If you are an aspiring game developer or a beginner in the world of 3D development, you may be wondering how to obtain a free license for Unity, one of the most popular game engines on the market. In this article, we will guide you through the steps necessary to get a free Unity license and help you understand what features are included in the free version.
Understanding the Different Types of Unity Licenses
Before we dive into the process of obtaining a free Unity license, it’s important to understand the different types of licenses that Unity offers. There are three main types of licenses: Personal Edition, Plus Edition, and Pro Edition. Each of these licenses comes with its own set of features and restrictions.
Personal Edition
* This is the basic version of Unity and is designed for individual game developers who want to create small-scale games or 3D content for personal use. It’s free to download and use, but it has some limitations on the number of users, project size, and features that can be used.
Plus Edition
* This version of Unity is designed for small teams working on 2D projects. It includes additional features such as support for Android, iOS, web, and desktop platforms, as well as access to a larger set of assets and tools. The Plus Edition license costs $79 per user per month.
Pro Edition
* This version of Unity is designed for larger teams working on complex 3D projects. It includes all the features of the Plus Edition, as well as support for more advanced technologies such as VR, AR, and AI. The Pro Edition license costs $249 per user per month.
Obtaining a Free Personal Edition License
If you are an individual game developer who wants to create small-scale games or 3D content for personal use, you can obtain a free Personal Edition license by following these steps:
- Visit the Unity website at
- Click on the “Download” button and select the appropriate version of Unity for your operating system (Windows, Mac, Linux).
- Once you have downloaded and installed Unity, you will be prompted to create an account. You can use an existing account or create a new one.
- After creating an account, you will be able to access the Unity Hub, which is a web-based interface that allows you to manage your projects and licenses.
- In the Unity Hub, click on the “My Projects” tab and then click on the “New Project” button.
- Select the type of project you want to create (e.g., 2D, 3D, AR/VR) and choose a template or start with a blank canvas.
- Once you have created your project, you can start building your game or creating your 3D content.
Restrictions on the Personal Edition License
While the Personal Edition license is free to download and use, it has some restrictions that you should be aware of:
- You can only use Unity for personal projects and cannot distribute your games or 3D content commercially.
- You are limited to one user per project, which means that if you want to work on a project with multiple people, you will need to upgrade to the Plus Edition or Pro Edition.
- The Personal Edition license only supports up to 100 megabytes (MB) of assets and has some limitations on the number of users who can access your projects.