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Game Development · head to head

PlayCanvas vs Tiled

PlayCanvas logo

PlayCanvas

Game Development

Cloud-based WebGL game development platform

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: PlayCanvas private projects require a paid plan; the Free plan only allows public projects; Tiled no official iOS or Android builds; desktop-only distribution
  • They diverge on capability: PlayCanvas covers Cloud-based editor, Tiled covers Tile layers.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which PlayCanvas and Tiled actually diverge.

Attributes where PlayCanvas and Tiled differ
AttributePlayCanvasTiled
Pricing modelfreemiumopen-source
PlatformsWeb, MobileWindows, macOS, Linux
Founded20132008

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 PlayCanvas

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

Only in Tiled

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

Both cover

  • JavaScript language support

What people use each for

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

PlayCanvas

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

Tiled

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

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

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

Tiled

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Free and open source level editor
    • GNU license free software
    • Download from itch.io or GitHub

Which should you pick?

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

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 PlayCanvas or Tiled better?
Neither clearly leads. PlayCanvas 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, PlayCanvas or Tiled?
PlayCanvas starts at Free and Tiled at Free.
Does PlayCanvas or Tiled run on more platforms?
PlayCanvas runs on Web, Mobile. Tiled runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use PlayCanvas for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is PlayCanvas best used for?
PlayCanvas is most often used for building webgl games and interactive 3d that run in a browser, browser based collaborative 3d editing across a team, web ar and vr experiences, product configurators and playable ads. Of those, building webgl games and interactive 3d that run in a browser and browser based collaborative 3d editing across a team are not what Tiled is typically brought in for.
What can PlayCanvas do that Tiled cannot?
PlayCanvas covers Cloud-based editor, Real-time collaboration, WebGL rendering, Physics engine. Tiled covers Tile layers, Object layers, Terrain tool, Auto-mapping. Both handle JavaScript language support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Tiled: How much does Tiled cost?

Tiled is completely free. It is a free and open source level editor licensed under GNU free software principles.

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
Tiled: Where can I download Tiled?

Tiled can be downloaded at no cost from itch.io or from the project's GitHub repository. There is no cost barrier to downloading, installing, or using Tiled.

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
Tiled: How is Tiled funded?

Tiled is funded through sponsorships from over 200 sponsors who donate approximately 3,600 USD per month. This currently funds the lead developer for 2 days per week of work.

Source
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