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Game Development · head to head

LDtk vs PlayCanvas

LDtk logo

LDtk

Game Development

Modern 2D level editor from the creator of Dead Cells

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PlayCanvas logo

PlayCanvas

Game Development

Cloud-based WebGL game development platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: LDtk no web, iOS, or Android build; it is an Electron desktop app for Windows/macOS/Linux only; PlayCanvas private projects require a paid plan; the Free plan only allows public projects
  • They diverge on capability: LDtk covers Auto-layers, PlayCanvas covers Cloud-based editor.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which LDtk and PlayCanvas actually diverge.

Attributes where LDtk and PlayCanvas differ
AttributeLDtkPlayCanvas
Pricing modelopen-sourcefreemium
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWeb, Mobile
Founded20202013

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 LDtk

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

Only in PlayCanvas

  • Cloud-based editor
  • Real-time collaboration
  • WebGL rendering
  • Physics engine
  • Visual scripting
  • Asset library
  • Version control
  • Instant deployment

What people use each for

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

LDtk

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

PlayCanvas

  • Building WebGL games and interactive 3D that run in a browsernot LDtk
  • Browser based collaborative 3D editing across a teamnot LDtk
  • Web AR and VR experiences, product configurators and playable adsnot LDtk

Where each one falls short

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

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

PlayCanvas

  • Private projects require a paid plan; the Free plan only allows public projects
  • The Free plan is capped at 1GB of storage, Personal at 10GB and Organization at 50GB
  • Personal costs $15 per month and Organization costs $50 per seat per month
  • Team management is only available on the Organization plan
  • Private projects become locked and inaccessible if the subscription is cancelled, unless they are made public
  • There is no formal educational discount
  • There is no self serve trial of the Personal or Organization plan; an upgrade code must be requested from sales

Pricing, plan by plan

LDtk

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the LDtk review.

PlayCanvas

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1GB storage
    • Unlimited public projects
    • Free app hosting
  • Personal$15/month
    • 10GB storage
    • Unlimited private projects
    • REST API access
  • Organization$50/per seat/month
    • 50GB storage
    • Team management
    • Full feature access

Which should you pick?

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

Choose PlayCanvas if

  • You need cloud-based editor.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want real-time collaboration.
PlayCanvas review

Questions people ask

Is LDtk or PlayCanvas better?
Neither clearly leads. LDtk starts at Free and PlayCanvas at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, LDtk or PlayCanvas?
LDtk starts at Free and PlayCanvas at Free.
Does LDtk or PlayCanvas run on more platforms?
LDtk runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. PlayCanvas runs on Web, Mobile.
Can I use LDtk for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is LDtk best used for?
LDtk is most often used for 2d platformer and top-down level building, placing customizable entities such as spawns, enemies, items, and triggers, auto-tiling and auto-rendering via a visual rule system, multi-level 'worlds' with seamless level transitions. Of those, 2d platformer and top-down level building and placing customizable entities such as spawns, enemies, items, and triggers are not what PlayCanvas is typically brought in for.
What can LDtk do that PlayCanvas cannot?
LDtk covers Auto-layers, IntGrid layers, Entity system, Enums. PlayCanvas covers Cloud-based editor, Real-time collaboration, WebGL rendering, Physics engine.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
PlayCanvas: How much does PlayCanvas cost?

PlayCanvas is free to start with 1GB storage and unlimited public projects. Personal plans cost $15/month with 10GB storage and unlimited private projects. Organization plans are $50 per seat/month with 50GB storage and team management features.

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
PlayCanvas: Does PlayCanvas have a free version?

Yes, PlayCanvas offers a free plan with 1GB storage, unlimited public projects, and free app hosting. Private projects and additional storage require a paid subscription.

Source
PlayCanvas: What happens to my projects if I cancel my PlayCanvas subscription?

Private projects become locked upon subscription cancellation unless you switch them to public. Public projects remain accessible and editable.

Source
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