mapplight.com / Guides / Projection mapping software compared
Projection mapping software compared
Updated 6 November 2026 · 4 minute read
Projection mapping software ranges from phone apps for decorating a house to desktop tools that run festival facades with a dozen projectors. The right one depends on what you're lighting, which devices you have and how much control you need. This is a plain comparison of five popular options, including ours, with what each does best.
1. At a glance
| mapplight.com | MadMapper | HeavyM | Resolume Arena | Lazy Lighting | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runs on | Any browser: Windows, Mac, Linux, ChromeOS, Android, iPhone, iPad | macOS, Windows | macOS, Windows | macOS, Windows | iPhone, iPad, Android |
| Install | None | Desktop app | Desktop app | Desktop app | App store |
| Pricing model | Free plan; Pro $9.99 for 90 days or $49 lifetime, one-timeFree | Perpetual licence (from €399 excl. tax) or monthly rental | One-time licences in several editions | One-time licence | Free app with Pro in-app purchases |
| Free use | Free plan, no watermark | Trial | Free demo: watermark, no saving | Demo with watermark | Free tier |
| Built-in animated visuals | 108, all free | Generators and materials | Built-in generative effects | Generators and effects; mostly your own clips | Large themed library |
| Multiple projectors / blending | One output per device | Yes | Yes (higher editions) | Yes | No |
| DMX / MIDI / timecode | No | Yes | Yes (higher editions) | Yes | MIDI |
| Learning curve | An evening | Days to weeks | Hours to days | Days to weeks | An evening |
| Best for | Stages, rooms, events, shops and houses with one projector, on any device | Professional installations and facades | Artists and events wanting quick generative mapping on a PC or Mac | VJs and live shows that also map | House projection from a phone |
Checked in November 2026 from each product's website and app store listing. Prices and editions change; check the official sites before buying. Product names are trademarks of their owners; we are not affiliated with them.
2. mapplight.com
A projection mapping studio that runs in the browser, so the same project works on a Windows laptop, a Mac, a Chromebook, an Android tablet or an iPhone. It ships with templates for stages, building facades, house fronts, rooms, shop fronts, DJ booths and wedding cakes, and 108 real-time visuals that play on any surface and can follow the music.
Strengths
- Nothing to install; runs on any device
- Free plan with no watermark
- One-time pricing, nothing renews
- Templates and built-in visuals: a show in an evening
Limits
- One projector output per device
- No DMX, timecode or MIDI yet
- No edge blending or 3D model import
3. MadMapper
A professional desktop tool for video and LED mapping, widely used for installations, facades and stage design. It handles many outputs, edge blending, LED fixtures and DMX, and integrates with other show software. It is the reference when the job is big or permanent; it is also more than a first project needs. More detail: mapplight.com vs MadMapper.
4. HeavyM
Desktop projection mapping software for Mac and Windows, aimed at artists, DJs and event makers. It is known for drawing shapes quickly and applying built-in generative effects in sync with music, and its higher editions add multiple outputs, a timeline and show-control protocols. More detail: mapplight.com vs HeavyM.
5. Resolume Arena
VJ software first: it plays and mixes video clips and effects live, beat-synced, with deep MIDI, DMX and timecode control. Arena (not Avenue) includes advanced output for projection mapping and edge blending. A strong choice if you perform visuals live and also need to map stages or LED walls.
6. Lazy Lighting
A phone and tablet app focused on house projection. You trace the house on the phone's screen and choose from a large library of themed holiday content, with MIDI support. It is a good fit if you only want to decorate a house from a phone. It doesn't run on computers, and Pro is sold as in-app purchases.
7. How to choose
| If you… | Look at |
|---|---|
| Want a show tonight, on the device you have, for free | mapplight.com |
| Light a stage, a room, a cake or a shop with one projector | mapplight.com or HeavyM |
| Only decorate a house, from a phone | Lazy Lighting or mapplight.com |
| Perform visuals live as a VJ | Resolume Arena |
| Blend several projectors onto a big facade, or need DMX and LED mapping | MadMapper or Resolume Arena |
FAQ
What is the easiest projection mapping software?
For beginners, tools with templates and built-in visuals are the easiest: mapplight.com in the browser, or Lazy Lighting on a phone for houses. Desktop pro tools have more control but take longer to learn.
What projection mapping software do professionals use?
MadMapper, Resolume Arena and TouchDesigner are common in professional installations and live shows, along with dedicated media servers for very large events.
Is there projection mapping software that runs on a Chromebook?
Yes. mapplight.com runs in the browser, including Chrome on a Chromebook. Most desktop mapping software needs Windows or macOS.
Which projection mapping software has no subscription?
mapplight.com (free)(one-time Season Pass or Lifetime), HeavyM and Resolume (one-time licences) and MadMapper's perpetual licence are all available without a subscription. Check each product's current terms.
Keep reading
MadMapper alternative
When MadMapper is the right tool, when it is more than you need, and how mapplight.com compares on price, platforms, setup time and features for stages, rooms and events.
HeavyM alternative
How mapplight.com compares with HeavyM for projection mapping: platforms, phones and tablets, pricing, built-in visuals and when HeavyM is the better pick.
Free projection mapping software
The free options for projection mapping in 2026, what each one limits, and how to map a stage, a room or a house front for free in your browser with no watermark.