 per seat per year, including Unreal Engine, Twinmotion, and RealityCapture licenses. Epic Direct Support is available for 10 or more seats.

Plans

See full Pricing page

No data

See full Pricing page

Unreal Engine and Unity review insights

Users love

Stunning graphics and immersive environments.
Blueprint visual scripting system is accessible and powerful.
Real-time rendering allows for rapid prototyping and iteration.
Extensive customization options for various projects.
Large and active community provides support and resources.

Cross-platform compatibility allows deployment to various platforms (mobile, desktop, web, consoles).
User-friendly interface and visual editor simplifies game development.
Extensive Asset Store provides a vast library of free and paid assets and tools.
Active and supportive community offers ample learning resources and assistance.
C# scripting provides flexibility and control over game logic.

Users dislike

High system requirements make it inaccessible for users with less powerful hardware.
Steep learning curve, especially for beginners unfamiliar with game engines.
Large project file sizes can lead to storage issues.
Occasional bugs and crashes can disrupt workflow.
Frequent updates can introduce compatibility issues and require relearning.

Difficult to work with large teams and collaborate effectively.
Steep learning curve for beginners, especially with C# scripting.
Frequent updates can introduce bugs and compatibility issues with existing projects.
High system requirements can lead to performance problems on lower-end machines.
Limited built-in features often necessitate reliance on third-party plugins from the Asset Store.

Unreal Engine and Unity Ratings

G2

4.5/5

(140)
TrustPilot

3.0/5

(9)

G2

4.6/5

(355)
Capterra

4.6/5

(800)
Glassdoor

3.2/5

(1581)

Company health

Employee growth

21% increase in the last year

11% decrease in the last year

Web traffic

129% increase in the last quarter

3% increase in the last quarter

Financing

January 2024 - $8B

August 2023 - $2B

How do Unreal Engine's royalty fees compare to Unity's seat-based licenses?

Unreal Engine's royalty fees are applied to game developers earning over $1 million in revenue, starting at 5% after the threshold. This is different from Unity's seat-based licenses which are available for commercial uses of Unreal Engine *other* than game development, priced per seat per year. Essentially, game developers would pay royalties to Unreal after a certain revenue point, while other commercial users would pay for seat licenses regardless of revenue.

Which product's visual scripting system better suits our team's programming experience?

If your team has no prior experience with either, Unity's visual scripting system, Bolt, is generally considered more beginner-friendly than Unreal's Blueprints, though both are powerful. If your team has C# experience, Unity would be advantageous as it leverages C# for scripting, while Unreal uses C++. If your team has C++ experience, Unreal may be the better choice.

What are the advantages of Unreal Engine?

Unreal Engine's advantages include superior graphics and immersive environments, making it ideal for projects demanding high-fidelity visuals. Its Blueprint visual scripting system offers a more accessible entry point for users less familiar with coding. Unreal Engine's free tier for projects under $1 million in revenue is also a significant advantage for smaller developers.

What are the disadvantages of Unreal Engine?

Unreal Engine's disadvantages include high system requirements, making it inaccessible for users with less powerful hardware. It has a steep learning curve, especially for beginners. Large project file sizes can cause storage issues. Occasional bugs and crashes disrupt workflow, and frequent updates can introduce compatibility problems and necessitate relearning aspects of the software.

Alternatives to Unreal Engine and Unity

Blender

Blender is a free, open-source 3D creation software. It offers a comprehensive set of tools for 3D modeling, animation, rendering, video editing, and game development. Artists, designers, and developers use it to create stunning visuals, animations, and interactive experiences. Blender is known for its powerful features, versatility, and active community support. Being open-source means it's free to use for any purpose, including commercial projects.

Gideros Mobile

Gideros Mobile is a free and open-source tool that allows developers to create games for iOS, Android, and other platforms using the Lua programming language. It offers a user-friendly development environment with features like instant on-device testing and a visual editor. Gideros Mobile boasts a fast development cycle and native-like performance, making it a suitable choice for both beginners and experienced game developers.

Godot

Godot is a free and open-source platform for building 2D and 3D games that can be distributed across a variety of devices like computers, mobile phones, and web browsers. Its notable features include a user-friendly design system and support for multiple programming languages, allowing developers to select the best fit for their projects. Godot particularly excels in 2D game development while also offering robust tools for 3D projects. Being open-source, it fosters a collaborative environment where improvements benefit all users.

Creo Parametric

Creo Parametric is 3D design software for creating detailed product designs. It helps businesses design and manufacture products faster and more efficiently with tools for 3D modeling, simulation, and manufacturing. Creo is used across many industries, from aerospace to consumer goods, by companies of all sizes looking to bring innovative products to market. Its focus on Model-Based Definition helps streamline the design process and improve collaboration.

Maya

Maya is a professional 3D software that allows you to create realistic-looking characters, objects and environments. It offers a complete set of tools for animation, modeling, simulation and rendering. This software is primarily used by artists and designers in industries like film, TV and gaming to create high quality visual content. Maya stands out for its comprehensive features and industry-standard reputation.

360° media

360° media lets you create immersive experiences with 360° videos and images. This technology enhances traditional apps and media. For example, imagine a travel app showcasing a 360° underwater scuba diving tour or a real estate app offering virtual property walkthroughs. This immersive content allows viewers to experience places and activities in a new way.

Page co-authored by

Michal Kaczor

CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

Tymon Terlikiewicz

CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

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