GridCraft vs QuArK

GridCraft is a tile map editor for game developers, available in a browser and as a desktop app. It lets users paint tiles of different sizes from one atlas onto a map. Editing tools include brush, terrain, flood fill, shape, selection, stamp and object tools. GridCraft opens and saves Tiled.tmx and.tmj maps, with export targets including Godot 4, GameMaker, Defold, LDtk, LOVE2D, Lua and CSV. Live collaboration displays teammates’ cursors, selections and edits, synchronized through CRDT. The desktop app supports GitHub and GitLab for map-file commits, pushes and pulls. It can expose an open map to MCP clients for AI-agent access, but the server is off by default, binds to the local machine and does not yet edit infinite chunked maps. The free web editor includes all 19 tools and export formats without an account. Free accounts include three cloud maps, 25 MB total storage, one bound desktop device and collaboration for up to three people per map. Paid options include Cloud at $3.99 a month, Team at $13.99 a month and the desktop app at $19.99, paid once.

QuArK is a free editor for maps and, to a limited extent, models used with Quake-based or similar game engines. It imports, exports and converts sounds, textures and other assets, and can modify .pak and .pk3 files. Compiled BSP maps can be opened so their entities can be inspected and changed. Map-building features include duplicators and shape builders for structures such as stairs and arches; edits to an original duplicator’s texture update its copies. Documented output formats include Classic Quake, QuArK etp, Valve 220 and Brush Primitives. The project lists 3D preview through software, OpenGL, Direct3D and 3Dfx Glide, plus Python plugin support with more than 60 plugins bundled in the installer. QuArK Explorer gathers assets into a .QRK file and links files from earlier projects. Support listings mention 31 games in the FAQ and 41 games plus five generic engines on SourceForge. Windows binaries are available, while the Linux guide uses Wine.