LDtk vs GtkRadiant

LDtk9.0Visit GtkRadiant8.6Visit

Higher score LDtk #3 in Game Level Editors 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 5 features Visit LDtk

vs

GtkRadiant #6 in Game Level Editors 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 5 features Visit GtkRadiant

• LDtk fits best

  Structured 2D projects with broad engine support

• GtkRadiant fits best

  Id Tech game level construction

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Side by side

Feature	LDtk 9.0/10 Visit ↗	GtkRadiant 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.0	8.6
Ranking	#3 in Game Level Editors	#6 in Game Level Editors
Best for	Structured 2D projects with broad engine support	Id Tech game level construction
Pricing model	Free	Free
Starting price	Free	Free plan
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux
Support	Email, Community, Docs	Community, Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market	Solo, Small business, Mid-market
Features LDtk 2/5 · GtkRadiant 2/5
Tilemap tools	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Terrain tools	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Entity placement	✓	✓
Prefab or template tools	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Visual scripting	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Level dimensions	2d	3d
Our review
Pros	Free for commercial use with no hidden fee Tile, entity, auto-layer, and world-layout tools in one editor Documented JSON export with integrations across engines and languages	Free, open-source editor for Windows, macOS, and Linux Combines brushes, curve patches, terrain, entities, and shaders Includes the Q3Map2 map compiler and gamepack support
Cons	Focused on 2D level creation rather than 3D production Desktop application for Windows, macOS, and Linux Engine workflows may require importers, APIs, or format integration	Its focus is limited to games powered by id Tech engines Some games require separately installed gamepacks Community volunteer maintenance may mean a less centralized workflow
Our verdict	LDtk is a free, open-source desktop level editor for developers building 2D games. Its feature set covers tile-based painting, integer grid data, configurable entities with custom fields, automatic tile rendering, and world organization.… Read the review →	GtkRadiant is an open-source desktop editor for constructing levels in games powered by id Tech engines. It is aimed at individual modders and commercial development teams working on 3D maps, with tools for brushes, curve patches,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• LDtk — where it wins

  • Free for commercial use with no hidden fee
  • Tile, entity, auto-layer, and world-layout tools in one editor
  • Documented JSON export with integrations across engines and languages

  Where it doesn't

  • Focused on 2D level creation rather than 3D production
  • Desktop application for Windows, macOS, and Linux
  • Engine workflows may require importers, APIs, or format integration

• GtkRadiant — where it wins

  • Free, open-source editor for Windows, macOS, and Linux
  • Combines brushes, curve patches, terrain, entities, and shaders
  • Includes the Q3Map2 map compiler and gamepack support

  Where it doesn't

  • Its focus is limited to games powered by id Tech engines
  • Some games require separately installed gamepacks
  • Community volunteer maintenance may mean a less centralized workflow

• LDtk9.0/10 · Free plan

  A capable free editor for structured 2D levels across major engines and desktop platforms.

  Visit LDtkFull verdict →
• GtkRadiant8.6/10 · Free plan

  A free, focused toolkit for building and compiling 3D id Tech game levels.

  Visit GtkRadiantFull verdict →