Softwr

Entertainment · head to head

Roku vs Tiled

Roku logo

Roku

Entertainment

Streaming made simple

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: Roku roku takes a 20 percent cut of all revenue channel publishers receive through Roku Pay (purchases, subscriptions, ads), paying out the remaining 80 percent no later than 60 days after the end of the month the payment was received, with non-US partners restricted to PayPal or wire transfer (ACH/direct deposit is US-only) and bank fees applying to wire and ACH payouts (archived developer documentation, 2 May 2021); Tiled no official iOS or Android builds; desktop-only distribution
  • They diverge on capability: Roku covers Streaming aggregation, Tiled covers Tile layers.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Roku and Tiled actually diverge.

Attributes where Roku and Tiled differ
AttributeRokuTiled
Pricing modelfreemiumopen-source
PlatformsRoku-devices, Smart-tv, Ios, AndroidWindows, macOS, Linux
CategoryEntertainmentGame Development
Founded20022008

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

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 Roku

  • Streaming aggregation
  • Free content
  • Voice search
  • Private listening
  • All major streaming apps
  • Smart home
  • PIN protection
  • Parental controls

Only in Tiled

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

What people use each for

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

Roku

  • TV streamingnot Tiled
  • Content discoverynot Tiled
  • Free entertainmentnot Tiled

Tiled

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

Where each one falls short

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

Roku

  • Roku takes a 20 percent cut of all revenue channel publishers receive through Roku Pay (purchases, subscriptions, ads), paying out the remaining 80 percent no later than 60 days after the end of the month the payment was received, with non-US partners restricted to PayPal or wire transfer (ACH/direct deposit is US-only) and bank fees applying to wire and ACH payouts (archived developer documentation, 2 May 2021)

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

Roku

Free
  • FreeFree
    • The Roku Channel
    • Free content
    • Ad-supported

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 Roku if

  • You need streaming aggregation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Roku-devices, Smart-tv, Ios, Android.
  • You also want free content.
Roku 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 Roku or Tiled better?
Neither clearly leads. Roku 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, Roku or Tiled?
Roku starts at Free and Tiled at Free.
Does Roku or Tiled run on more platforms?
Roku runs on Roku-devices, Smart-tv, Ios, Android. Tiled runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Roku for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Roku best used for?
Roku is most often used for tv streaming, content discovery, free entertainment. Of those, tv streaming and content discovery are not what Tiled is typically brought in for.
What can Roku do that Tiled cannot?
Roku covers Streaming aggregation, Free content, Voice search, Private listening. Tiled covers Tile layers, Object layers, Terrain tool, Auto-mapping.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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
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
Share

Related pages

More on Roku

More on Tiled

Keep looking

Other head to heads