mapplight.com / Guides / Free projection mapping software
Free projection mapping software: what you can do without paying
Updated 6 November 2026 · 3 minute read
"Free" means different things in projection mapping: a trial that stamps a watermark on the output, a free tier with a resolution cap, open-source tools that haven't been updated in years, or a free plan you can actually run a show with. Here is what each option gives you, and when it's worth paying.
1. The kinds of "free"
| Kind | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Trial or demo | All features, but a watermark or interruptions on the output, so you can't use it for a real show |
| Non-commercial licence | Free for personal use with limits such as maximum resolution; a paid licence for commercial work |
| Open source | Free forever, but often minimal interfaces, few built-in visuals and irregular updates |
| Freemium | A usable free plan, with extra content or features for a fee |
2. The options
| Software | Runs on | Free version | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| mapplight.com | Any browser: Windows, Mac, Linux, ChromeOS, Android, iPhone, iPad | Free plan, no watermark, no time limit, 108 visuals | Stages, rooms, events, shop windows, houses, with built-in animated visuals |
| MapMap | Windows, macOS, Linux | Open source | Mapping your own video files onto simple shapes |
| VPT (Video Projection Tools) | Windows, macOS | Free | Artists comfortable with a technical, older interface |
| TouchDesigner | Windows, macOS | Free non-commercial licence with a resolution cap | Building custom interactive systems, if you're willing to learn node programming |
| MadMapper, HeavyM, Resolume Arena | Windows, macOS | Trial or demo; the output is watermarked (HeavyM's demo also can't save projects) | Testing before buying a paid licence |
| Lazy Lighting | iPhone, iPad, Android | Free app with Pro in-app purchases | House projection from a phone or tablet |
Checked November 2026. Free tiers change; check each product's site for current terms.
3. What the mapplight.com free plan includes
- 108 animated visuals across every pack: concert beams, LED bars, a stage curtain, contour lines, wire mesh, a spinning globe, snowfall, ghosts, fireworks and more.
- All templates: stage, building facade, house front, room corner, shop front, DJ booth, wedding cake, window, garage door, cube, panels, columns, round objects and tree.
- Unlimited surfaces and projects, with quads, circles and triangles, welded corners and edge feathering.
- Your own media: videos, images and a live camera on any surface.
- Projector output in a separate full-screen window on computers, or Go live on phones and tablets.
- Music sync from a browser tab or the microphone, tap tempo and 3 looks per project with crossfades.
- No watermark, no time limit, no account. Projects are stored in your browser.
Pro adds the other 230 visuals, unlimited looks and mesh warp for curved surfaces, as a one-time payment: $9.99 for a 90-day Season Pass or $49 for Lifetime. Nothing renews.
4. What free tools usually can't do
- Several projectors blended into one picture. Edge blending is a pro feature everywhere.
- DMX, Art-Net, timecode or MIDI control from a lighting desk or a show controller.
- Commercial use on some non-commercial licences.
- Large content libraries. Open-source tools play your own videos, so you need to make or buy content.
5. When paying makes sense
- Stay free for a first project, a school play, a room, a cake or a house show with the free visuals.
- A one-time Pro pass if you want the full library and unlimited looks for a season or an event.
- Desktop pro software (MadMapper, Resolume Arena, HeavyM Pro) if you need multiple outputs, edge blending, DMX or timecode. See the comparison.
FAQ
Is there free projection mapping software without a watermark?
Yes. mapplight.com has a free plan with no watermark and no time limit, and open-source tools such as MapMap are free. Trials of paid desktop software usually watermark the output.
What is the easiest free projection mapping software for beginners?
A browser-based tool with templates and built-in visuals is the easiest start, because there is nothing to install and nothing to animate yourself. mapplight.com has templates for stages, rooms, houses, cakes and shop fronts.
Is there free projection mapping software for Mac?
Yes. mapplight.com runs in Safari, Chrome or Firefox on a Mac, and MapMap and VPT have Mac versions.
Can I use free projection mapping software for paid events?
It depends on the licence. The mapplight.com free plan can be used for any show, including paid events. Some free licences of other tools are non-commercial only.
Keep reading
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