Map Club

Map Club is a browser-based projection-mapping workspace for fitting digital media to physical surfaces. It is a strong match for artists, educators, students, hobbyists and client projects that need a capable zero-cost tool, while demanding installations should look elsewhere for 3D mapping, edge blending or hardware-control protocols.

The unrestricted plan removes the usual trial and watermark compromises, but its browser-local workflow makes disciplined exports and backups part of using it professionally.

Overview

Map Club prepares projection work in a web browser, then opens a fullscreen project view for sending to a projector. Its hybrid workflow keeps authoring and output in the browser rather than requiring a separate desktop application. The maker says projects and media stay on the user's device in browser IndexedDB storage and are not uploaded to its servers, which is useful when working with private material or client assets.

Local storage also makes portability the user's responsibility. Projects can be exported as .club files, so moving work between devices or browsers depends on maintaining those exports and suitable backups. Personal, commercial and client projects are permitted without attribution, broadening the free tool's usefulness beyond casual experiments.

Key features

Map Club supports layers for surfaces, images, videos, shaders, text, webcams, trackers and masks. Mesh warping, corner adjustment and edge adjustment supply the essential geometry controls for fitting content to irregular surfaces. Real-time input and output previews let users inspect both the source and projected result while building a composition, and live video input is supported.

Image playback covers JPEG, PNG, GIF and WebP, while video playback accepts MP4 and WebM. The fullscreen output view is straightforward for projector work. However, there is no edge blending or 3D mapping, so multi-projector blends and installations involving mapped three-dimensional objects are outside its scope. DMX control, MIDI mapping, Syphon/Spout sharing and audio reactivity are listed for the future; current control-protocol support is none. Users who need those connections now will need another platform.

Modern Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge browsers are supported. Discord community support and a feedback channel provide a route for questions, although the workflow still depends on a compatible browser and reliable local storage.

Pricing

Map Club has one Free plan at free, 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 permanent free plan already provides the full feature set.

This is unusually generous for learners and independent creators: there are no project-count, surface-count or output-duration penalties to force an upgrade. Commercial and client work is allowed without attribution. The trade-off is not a paid tier but capability: the plan does not add edge blending, 3D mapping or currently available external control protocols.

Platforms

Map Club runs on Linux, macOS, Windows and the web through modern Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Edge browsers. A browser-first design avoids an operating-system-specific authoring application, while projector output is handled through its fullscreen project view.

Who it's for

Choose Map Club for projection-mapping studies, classroom work, small shows and independent commissions where unlimited free access, local asset storage and basic-to-intermediate surface fitting matter most. It also suits privacy-conscious teams that prefer project media to remain on the device.

It is a poor fit for complex 3D scenes, edge-blended multi-projector systems or installations that must respond to DMX, MIDI, Syphon/Spout or audio input today. Teams moving frequently between machines should also be comfortable exporting and managing .club files.

Pros and cons

• Pros: The permanent free plan has unlimited projects and surfaces, no watermark or time limit, and every current feature unlocked.
• Pros: Browser-local IndexedDB storage keeps project data and media on the user's device, with export to .club files.
• Pros: Mesh warping, corner and edge controls, previews, live video input and fullscreen projector output cover core 2D mapping work.
• Cons: No edge blending or 3D mapping limits advanced installation design.
• Cons: DMX, MIDI, Syphon/Spout and audio reactivity are not current integrations, leaving no control-protocol support today.
• Cons: Local browser storage makes exports and backups essential for cross-device or long-running projects.

Alternatives

SurfaBeam Pro is worth considering for Android or iOS access, but its free plan adds a watermark, an entry gate and no Save, Load or Export.

Screenberry suits users needing a similar Linux, macOS, web and Windows footprint and up to two 2K video outputs for non-commercial use, though its free licence renews every 90 days, requires internet and is restricted to personal, learning, evaluation and non-paying work.

Disguise Designer is a paid product with a free Designer Starter plan for core functionality, learning, training, testing and pre-visualisation without connecting to Disguise servers.

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

VIOSO provides a freemium route with a free plan capped at 10 saved projects and 250 MB storage, plus a 49.00 EUR-per-month Pro plan for unlimited use.

Christie Mystique is an option for webcam-driven setups, with its free Lite edition supporting one webcam, up to three Christie projectors and flat screens.

MadMapper offers a free tryout with all features but watermarked output, 30-second DMX-channel blackouts and reduced space-scanner resolution.

MapMap is a free, open-source projection-mapping alternative for Linux, macOS and Windows.

For a wider category comparison, see Projection Mapping Software.

Verdict

Map Club is the right choice for anyone who wants full-featured basic projection mapping without a subscription, watermark or usage cap, especially when local privacy and commercial use matter. Look elsewhere when a production requires 3D mapping, edge blending or established external control protocols; those are the boundaries that keep this otherwise compelling free tool focused on simpler 2D projection work.