GridCraft

Overview

GridCraft is a 2D tile map editor for game developers, available in a browser and as a desktop app. It is best suited to teams that need flexible tile sizes, shared editing, or exports across several game-development formats. Its strongest case is combining those workflows with Tiled file compatibility; the trade-off is that cloud use has tight free-account caps and some desktop features require a separate purchase.

Key features

Map editing and exports

GridCraft lets you paint differently sized tiles from one atlas onto the same map, a useful option when a uniform tile grid is too restrictive. Its brush, terrain, flood fill, shape, selection, stamp, and object tools cover both tilemap work and entity placement. Built-in exports for Godot 4, GameMaker, Defold, LDtk, LOVE2D, Lua, and CSV give developers several routes into a project, rather than locking maps to one engine.

It opens and saves Tiled .tmx and .tmj maps, which Tiled can continue to read. That makes GridCraft a plausible addition to an existing Tiled workflow, rather than a forced file-format switch.

Collaboration, Git, and AI

Live collaboration shows teammates’ cursors, selections, and edits, synchronized with CRDTs. That makes shared map work a central capability, though the free account allows collaboration for only three people per map. The desktop app adds GitHub and GitLab support for committing, pushing, and pulling map files, which is useful for developers who keep map changes in version control.

The desktop app can expose an open map to MCP clients so an AI agent can read and edit it. The MCP server is off by default and binds to the local machine, a sensible boundary for access; it does not yet edit infinite chunked maps, so that workflow is not covered. GridCraft also documents a JSON-over-HTTPS API, with authenticated endpoints using JWT bearer tokens that expire after 24 hours.

Pricing

The Web editor is free: free, billed $0 forever. It includes all 19 tools and every export format, with no account needed. That is a strong way to use the core editor without a subscription, but it does not include the stated cloud allowances that come with paid cloud plans.

Cloud costs $3.99 a month, billed $3.99/month. It includes 10 cloud maps, 1 GB of storage, five people per map, syncing across all devices, and a 50 MB upload limit per file. It suits individuals or small groups who need cloud storage and synchronization; compared with the free account’s three cloud maps, 25 MB total storage, one bound desktop device, and three collaborators per map, it raises the practical ceiling considerably.

Team costs $13.99 a month, billed $13.99/month. Its 50 cloud maps, 5 GB of storage, ten people per map, synced devices, and 100 MB upload limit per file make it the better fit for larger groups or heavier map libraries. The price increase over Cloud buys room for five more people per map, five times the map count, and five times the storage, not a different set of core editing tools.

The Desktop app costs $19.99, paid once, billed $19.99 once. It runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux, supports offline use and local file access, and includes Git, the MCP server, and LAN hosting. It is the plan to choose for local desktop workflows or those integrations; unlike Cloud and Team, its stated package does not include cloud-map quotas or synced devices. GridCraft is in early access and ships updates most weeks. Support is directed through Discord.

Platforms

GridCraft is available on the web and as a desktop app for Mac, Windows, and Linux. Its platform coverage suits developers who want browser access or local desktop work; the API is documented separately for integrations.

Who it's for

GridCraft is a good fit for game developers who need a 2D map editor with variable-size tiles, terrain and entity tools, or multiple export targets. It is also worth considering for teams that collaborate on maps or already use Tiled files. Solo users can start with the free Web editor, while teams that need more cloud capacity can move to Cloud or Team. Those who need offline access, local files, Git, MCP, or LAN hosting should consider the one-time Desktop app instead.

It is less compelling for users whose work depends on editing infinite chunked maps through MCP, or who need more than the free account’s cloud, device, or collaboration allowances without a paid plan.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Variable-size tiles from one atlas allow maps that are not limited to a single tile size.
• Pros: All 19 tools and every export format are included in the free Web editor, with no account needed.
• Pros: Tiled .tmx and .tmj compatibility and broad export targets make it easier to fit GridCraft into varied project workflows.
• Pros: Desktop Git support and live collaboration address version control and shared editing directly.
• Cons: Free accounts are limited to three cloud maps, 25 MB total storage, one bound desktop device, and three collaborators per map.
• Cons: MCP does not yet edit infinite chunked maps, limiting its use for that map type.
• Cons: The Desktop app is a separate one-time purchase; Cloud and Team subscriptions have their own cloud quotas rather than replacing the local-app package.
• Cons: Early access means the product is still evolving, even though updates ship most weeks.

Alternatives

Game Level Editors is the broader category to browse if GridCraft’s particular mix of tile editing and collaboration is not the right match.

Choose Tiled if you want a free map editor with a name-your-own-price voluntary payment model and support for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Choose LDtk if free, open-source software is the priority and its Linux, macOS, and Windows availability fits your setup. SonLVL is another free option for Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Sprite Fusion offers a free Web Edition with unlimited projects and personal and commercial use; it may suit users who want a web-only option. 2D Tiler is free on the web with no recurring subscriptions or arbitrary limits, making it an alternative for browser-only use. Choose J.A.C.K. if its Steam version, priced at $14.99, paid once, fits your workflow. Hammer++ is a free Windows modification of Valve’s Hammer editor for the Source engine. Phaser is a free, open-source framework for WebGL and Canvas rendering with JavaScript and TypeScript development, available on Android, iOS, and the web.

Verdict

Choose GridCraft if variable-size tile painting, flexible exports, Tiled compatibility, or shared map editing solve a real need in your game workflow. Its free Web editor is unusually capable for trying core editing, while Cloud and Team raise collaboration and storage limits and the Desktop app adds local and Git-based work. Look elsewhere if the free cloud caps are too restrictive, your MCP workflow must edit infinite chunked maps, or you need a different editor’s specific approach.