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Paid plans start at $154.17/mo. There's also a free plan.
Unreal Engine can cost $0 if you qualify for the under-$1-million revenue tier. Commercial non-game and non-runtime users above $1 million in past-12-month revenue need the Seat-based plan: $1,850 per user annually, equivalent to $154.17 a month; monthly billing isn't published. Games and runtime applications use royalty terms instead: the first $1 million in lifetime gross revenue is royalty-free, then the rate is 5%. Epic Games Store sales are royalty-free. The license category, not just headcount, sets the bill.
01Every plan, line by line
| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Built for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1 million USD in revenue | $0 | $0 | Individuals, small businesses, educators |
| Royalty-based | — | Quote | Games and runtime applications |
| Seat-based | $154.17 | — | Commercial non-game, non-runtime users |
| Unreal Editor for Fortnite | — | Quote | Fortnite developers |
Add-ons and overages
- Epic Pro Support is available for licensees with 10 or more seats; price not published
- Custom licensing terms available upon contact
- 5% royalty on eligible lifetime gross revenue above $1 million
What a team pays per month
| Plan | 1 seat | 5 seats | 10 seats | 25 seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat-based | $154.17 | $770.85 | $1,541.70 | $3,854.25 |
02What the plan grid doesn't tell you
Revenue eligibility
The free tier has revenue limits for individuals and businesses. Educators and schools have no revenue limit; game developers have a separate product-revenue threshold.
Royalty threshold
Eligible games and runtime apps owe 5% on lifetime gross revenue above $1 million. Epic Games Store sales are royalty-free.
Annual seat commitment
The Seat-based price is $1,850 per user per year. Monthly pricing isn't published, so $154.17 per month is an annual-price equivalent, not a listed monthly option.
Support and large orders
Epic Pro Support is available to licensees with 10 or more seats, but its price isn't published. Organizations buying over 25 seats must contact Epic.
03Which plan should you buy?
| If you are… | Get | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible individuals, businesses, educators | Under $1 million USD in revenue | Costs $0 for qualifying users. Businesses and individuals face revenue limits; educators and schools have no revenue limit. |
| Games and runtime applications | Royalty-based | No seat license fee. The first $1 million in lifetime gross revenue is royalty-free, then the royalty is 5%; Epic Games Store sales are royalty-free. |
| Commercial non-game, non-runtime users | Seat-based | Required above $1 million in past-12-month revenue. Costs $1,850 per user per year; orders over 25 seats require contacting Epic. |
04Is Unreal Engine worth the money?
Unreal Engine is a strong real-time 3D toolkit for games, films, animation, visualization, and immersive projects, but the $0 headline isn't the whole price story. Game teams need to weigh the 5% royalty above the lifetime threshold against their revenue model; commercial non-game users may face a fixed annual seat cost. We’d check the license category, eligibility rules, and any support or custom terms before budgeting. Its value depends on whether its tools fit your project and workflow.
Unreal Engine pricing FAQ
What coding language does Unreal Engine use?
The product and pricing information reviewed for this page doesn't specify which coding language Unreal Engine uses. It does say source code access is available to some license groups, subject to license terms. Check Unreal Engine's documentation for language details before choosing it for a development team.
Is Unreal Engine better than Unity?
The information reviewed here doesn't compare Unreal Engine with Unity on features, performance, or price, so we can't call one better. Unreal Engine's license costs depend on the project and revenue category: qualifying users may pay nothing, while some commercial users pay per seat or owe royalties.
Do I have to pay for Unreal Engine?
Not always. The Under $1 million USD in revenue plan is free for eligible users, with different revenue rules for businesses, game developers, educators, and schools. Games and runtime applications can use royalty-based terms. Some commercial non-game and non-runtime users must buy annual seats.
What can you create with Unreal Engine?
Unreal Engine is a real-time 3D creation tool for games, films, animations, visualizations, and immersive experiences. Its listed capabilities include physics, character creation and animation, lighting, and rendering. The product homepage also describes tools for projects across industries and screen sizes.