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Game Development · head to head

LDtk vs Stride

LDtk logo

LDtk

Game Development

Modern 2D level editor from the creator of Dead Cells

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Stride logo

Stride

Game Development

Open-source 3D game engine with editor

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; Stride free and open source under MIT license, editor and runtime fully open source with no commercial tier
  • They diverge on capability: LDtk covers Auto-layers, Stride covers 3D graphics rendering.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which LDtk and Stride actually diverge.

Attributes where LDtk and Stride differ
AttributeLDtkStride
Pricing modelopen-sourcefree
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWindows, Linux, Playstation, Xbox
Founded20202015

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 Stride

  • 3D graphics rendering
  • Physics engine (Bullet)
  • Audio system
  • Scene editor
  • Material system
  • Lighting and shadows
  • Skeletal animation
  • Particle effects

Both cover

  • Local deployment
  • Windows support
  • Linux support

What people use each for

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

LDtk

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

Stride

  • 3D game developmentnot LDtk
  • Console gamesnot LDtk
  • Desktop gamesnot 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

Stride

  • Free and open source under MIT license, editor and runtime fully open source with no commercial tier

Pricing, plan by plan

LDtk

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the LDtk review.

Stride

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full engine
    • C# scripting
    • 3D graphics

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 Stride if

  • You need 3d graphics rendering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Linux, Playstation, Xbox.
  • You also want physics engine (bullet).
Stride review

Questions people ask

Is LDtk or Stride better?
Neither clearly leads. LDtk starts at Free and Stride at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, LDtk or Stride?
LDtk starts at Free and Stride at Free.
Does LDtk or Stride run on more platforms?
LDtk runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Stride runs on Windows, Linux, Playstation, Xbox.
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 Stride is typically brought in for.
What can LDtk do that Stride cannot?
LDtk covers Auto-layers, IntGrid layers, Entity system, Enums. Stride covers 3D graphics rendering, Physics engine (Bullet), Audio system, Scene editor. Both handle Local deployment, Windows support, Linux support.

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
Stride: How much does Stride cost?

Stride is completely free. The C# game engine is available for download at no cost with no subscription fees, trials, or paywalls.

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
Stride: What license does Stride use?

Stride is open source under the MIT license, which allows free use for commercial projects with minimal restrictions.

Source
Stride: Can I use Stride for commercial games?

Yes. The MIT license permits free commercial use. The source code is fully open source on GitHub with no licensing fees required.

Source
Stride: Is there a way to support Stride development?

The project accepts voluntary sponsorship through Open Collective to support development, but sponsorship is entirely optional and not required to use the engine.

Source
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