Map Club

Map Club is browser-based projection-mapping software for fitting digital content to physical surfaces. It is best suited to artists, students, educators and hobbyists who want a capable starting point without a subscription. Its unrestricted free plan is compelling, while the lack of 3D mapping, edge blending and current control-protocol support limits more demanding installations.

Overview

Map Club runs in a web browser and combines a mapping workspace with fullscreen projector output. The workflow is hybrid: content is prepared in the browser, then a project view can be opened fullscreen and sent to a projector. Because projects and media remain in the browser's local IndexedDB storage, the maker says assets are not uploaded to its servers. That is a meaningful advantage for privacy-conscious users and client work, but exporting .club files and keeping backups becomes important when work must move between devices or browsers.

The maker permits personal, commercial and client projects without attribution. That broad usage permission makes the free plan practical beyond experimentation, provided the browser and local-storage workflow fit the production setup.

Key features

Content layers cover surfaces, images, videos, shaders, text, webcams, trackers and masks. Mesh warping, corner manipulation and edge manipulation provide the core geometry controls needed to fit content to irregular surfaces. Real-time input and output previews help users adjust alignment before opening the fullscreen projection view.

Media support includes JPEG, PNG, GIF and WebP images, plus MP4 and WebM video playback. Live video input is supported, which broadens the tool beyond pre-rendered clips. However, edge blending is not included, and there is no 3D mapping. Those omissions matter for multi-projector blends, overlapping outputs and installations involving complex three-dimensional objects. DMX control, MIDI mapping, Syphon/Spout sharing and audio reactivity are described as coming soon; the current control-protocol position is none, so users needing those integrations now should choose another platform.

Community help is provided through Discord and a feedback channel. That can suit independent creators, although it is a different support model from a paid product with formal assistance.

Pricing

Free

The Free plan costs nothing, billed Forever. It includes unlimited projects and surfaces, no watermarks, no time limits and all features unlocked. No credit card is required, and there is no separate trial because the plan itself is permanently free.

This is unusually complete for a no-cost mapping tool: users do not trade away project counts, output branding or core capabilities. It fits learners, educators and hobbyists, as well as artists taking on commercial or client projects under the stated usage terms. The main trade-offs are functional rather than tier-based: no edge blending or 3D mapping, no current control protocols, and dependence on local browser storage.

Platforms

Map Club is offered on Linux, macOS, Windows and the web. The maker says it works in modern Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge browsers. Since projects and media are stored locally in IndexedDB, browser choice and device continuity are practical considerations; exporting .club files is the way to preserve or transfer projects.

Who it's for

Choose Map Club for a first projection-mapping workflow, classroom demonstrations, personal installations and small client projects where a browser-based tool, local asset storage and unrestricted free access are priorities. Its layer types, warping controls and live input support are sufficient for 2D surface work and experimentation.

Look elsewhere if a project requires 3D object mapping, edge-blended multi-projector output, DMX or MIDI control today, or a more integrated production environment. The local-first design is also less suitable for teams that need centralized project storage.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Complete free plan: unlimited projects and surfaces, no watermark or time limit, and all features unlocked.
• Broad layer support: images, video, shaders, text, webcams, trackers and masks cover varied 2D compositions.
• Useful geometry tools: mesh warping plus corner and edge controls support irregular physical surfaces.
• Local privacy: projects and media stay on the device according to the maker, with .club export for backup.
• Commercial permission: personal, commercial and client projects require no attribution.

Cons

• No edge blending: complex multi-projector installations need another solution.
• No 3D mapping: it is not aimed at mapped three-dimensional objects.
• No current control protocols: DMX, MIDI, Syphon/Spout and audio reactivity are not available now.
• Browser-local workflow: users must manage exports and local storage when moving work between devices.

Alternatives

SurfaBeam Pro is worth choosing for Android or iOS access, but its free plan adds a watermark, blocks saving, loading and exporting, and requires an entry gate before mapping.

Disguise Designer suits users who want a free starter environment for learning, training and pre-visualisation without connecting to Disguise servers.

Ghost Arcade is a free desktop alternative with all features included and no tiers, trial, watermark or expiry.

Screenberry fits non-commercial users needing up to two 2K video outputs, although its free license renews every 90 days and requires internet.

Christie Mystique is a choice for workflows centered on Christie projectors, with its Lite plan supporting one webcam and up to three Christie projectors.

MadMapper offers a trial with all features, but its free output is watermarked, DMX channels black out every 30 seconds, and space-scanner resolution is limited.

MapMap is another free, open-source projection-mapping option for Linux, macOS and Windows.

VIOSO is preferable when saved-project and cloud-style allowances matter: its free plan permits 10 projects and 250 MB storage, while Pro costs €49 a month.

Verdict

Map Club is an excellent fit for creators who need unrestricted, no-cost 2D projection mapping with local asset storage and commercial usage permission. Choose it for accessible browser-based experimentation and straightforward surface alignment. Look elsewhere when edge blending, 3D mapping, live control protocols or a centralized production workflow are essential.