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Game Development · head to head

LDtk vs Tiled

LDtk logo

LDtk

Game Development

Modern 2D level editor from the creator of Dead Cells

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Tiled logo

Tiled

Game Development

Flexible level editor for 2D games

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; Tiled no official iOS or Android builds; desktop-only distribution
  • They diverge on capability: LDtk covers Auto-layers, Tiled covers Tile layers.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which LDtk and Tiled actually diverge.

Attributes where LDtk and Tiled differ
AttributeLDtkTiled
Founded20202008

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux), 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 Tiled

  • Tile layers
  • Object layers
  • Terrain tool
  • Auto-mapping
  • Wang tiles
  • Custom properties
  • Scripting (JavaScript)
  • Multiple export formats

Both cover

  • Unity
  • Godot
  • GameMaker
  • Local deployment
  • Windows support
  • Macos 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 Tiled
  • Placing customizable entities such as spawns, enemies, items, and triggersnot Tiled
  • Auto-tiling and auto-rendering via a visual rule systemnot Tiled
  • Multi-level 'worlds' with seamless level transitionsnot Tiled
  • Native Aseprite (.aseprite) import with live reloadingnot Tiled

Tiled

  • Tile-based maps for RPGs, platformers, and Breakout-style gamesnot LDtk
  • Orthogonal, isometric, and hexagonal map layoutsnot LDtk
  • Object layers (rectangles, ellipses, polygons, points) for collision boxes, spawn points, and triggersnot LDtk
  • Large 'infinite' maps and multi-map world projectsnot LDtk
  • Export to game engines via built-in/scripted exporters using the open TMX formatnot 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

Tiled

  • No official iOS or Android builds; desktop-only distribution
  • No official browser-based version of the editor itself, despite exporting to many engine formats
  • Building from source requires a Qt 6.2+ / C++ / Qbs toolchain
  • Multi-license codebase (GPL 2.0 application plus Apache 2.0 and BSD components), so redistributors must track which license applies per file

Pricing, plan by plan

LDtk

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the LDtk review.

Tiled

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Tiled review.

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 Tiled if

  • You need tile layers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want object layers.
Tiled review

Questions people ask

Is LDtk or Tiled better?
Neither clearly leads. LDtk starts at Free and Tiled at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, LDtk or Tiled?
LDtk starts at Free and Tiled at Free.
Does LDtk or Tiled run on more platforms?
Both run on Windows, macOS, Linux, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
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 Tiled is typically brought in for.
What can LDtk do that Tiled cannot?
LDtk covers Auto-layers, IntGrid layers, Entity system, Enums. Tiled covers Tile layers, Object layers, Terrain tool, Auto-mapping. Both handle Unity, Godot, GameMaker, Local deployment.
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