Simplygon is the gold standard for 3D optimization in AAA games and enterprise. It's used by major studios and powers optimization pipelines at companies like EA, Ubisoft, and Epic Games.
So why would anyone use something else?
Because Simplygon is built for enterprises with enterprise budgets. If you're not a AAA studio or Fortune 500 company, the pricing and complexity may not fit your needs.
What is Simplygon?
Simplygon (now owned by Microsoft) is an industry-leading mesh optimization SDK. It offers:
- Advanced polygon reduction algorithms
- Automatic LOD chain generation
- Impostor/billboard generation
- Material baking and texture atlasing
- Deep integration with Unity, Unreal, and 3ds Max
- On-premise deployment or cloud processing
It's powerful, battle-tested at massive scale, and trusted by the biggest names in gaming.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Simplygon | MeshOpt |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Enterprise license (custom quote) | Pay-per-job ($0.10-0.50/model) |
| Minimum commitment | Annual contract (typically $10K+) | None (Free starter credits) |
| Setup time | Days to weeks (SDK integration) | Minutes (API key) |
| Target audience | AAA studios, enterprises | Web devs, e-commerce, small teams |
| Polygon reduction | Advanced (multiple algorithms) | Standard decimation + remesh |
| LOD generation | Automatic LOD chains | Single output (manual LOD workflow) |
| Impostor generation | Yes (billboard impostors) | No |
| Material baking | Advanced texture baking | Basic (via remesh mode) |
| Game engine plugins | Unity, Unreal, 3ds Max | REST API (engine-agnostic) |
| Deployment | On-premise or Azure | Cloud only |
| Output formats | Many (FBX, OBJ, etc.) | GLB/GLTF focus (web-first) |
| Support | Dedicated account team | Email + documentation |
The Pricing Reality
Simplygon Pricing
Simplygon doesn't publish pricing. You contact sales, go through a qualification process, and receive a custom quote. Based on industry reports and user discussions, annual licenses typically start at $10,000-15,000 and scale based on usage, seats, and features. Some enterprise deals run into six figures.
This makes sense for a AAA studio processing millions of assets. But for a web agency optimizing 50 product models per month, or an indie developer with a single project, it's prohibitive.
MeshOpt's pricing is transparent: pay per job, starting around $0.10-0.50 per model depending on complexity. Process 100 models for roughly $20. No contracts, no minimums, no sales calls.
Cost Example
Scenario: E-commerce site with 200 product models to optimize
Simplygon: Minimum annual license (~$10,000+) just to start
MeshOpt: 200 models × ~$0.20 = $40 total
Where Simplygon Wins
AAA Game Production
If you're building a AAA game with thousands of assets, each needing multiple LOD levels, impostors for distant rendering, and deep integration with Unreal or Unity - Simplygon is purpose-built for this. The annual license pays for itself in engineering time saved.
Automatic LOD Chains
Simplygon excels at generating complete LOD chains automatically. Input one high-poly model, get LOD0 through LOD4 with appropriate polygon counts and smooth transitions. This is critical for open-world games where the same asset appears at many distances.
On-Premise Security
For studios with strict IP protection requirements, Simplygon can run entirely on-premise. Your assets never leave your network. MeshOpt is cloud-only - your files are processed on our servers (and deleted after processing, but still transmitted).
Advanced Features
Impostor generation, visibility-based optimization, aggregate LOD merging - Simplygon has features that simply don't exist in simpler tools. If you need them, you need them.
Where MeshOpt Wins
Accessibility
No sales calls. No enterprise contracts. No SDK integration. Sign up, get an API key, start processing. A solo developer can be optimizing models in 5 minutes.
Web-First Focus
MeshOpt is built specifically for web, mobile, and AR delivery. GLB/GLTF output with Draco compression, texture optimization for web performance, file sizes tuned for HTTP delivery. Simplygon targets game engines; MeshOpt targets browsers.
Transparent, Scalable Pricing
Process 10 models or 10,000 - pay only for what you use. No awkward conversations with sales about whether your project qualifies for their smallest tier. No annual commitment if your project ends.
Simple REST API
One HTTP endpoint. Upload file, get optimized file back. Integrate with any language, any platform, any CI/CD system. No SDK installation, no version compatibility issues, no platform-specific builds.
curl -X POST https://webdeliveryengine.com/optimize \
-H "Authorization: Bearer sk_your_key" \
-F "[email protected]" \
-F "ratio=0.5" \
--output optimized.glbE-commerce and Small Teams
If you're a Shopify merchant, web agency, or small studio, you likely need reliable optimization without enterprise complexity. MeshOpt fits this use case; Simplygon doesn't target it.
Use Case Guide
Choose Simplygon When
- Building AAA/AA games with large asset counts
- Need automatic LOD chain generation
- Require impostor/billboard systems
- Deep Unity/Unreal integration needed
- On-premise processing required (IP security)
- Budget allows $10K+/year commitment
- Have engineering resources for SDK integration
Choose MeshOpt When
- Optimizing for web, mobile, or AR delivery
- E-commerce product visualization
- Small team or solo developer
- Variable/project-based usage
- Need to start immediately (no sales process)
- Budget is per-project, not annual
- Want simple API without SDK complexity
Migration Considerations
If you're currently evaluating Simplygon or considering alternatives:
Coming from Simplygon
If Simplygon's pricing no longer fits your budget or your needs have simplified:
- MeshOpt handles the core use case (polygon reduction + texture optimization)
- You'll lose automatic LOD chains - handle manually or adjust workflow
- API integration is simpler but different - plan for migration time
- Test on representative assets before committing
Evaluating Both
If you're starting fresh and considering both:
- Get a Simplygon quote first to understand actual costs
- Test MeshOpt's free starter credits on your actual assets
- Consider your 2-year roadmap - will you need Simplygon's advanced features?
- Factor in integration time, not just license costs
Honest Assessment
Simplygon is the more powerful tool. Period. It has features MeshOpt doesn't offer and likely never will. It's been refined over 15+ years for the most demanding production pipelines in gaming.
But power has costs: financial (enterprise licensing), complexity (SDK integration), and accessibility (sales process, minimum commitments).
MeshOpt exists for the large market of developers who need good optimization without enterprise overhead. If that's you, it's a valid choice. If you genuinely need Simplygon's capabilities, pay for them - they're worth it at that level.
The best tool is the one that fits your actual needs and constraints, not the one with the most impressive feature list.