Side by side

Gaea vs Heightmap Level Generator

Both stand on game map generators. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.

Gaea

Free plan Windows

Gaea combines terrain creation, simulation, and data exports in one Windows tool. Check its hardware, connectivity, and license requirements against your workflow before choosing a plan.

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Heightmap Level Generator

Free plan Open source Self-hostedWebWindows

Heightmap Level Generator combines terrain generation, live previews, and multiple export types in a free tool. Its browser route depends on WebGPU, and local use adds a Node.js requirement.

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The facts

	Gaea	Heightmap Level Generator
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Open source	Not published	Yes
Runs on	Windows	Self-hosted, Web, Windows
Lowest paid plan	Indie: $99, paid once	Free or on request
Plans published	4	1
Maker	Gaea	Not published
Website	quadspinner.com	github.com
On game map generators	#4 of 27	#1 of 27

Gaea: what it does well

Creates terrain from procedural, imported, and hand-drawn inputs
Simulates erosion, glaciers, rivers, snow, and vegetation
Exports heightfields, meshes, point clouds, and textures
Includes bridges for Unreal Engine and Houdini

What to know first

Windows only; requires an AVX2 CPU and 16 GB RAM
License needs an internet refresh every 28 days
Community Edition is limited to non-commercial use
Houdini plugin requires Professional or Enterprise license

Heightmap Level Generator: what it does well

Generates 16-bit terrain with varied land and water features.
Offers four biome choices.
Exports to Unreal, Unity, Godot Terrain3D, and three.js.
Supports seed comparison and first-person terrain previews.
MIT license permits commercial use of exported assets.

What to know first

Online use requires WebGPU.
Local use requires Node.js and a WebGPU-capable browser.

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