SDL Alternatives

SDL is described as 'Simple DirectMedia Layer is a cross-platform multimedia library designed to provide low level access to audio, keyboard, mouse, joystick, 3D hardware via OpenGL, and 2D video framebuffer. It is used by MPEG playback software, emulators, and many popular games, including the' and is an app in the development category. There are more than 25 alternatives to SDL for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, Android and Web-based apps. The best SDL alternative is Godot Engine, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like SDL are Vulkan, Redot Engine, Bevy Game Engine and microStudio.

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Alternatives list

  1. Godot Engine icon

    Godot Engine

     587 likes
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    Godot Engine is a feature-packed, cross-platform game engine to create 2D and 3D games from a unified interface. It provides a comprehensive set of common tools, so that users can focus on making games without having to reinvent the wheel.

    178 Godot Engine alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • Epic Games Store
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Haiku
    • Steam
    • FreeBSD
    • Flatpak
    • itch.io
    • Meta Quest
    Godot Engine screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about Godot Engine as an Alternative to SDL
    IamPyu
    Negative
    0

    SDL is a 2D multimedia library, Godot is a fully-fledged game engine.

    SDL Icon
    Godot Engine icon

    • Godot Engine is the most popular Web-based, Windows, Android & Mac alternative to SDL.

    • Godot Engine is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to SDL.

    • Godot Engine is Free and Open SourceSDL is also Free and Open Source
    • Godot Engine is LightweightSDL is not according to our users
  2. Vulkan icon

    Vulkan

     94 likes
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    Vulkan is a new generation graphics and compute API that provides high-efficiency, cross-platform access to modern GPUs used in a wide variety of devices from PCs and consoles to mobile phones and embedded platforms.

    10 Vulkan alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Chrome OS
    • Tizen OS
    • SteamOS
    • HarmonyOS
    • Nintendo Switch
    Baldur's Gate 3
     
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    2
    Comments about Vulkan as an Alternative to SDL
    Oktay Mercan
    Positive
    0

    New generation API(New Generation OpenGL) and support many popular platform android, windows, linux etc...

    Guest
    Negative
    5

    SDL is mainly a 2d library, and can handle window managment (user inputs). Vulkan is a 3d api and do not deal with window managment.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    SDL Icon
    Vulkan icon

    • This alternative is disputed. Vulkan is a legitimate SDL alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.

    • Vulkan is Free and Open SourceSDL is also Free and Open Source
  4. Redot Engine icon

    Redot Engine

     16 likes
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    Redot Engine is a feature-packed, cross-platform fork of the Godot game engine to create 2D and 3D games from a unified interface. It provides a comprehensive set of common tools, so that users can focus on making games without having to reinvent the wheel.

    64 Redot Engine alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Redot Engine screenshot 1
     
  7. Xogot icon

    Xogot

     6 likes
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    Xogot brings the full power of the Godot game engine to iPad. With a native iPad experience designed for touch, you can create, test, and share games wherever inspiration strikes.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once)
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • iPad
    Xogot screenshot 1
     

    • Xogot is the most popular iPad alternative to SDL.

    • Xogot is Freemium and ProprietarySDL is Free and Open Source
  9. UPBGE icon

    UPBGE

     10 likes
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    A extremely powerful application to make games in python as well as in visual programming

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Blender
    UPBGE screenshot 1
     
  10. DirectX icon

    DirectX

     42 likes
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    DirectX is a set of components in Windows that allows software, primarily and especially games, to work directly with your video and audio hardware.

    12 DirectX alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    DirectX screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about DirectX as an Alternative to SDL
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    not so much cross plataform

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    SDL Icon
    DirectX icon
    • DirectX is Free and ProprietarySDL is Free and Open Source
  11. WebGL icon

    WebGL

     25 likes
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    WebGL is a cross-platform, royalty-free web standard for a low-level 3D graphics API based on OpenGL ES 2.0, exposed through the HTML5 Canvas element as Document Object Model interfaces. Developers familiar with OpenGL ES 2.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
     
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    1
    Comments about WebGL as an Alternative to SDL
    Guest
    Negative
    4

    it's a graphics API, not a platform layer

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    SDL Icon
    WebGL icon
    • WebGL is Free and Open SourceSDL is also Free and Open Source
  12. raylib icon

    raylib

     5 likes
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    raylib is a game development library highly inspired by Borland BGI graphics lib and by XNA framework. Made as a simple and easy-to-use library to enjoy game programming.

    28 raylib alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
  13. Allegro icon

    Allegro

     12 likes
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    Allegro 4 and Allegro 5 are cross-platform, libraries mainly aimed at video game and multimedia programming. They handle common, low-level tasks such as creating windows, accepting user input, loading data, drawing images, playing sounds, etc.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • iPhone
     

    • Allegro is the most popular iPhone alternative to SDL.

    • Allegro is Free and Open SourceSDL is also Free and Open Source
  14. LibGDX icon

    LibGDX

     20 likes
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    Java framework providing unified API for building 2D or 3D games across desktop, mobile, and browser platforms, with hot code swapping, rapid prototyping, modular architecture, integrated physics, input, asset tools, and support for desktop-native debugging.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
     

    • LibGDX is the most popular Android Tablet alternative to SDL.

    • LibGDX is Free and Open SourceSDL is also Free and Open Source
12 of 33 SDL alternatives