UE4 Licensing Options

Unreal Engine 4 (UE4) is a powerful game engine that has been used in the development of many popular games and applications. It offers advanced features such as real-time rendering, physics simulation, and animation tools. However, there is some confusion surrounding the availability of UE4 for free. In this article, we will provide a detailed answer to this question.

Unreal Engine 4 Licensing Options

Unreal Engine 4 has three licensing options: Unreal Engine Starter Kit, Unreal Engine Professional, and Epic Games Launcher. The Unreal Engine Starter Kit is available for free and is intended for beginners or hobbyists who want to learn about game development using UE4. It includes basic features and tools that allow users to create simple 2D and 3D games.

The Unreal Engine Professional license costs $19 per user per month and provides access to advanced features such as real-time collaboration, source code, and plugins. This license is intended for professional game developers who need more power and flexibility than the Starter Kit offers.

Finally, the Epic Games Launcher is a platform that allows users to create and distribute games on various platforms, including PC, consoles, and mobile devices. It requires a license for UE4 Professional or Unreal Engine Enterprise, which costs more than the individual licenses.

Free Trials and Demos

In addition to the free Starter Kit, Unreal Engine also offers free trials and demos of its Professional and Enterprise licenses. These trials allow users to test out the advanced features and tools of UE4 for a limited period of time. However, these trials are not intended for long-term use and do not include full access to all of UE4’s features.

Conclusion

While the Unreal Engine Starter Kit is available for free, the other licensing options for UE4 require payment. The Unreal Engine Professional license costs $19 per user per month, while the Epic Games Launcher requires a license for UE4 Professional or Enterprise. However, Unreal Engine also offers free trials and demos of its Professional and Enterprise licenses, which allow users to test out the advanced features and tools of UE4 for a limited period of time. Ultimately, whether or not UE4 is available for free depends on the specific licensing option and usage scenario.