Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

Head-to-head · Game Level Editors

TrenchBroom vs Ultimate Doom Builder

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score TrenchBroom #5 in Game Level Editors 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 5 features Visit TrenchBroom
Ultimate Doom Builder #7 in Game Level Editors 8.5/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 5 features Visit the project

TrenchBroom leads on 0 checks, Ultimate Doom Builder on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreTrenchBroom · 8.7/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresUltimate Doom Builder · 2 of 5

TrenchBroom scores higher on our rubric for game level editors: 8.7 against 8.5 out of 10; our editors rank them #5 and #7.

TrenchBroom is the better fit for free 3D Quake-family level editing. Ultimate Doom Builder is the better fit for doom-family mapping with terrain tools.

  • TrenchBroom fits best

    Free 3D Quake-family level editing

  • Ultimate Doom Builder fits best

    Doom-family mapping with terrain tools

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 TrenchBroom 8.7/10 Visit ↗ Ultimate Doom Builder 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.7 8.5
Ranking #5 in Game Level Editors #7 in Game Level Editors
Best for Free 3D Quake-family level editing Doom-family mapping with terrain tools
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Windows, Linux
Support Community, Docs Community, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business
Features TrenchBroom 0/5 · Ultimate Doom Builder 2/5
Tilemap tools Not checked yet Not checked yet
Terrain tools Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Entity placement Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Prefab or template tools Not checked yet Not checked yet
Visual scripting Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Level dimensions Not checked yet 2d_and_3d
Our review
Pros
  • 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
  • Combines 2D and visual 3D map editing modes
  • Includes terrain, slope, and 3D-floor editing tools
  • Supports scripting, analysis, entity placement, and texture browsing
Cons
  • 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
  • Linux support is described as experimental
  • Focused on Doom-family games rather than broader level-editing needs
  • Its desktop workflow may be more specialized than general-purpose editors
Our verdict

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 →

Ultimate Doom Builder is a free, open-source desktop map editor for Doom, Heretic, Hexen, Strife, and related ZDoom-family games. It is aimed at creators who need game-specific configuration support alongside classic 2D editing and a…

Read the review →
  1. TrenchBroomGame Level Editors 8.7Free plan
  2. Ultimate Doom BuilderGame Level Editors 8.5Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • 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

  • Ultimate Doom Builder — where it wins

    • Combines 2D and visual 3D map editing modes
    • Includes terrain, slope, and 3D-floor editing tools
    • Supports scripting, analysis, entity placement, and texture browsing

    Where it doesn't

    • Linux support is described as experimental
    • Focused on Doom-family games rather than broader level-editing needs
    • Its desktop workflow may be more specialized than general-purpose editors

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