LDtk vs PixLab Tilemap Editor
LDtk
ldtk.ioPixLab Tilemap Editor
tilemap.pixlab.ioSide by side
| Figure | LDtk | PixLab Tilemap Editor |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 3 | 1 |
| Spec score · Game Level Editors | 8.7 (#2) | 7.3 (#20) |
| Export | LDtk exports PNGs and JSON entity data, and offers optional Tiled TMX export. | Maps can be exported as JSON or as PNG and JPG images. |
| Integrations | The maker lists community importers and loaders for engines including Unity, MonoGame, Godot, Playdate, GameMaker Studio, Löve 2D, and Bevy. | The maker says JSON exports can be used as a starting point for custom game engine pipelines and names Unity and Godot as examples. |
| Maker | LDtk was developed by Sébastien Benard, aka deepnight, who founded the one-person studio Deepnight Games. | PixLab is a Symisc Systems product, and Symisc says its SaaS business began with PixLab in 2017. |
| Support | The site links to an official Discord community and documentation. | The product page links to PixLab support channels and a community forum. |
Plans
In their own words
LDtk
LDtk is a free, open-source 2D level editor for game developers, available for Linux, macOS, and Windows. It supports Grid-vania, linear, and free-world layouts, with levels rearranged by drag and drop. Its visual auto-layering editor lets users define rules for tile skinning, while custom entities can hold typed properties such as hit points, patrol paths, or inventories. LDtk exports PNGs and JSON entity data, with optional Tiled TMX export. It can load Aseprite files directly and reload them when saved. The editor focuses on platformer and top-down perspectives, rather than isometric 3D. Backups can restore unsaved changes after an application crash. The maker lists community importers and loaders for engines including Unity, MonoGame, Godot, Playdate, GameMaker Studio, Löve 2D, and Bevy. LDtk has no usage limitations stated, and content created with it may be used commercially. Documentation and an official Discord community are linked from its site.
PixLab Tilemap Editor
PixLab Tilemap Editor has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.