Yes, Godot is free. Godot Engine is free and open source software under the MIT licence, and its FAQ says you're free to download and use it for any purpose: personal, non-profit, commercial or otherwise.
Godot is a game engine for building 2D and 3D games, and it's also used for interactive apps and prototypes. There's no premium tier, no account to create and nothing held back for later. The Godot team describes it as free in the sense of free speech as well as free beer. That doesn't mean there are no rules at all. There's one small obligation, and a couple of details worth knowing if you plan to release a game. Here's the plain version.
What Godot's MIT licence lets you do
Godot's licence page sets out the freedoms you get:
- Use Godot for any purpose, including commercial games.
- Study and change the engine's source code.
- Distribute unmodified and changed versions of Godot, even commercially and under a different licence.
- Keep full ownership of what you make. Godot's licence and copyright don't apply to the content you create with it.
That last point is the one that matters for creators. Godot says you're free to licence your games however you want, and you'll be their sole copyright owner or owners.
The one thing you must do: include the notice
This is the catch, and it's a small one. The only restriction on redistributing Godot is that you need to include the copyright notice and licence statement from the MIT-licensed engine. Because your exported game contains the engine, Godot says you're required to include that notice somewhere in what you distribute.
Godot suggests your game's documentation or credits screen as a good place for it. In practice, add a short credits entry with Godot's copyright notice and the MIT licence text, and you've met the obligation.
- Copy the copyright notice and licence text from Godot's licence page.
- Add it to your credits screen, an about page or the documentation that ships with the game.
- Check the third-party components your project uses, covered next.
- Keep a copy in your project folder, so it goes out with every release.
Third-party components and logos
Godot uses several third-party libraries and code snippets that come with their own licence and copyright statements. Godot says all of them are compatible with the terms of its MIT licence, and it links to a full list so you can see each one and its licence.
The Godot logo and icons are a separate matter. The FAQ says they're generally under a Creative Commons Attribution licence, with attribution required, so if you use the logo on your store page or trailer, credit it as that licence asks.
Godot vs engines with plan tiers
| Question | Godot |
|---|---|
| Do I need an account to download it? | No |
| Is there a premium edition with more features? | No |
| Can I make and release commercial games? | Yes |
| Who owns my game? | You do |
| What must I include? | Godot's copyright notice and licence statement |
That makes Godot a low-risk choice for a first game or a business prototype, because there's no plan to outgrow and no terms that change with your game's success.
What about consoles?
The FAQ points to the Godot website for information about console support rather than covering it in the docs. If a console release is part of your plan, read that page before you start, because publishing on a console involves the platform holder's own rules as well as Godot's.
Learning Godot for free
Godot uses its own scripting language, GDScript, which reads a lot like Python, and it also supports other languages. If you're new to programming, my list of free coding courses is a good starting point before you open the editor.
You'll also want a comfortable editor for scripts outside Godot. My guide to the best code editor covers free options that work well alongside it.
A word of caution from Godot itself: its licence page says its explanation isn't legal advice and reflects the team's own understanding of the terms. If you're signing a publishing deal, have someone check your credits and licence list.
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What the MIT licence doesn't ask of you
It helps to know what isn't required. The licence page doesn't ask you to open source your game, to show a Godot splash screen or to share your code. Its only condition on distribution is the copyright notice and licence statement. Godot's licence terms and copyright don't apply to your content, so your art, music, story and code stay yours under whatever terms you choose.
You can also change the engine itself. Godot says you can distribute changed versions, even commercially and under a different licence, as long as the copyright notice and licence statement go with it. That's how studios ship their own customised builds.
My verdict: Godot is completely free, including for commercial games, and you own everything you make with it. Add Godot's copyright notice and licence text to your credits, check the third-party list, and you're set.
Frequently asked questions
Is Godot free for commercial use?
Yes. Godot's FAQ says you're free to use it for any purpose, including commercial games, under the MIT licence.
Do I own the games I make in Godot?
Yes. Godot says its licence and copyright don't apply to the content you create with it, and you'll be the sole copyright owner of your games.
Do I need to credit Godot in my game?
You need to include Godot's copyright notice and licence statement somewhere in what you distribute. Godot suggests your game's documentation or credits screen.
Is the Godot logo free to use?
Godot's FAQ says its logo and icons are generally under a Creative Commons Attribution licence, which requires attribution.
Does Godot use third-party code?
Yes. Godot uses several third-party libraries with their own licences, and says all of them are compatible with its MIT licence.
Do I need to open source my Godot game?
No. Godot says its licence and copyright don't apply to the content you create, and you're free to licence your game however you want.
Is Godot free and open source?
Yes. Godot's FAQ describes it as free and open source software under the OSI-approved MIT licence.
Do I need an account to download Godot?
No. Godot is free and open source software, and you can download and use it for any purpose without signing up for a plan.
