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Game Development · head to head

Defold vs LDtk

Defold logo

Defold

Game Development

The game engine for the creators of King

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
LDtk logo

LDtk

Game Development

Modern 2D level editor from the creator of Dead Cells

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Defold the Defold License requires you to include the Defold license and copyright notice in any work you create with the engine; LDtk no web, iOS, or Android build; it is an Electron desktop app for Windows/macOS/Linux only
  • They diverge on capability: Defold covers Lua scripting, LDtk covers Auto-layers.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Defold and LDtk actually diverge.

Attributes where Defold and LDtk differ
AttributeDefoldLDtk
Pricing modelfreeopen-source
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, WebWindows, macOS, Linux
Founded20052020

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Game Development).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Defold

  • Lua scripting
  • Physics engine
  • Sprite system
  • Particle effects
  • Sound management
  • Collection editor
  • Mobile optimization
  • Lightweight

Only in LDtk

  • Auto-layers
  • IntGrid layers
  • Entity system
  • Enums
  • World map
  • Rule-based tiling
  • JSON export
  • Hot reloading

Both cover

  • Local deployment
  • Windows support
  • Macos support
  • Linux support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Defold

  • Building 2D games for mobile, desktop, web and console from a single projectnot LDtk
  • Shipping small-footprint HTML5 gamesnot LDtk
  • Teams wanting a free engine with no revenue share on gamesnot LDtk

LDtk

  • 2D platformer and top-down level buildingnot Defold
  • Placing customizable entities such as spawns, enemies, items, and triggersnot Defold
  • Auto-tiling and auto-rendering via a visual rule systemnot Defold
  • Multi-level 'worlds' with seamless level transitionsnot Defold
  • Native Aseprite (.aseprite) import with live reloadingnot Defold

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Defold

  • The Defold License requires you to include the Defold license and copyright notice in any work you create with the engine
  • The licence forbids commercialising original or modified versions of the Defold editor or engine itself
  • Significant changes made to the Defold source must be documented under the licence terms

LDtk

  • No web, iOS, or Android build; it is an Electron desktop app for Windows/macOS/Linux only
  • Native format is JSON; use with other formats such as Tiled TMX requires a separate importer or custom parsing
  • Engine integration depends on separate official importers/libraries per engine (Unity, Godot, MonoGame, Bevy, GameMaker, Haxe, Playdate)
  • dev-x.y.z branches on GitHub are explicitly flagged as potentially unstable and not for production

Pricing, plan by plan

Defold

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full editor
    • Lua scripting
    • Physics engine

LDtk

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the LDtk review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Defold if

  • You need lua scripting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want physics engine.
Defold review

Choose LDtk if

  • You need auto-layers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want intgrid layers.
LDtk review

Questions people ask

Is Defold or LDtk better?
Neither clearly leads. Defold starts at Free and LDtk at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Defold or LDtk?
Defold starts at Free and LDtk at Free.
Does Defold or LDtk run on more platforms?
Defold runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web. LDtk runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Defold for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Defold best used for?
Defold is most often used for building 2d games for mobile, desktop, web and console from a single project, shipping small-footprint html5 games, teams wanting a free engine with no revenue share on games. Of those, building 2d games for mobile, desktop, web and console from a single project and shipping small-footprint html5 games are not what LDtk is typically brought in for.
What can Defold do that LDtk cannot?
Defold covers Lua scripting, Physics engine, Sprite system, Particle effects. LDtk covers Auto-layers, IntGrid layers, Entity system, Enums. Both handle Local deployment, Windows support, Macos support, Linux support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Defold: How much does Defold cost?

Defold is completely free with no up-front cost, no licensing cost, no royalties, and no runtime fees. The game engine is free forever, supported by the Defold Foundation with source code available under a developer-friendly license.

Source
LDtk: Does LDtk cost anything to use?

LDtk is completely free to use without any limitations. The license is Apache 2.0 open source.

Source
Defold: Is Defold free to use commercially?

Yes, Defold is free forever with no royalties or revenue sharing required. Developers can create and monetize commercial games without any fees to Defold.

Source
LDtk: Can I support LDtk development?

LDtk operates on a pay-what-you-want basis. Users can optionally purchase or become a direct sponsor to support the developer's work, but payment is not required.

Source
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