LDtk vs TrenchBroom

LDtk9.0Visit TTrenchBroom8.7Visit

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

vs

T TrenchBroom #5 in Game Level Editors 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 5 features Visit TrenchBroom

• LDtk fits best

  Structured 2D projects with broad engine support

• TrenchBroom fits best

  Free 3D Quake-family level editing

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Side by side

Feature	LDtk 9.0/10 Visit ↗	TTrenchBroom 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.0	8.7
Ranking	#3 in Game Level Editors	#5 in Game Level Editors
Best for	Structured 2D projects with broad engine support	Free 3D Quake-family level editing
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, Enterprise
Features LDtk 2/5 · TrenchBroom 0/5
Tilemap tools	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Terrain tools	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Entity placement	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Prefab or template tools	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Visual scripting	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Level dimensions	2d	Not checked yet
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	Deep 3D brush, CSG, texture, UV, and entity editing tools Supports Windows, macOS, Linux, and multiple Quake-related formats Includes issue quick fixes, external compilers, backups, and unlimited undo
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 brush-based Quake-engine and related game formats External compiler and game-engine launching require configured tools The workflow centers on desktop platforms rather than web editing
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 →	TrenchBroom is a free, GPLv3+-licensed level editor for brush-based Quake-engine games. It is aimed at creators working on Quake, Quake 2, Quake 3, Hexen 2, Daikatana, and custom engines through game configurations. The editor combines a… 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

• TrenchBroom — where it wins

  • Deep 3D brush, CSG, texture, UV, and entity editing tools
  • Supports Windows, macOS, Linux, and multiple Quake-related formats
  • Includes issue quick fixes, external compilers, backups, and unlimited undo

  Where it doesn't

  • Its focus is brush-based Quake-engine and related game formats
  • External compiler and game-engine launching require configured tools
  • The workflow centers on desktop platforms rather than web editing

• LDtk9.0/10 · Free plan

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

  Visit LDtkFull verdict →
• TTrenchBroom8.7/10 · Free plan

  A capable free editor for brush-based Quake-family mapping across major desktop platforms.

  Visit TrenchBroomFull verdict →