This article summarizes the differences between the paid version of Aseprite and the open source version.
Introduction
Aseprite has a paid version available on Steam. However, since the source code is publicly available on GitHub, you can also build it yourself and use it for free, as I've written about in a previous article.
I was curious about the differences between the paid version and the free open source version, so I researched and summarized here.
Note: This article was translated from my original post.
Note: Technically Not "OSS"
While Aseprite's source code is publicly available, it's not strictly OSS (Open Source Software).
David Capello, Aseprite's creator, commented on this:
Also Aseprite has an "open development process" more than being "open source."
The licensing is also addressed in the official Aseprite FAQ:
Aseprite started being open source since its very beginning in 2001, and we were happy with that until August 2016. Now you can still download its source code, compile it, and use it for your personal purposes. You can make commercial art/assets with it too. The only restriction in Aseprite EULA is that you cannot redistribute Aseprite to third parties.
So, it's licensed under a EULA that prohibits redistribution, making it technically not OSS.
For more details about Aseprite's licensing, check out the official explanation.
Differences Between Paid Aseprite and Free Open Source Aseprite
When building from source code for free, you're naturally limited to just the source code. You'll need to handle everything yourself: building for each OS, fixing bugs, and managing version updates.
When you purchase the paid version of Aseprite, you get:
- Windows installer and portable .zip application
- macOS app (dmg package)
- 32-bit and 64-bit .deb packages for Ubuntu 18.04 and later (also runs on other distributions like Fedora)
- Steam key for automatic updates
- Update support through v1.9
- Priority email support
Reference: Aseprite - Faq
Getting ready-to-use applications for each OS with supported version updates is great for users who aren't familiar with building from source code.
However, in terms of Aseprite's actual features, there's no difference between the paid version and building from source code for free. The difference lies only in the process of obtaining the Aseprite application and its support—the final product's functionality is identical.
Conclusion
That's my summary of the differences between paid Aseprite and the free open source version.
It's reassuring to know that there's no difference in the final product's features between the paid and free versions, especially for someone like me who builds from source.
Since I'm using it for free, I'd like to contribute by submitting pull requests when I find bugs.
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