Tool profile
Solar2D: cost, fit and limits
Solar2D is a free, open-source 2D game engine for Lua developers and the official fork of the Corona SDK, released under the MIT license and publishing to mobile, desktop, tvOS and HTML5 from one code base.
What to know first
Solar2D is completely free under the MIT license, according to the homepage. One Lua code base covers iOS, tvOS, Android, Android TV, macOS, Windows, Linux and HTML5. Corona SDK, which it forks, is no longer commercially supported, and plugins come from a free directory or third-party stores of varying quality. The homepage names no AI feature, so assistance would come from outside tools.
Solar2D at a glance
| Maker | Not stated on the vendor pages (led by Vlad Shcherban per the homepage), Not stated on the vendor pages |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | Free (MIT license) |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Game Engines in 2026, rank 11 of 12 |
| Website | solar2d.com/ |
Who Solar2D is best for
Lua programmers
Games are written in Lua with one code base across mobile, desktop and HTML5, which keeps the toolchain small for developers who like a simple scripting language.
Teams that need native libraries
Solar2D Native calls C, C++, Objective-C or Java libraries, so a team can add platform features when the available plugins do not cover its requirements.
Developers coming from Corona SDK
As the official fork of the Corona SDK, Solar2D gives teams that used the earlier product a continuation path, after they have tested their plugins and projects.
Solar2D plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Solar2D (MIT) | Free | Engine and core under the MIT license; plugins come from a free directory or from third-party stores, and those may carry their own terms. |
Checked November 2026.
What Solar2D does
- Cross-platform Lua
- One Lua code base reaches iOS, tvOS, Android, Android TV, macOS, Windows, Linux and HTML5, which is a wide set of targets for a small, script-based engine.
- Plugin directory
- A free directory offers plugins for in-app advertising, analytics and media, and third-party stores sell more, so monetization features do not need to be written from scratch.
- Solar2D Native
- Native code written in C, C++, Objective-C or Java can be called from the engine through Solar2D Native, which helps when a device feature has no plugin available.
- Corona heritage
- Solar2D is the official fork of the Corona SDK, which means older Corona knowledge and many existing plugins may carry over to current projects with some testing.
How Solar2D handles your data
The Solar2D homepage provides no data handling statement. We read no privacy policy, so retention, hosting region, certifications and AI training practices were not stated and the vendor's policy was not checked for any of them. The engine runs on your own machine, so project files remain local unless you upload them. Plugins from third-party stores carry their own terms, which a studio should read separately for each plugin it adds.
Where Solar2D falls short in practice
- Plugin quality varies. Plugin quality depends on the directory or store that offers it, so a team should test each plugin and check its maintenance before it relies on it for a release.
- Fork of an unsupported product. Corona SDK is no longer commercially supported according to the homepage, so the heritage brings familiarity but gives little vendor backing to rely on for support.
- Native code needed. Using Solar2D Native requires writing C, C++, Objective-C or Java code, so a Lua-only team may need extra skills for features that no plugin covers.
Works with
Alternatives to Solar2D
Solar2D: common questions
Is Solar2D free for commercial games?
The homepage says Solar2D is completely free and released under the MIT license. Plugins are available from a free directory or third-party stores, and those may have their own terms. Check each plugin's license before you ship a commercial release that includes it.
What is the relationship between Solar2D and Corona SDK?
Solar2D is the official fork of the Corona SDK, and the homepage says Corona SDK is no longer commercially supported. Teams with existing Corona projects can look at Solar2D as a continuation path, after testing their plugins and builds on the new engine.
Does Solar2D include AI features?
The homepage names no AI feature. Because games are Lua scripts, an outside coding assistant can edit them. We did not test any assistant, so try it on a small sample project and review the generated code before you add it to a game you plan to release.
Which platforms does Solar2D target?
One code base reaches iOS, tvOS, Android, Android TV, macOS, Windows, Linux and HTML5, according to the homepage. It names no console targets. Check separately if your plans include consoles, because the pages we read do not describe any console export route.
Who runs Solar2D?
The homepage says the project is led by Vlad Shcherban and names no company or country. If a vendor contract or legal entity matters to your studio, confirm who holds responsibility for the engine before you rely on it for a long project.