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Head-to-head · Game Level Editors

Tiled vs TrenchBroom

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Tiled #2 in Game Level Editors 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 5 features Visit Tiled
TrenchBroom #5 in Game Level Editors 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 5 features Visit TrenchBroom

Tiled leads on 0 checks, TrenchBroom on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreTiled · 9.2/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresTiled · 4 of 5

Tiled scores higher on our rubric for game level editors: 9.2 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #5.

Tiled is the better fit for general-purpose 2D game level editing. TrenchBroom is the better fit for free 3D Quake-family level editing.

  • Tiled fits best

    General-purpose 2D game level editing

  • TrenchBroom fits best

    Free 3D Quake-family level editing

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Side by side

Feature Tiled 9.2/10 Visit ↗ TrenchBroom 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.2 8.7
Ranking #2 in Game Level Editors #5 in Game Level Editors
Best for General-purpose 2D game level editing Free 3D Quake-family level editing
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Community, Docs Community, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Tiled 4/5 · TrenchBroom 0/5
Tilemap tools ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Terrain tools ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Entity placement ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Prefab or template tools ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Visual scripting Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Level dimensions 2d Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Supports orthogonal, isometric, hexagonal and oblique maps.
  • Combines terrain tools, object templates, collisions and animations.
  • Exports to JSON, Lua, GameMaker, Defold and image formats.
  • 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 tile-based game content.
  • Custom scripting uses JavaScript rather than visual scripting.
  • Desktop platforms are limited to Windows, macOS and Linux.
  • 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

Tiled is a free, open-source desktop editor for creating 2D tile maps and game-level content. It suits developers and designers working on RPGs, platformers and similar tile-based projects. The editor supports orthogonal, isometric,…

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 →
  1. TiledGame Level Editors 9.2Free plan
  2. TrenchBroomGame Level Editors 8.7Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Tiled — where it wins

    • Supports orthogonal, isometric, hexagonal and oblique maps.
    • Combines terrain tools, object templates, collisions and animations.
    • Exports to JSON, Lua, GameMaker, Defold and image formats.

    Where it doesn't

    • Focused on 2D tile-based game content.
    • Custom scripting uses JavaScript rather than visual scripting.
    • Desktop platforms are limited to Windows, macOS and Linux.

  • 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

More comparisons

All game level editors comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update