Our verdict: Unity is a widely used engine for mobile, PC and VR games, with a huge Asset Store and plenty of tutorials. Unity Personal is free and full-featured for small creators, but you need a Unity account, and console builds require Pro. Once your revenue and funding pass $200K a year, Pro costs $210 per seat per month.
About Unity
Unity is installed through the Unity Hub, which downloads Editor versions and platform build modules and manages your projects. You write game logic in C#, and the same project can be built for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, the web and XR headsets. Unity Learn and the Asset Store offer free tutorials and ready-made assets.
Unity Personal is free for individuals and organizations with less than $200,000 USD in revenue and funds raised in the last 12 months, and you own what you make. Above that, Unity Pro is required; Unity lists it at $210 per seat per month on an annual prepaid plan. Building for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation and Xbox needs Pro or a license from the platform holder.
What it does well
- 2D and 3D engine. Rendering, physics, animation and audio for 2D and 3D projects.
- C# scripting. Game logic in C# with Visual Studio, Rider or VS Code integration.
- Multiplatform builds. Exports to Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, web and XR devices.
- Asset Store. Free and paid models, tools and templates ready to import.
- Unity Hub. Installs Editor versions and modules and manages projects.
Who it is for
Good fit
Indie developers, students and small studios making mobile, PC or VR games.
Look elsewhere
Studios above $200K revenue that do not want a subscription, and people who refuse to create an account.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free Personal plan with full engine features
- Builds for mobile, desktop, web and XR
- Huge Asset Store and learning resources
- You own the content you create
Cons
- Unity account required to download and activate
- Console builds need Pro; Pro required above $200K revenue
- Editor installs are large and need a capable PC
How to install Unity
Unity's download page asks you to sign in or create a Unity account before it offers the Unity Hub installer. Install the Hub, sign in, activate the free Personal license, then install an Editor version with the build modules you need. Plan for many gigabytes of disk space per Editor version.
Questions about Unity
Is Unity free?
Yes. Unity Personal is free for individuals and organizations with less than $200K in revenue and funding in the last 12 months. Above that, Unity Pro costs $210 per seat per month, billed annually.
Can I sell games made with Unity Personal?
Yes. You own your content and can use Personal commercially as long as you stay under the $200K threshold.
Do I need a Unity account?
Yes. The download page and the Unity Hub both require signing in with a Unity account.
