Dota 2 Workshop Tools vs Arma 3 Tools

DWDota 2 Workshop Tools9.2Visit Arma 3 Tools8.4Visit

Higher score DW Dota 2 Workshop Tools #2 in Game Modding Tools 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 4 features Visit Valve

vs

Arma 3 Tools #6 in Game Modding Tools 8.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 4 features Visit Arma 3 Tools

• Dota 2 Workshop Tools fits best

  Full-featured Dota 2 mod creation

• Arma 3 Tools fits best

  Arma 3 terrain and addon production

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature	DWDota 2 Workshop Tools 9.2/10 Visit ↗	Arma 3 Tools 8.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.2	8.4
Ranking	#2 in Game Modding Tools	#6 in Game Modding Tools
Best for	Full-featured Dota 2 mod creation	Arma 3 terrain and addon production
Pricing model	Free	Free
Starting price	Free plan	Free plan
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop
Platforms	Windows	Windows
Support	Community, Docs	Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business	Solo, Small business
Features Dota 2 Workshop Tools 2/4 · Arma 3 Tools 2/4
Archive extraction	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Mod packaging	✓	✓
Plugin editing	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Script editing	✓	✓
Specs
Supported formats	Not checked yet	PBO, FSM
Supported platforms	Windows	Windows
Our review
Pros	Covers levels, Lua, models, materials, particles, sound, and UI Supports addon testing, compiling, and custom game development Publishes addons through the Steam Workshop for player subscriptions	Covers terrain, models, FSM files, conversion, and addon packaging Supports digital signing and PBO packaging for completed addons Publishes complete mods to Steam Workshop and switches Steam branches
Cons	Documented as Windows-only Focused specifically on Dota 2 game modes, maps, and addons Distributed as optional downloadable content for Dota 2	Available only on Windows Focused on Arma 3 and its Real Virtuality engine Distributed through Steam rather than as a standalone vendor download
Our verdict	Dota 2 Workshop Tools is Valve’s free desktop toolset for creating custom Dota 2 game modes, maps, and addons. It is aimed at creators who want more than a single-purpose editor, combining level design, gameplay scripting, asset creation,… Read the review →	Arma 3 Tools is a free Windows desktop suite for Arma 3 modders and content creators. Its scope covers custom terrain, 3D models, addons, FSM files, game branches, and Steam Workshop publishing. The toolkit is aimed at people producing… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Dota 2 Workshop Tools — where it wins

  • Covers levels, Lua, models, materials, particles, sound, and UI
  • Supports addon testing, compiling, and custom game development
  • Publishes addons through the Steam Workshop for player subscriptions

  Where it doesn't

  • Documented as Windows-only
  • Focused specifically on Dota 2 game modes, maps, and addons
  • Distributed as optional downloadable content for Dota 2

• Arma 3 Tools — where it wins

  • Covers terrain, models, FSM files, conversion, and addon packaging
  • Supports digital signing and PBO packaging for completed addons
  • Publishes complete mods to Steam Workshop and switches Steam branches

  Where it doesn't

  • Available only on Windows
  • Focused on Arma 3 and its Real Virtuality engine
  • Distributed through Steam rather than as a standalone vendor download

• DWDota 2 Workshop Tools9.2/10 · Free plan

  A complete free toolkit for building, testing, and publishing Dota 2 mods.

  Visit ValveFull verdict →
• Arma 3 Tools8.4/10 · Free plan

  A free, focused suite for building, editing, signing, and publishing Arma 3 mods.

  Visit Arma 3 ToolsFull verdict →