Today there are 82 different projection mapping software. We spent 113 hours comparing the top 50 to find the seven best you can use to create stunning and immersive visual experiences.
What is the Best Projection Mapping Software?
- HeavyM — best of the best
- POGUMAX Designer — best for venues and events
- MadMapper — best for 3D mapping
- Resolume Arena — best for live performances
- TouchDesigner — best for complex visualizations
- VPT — best for educational purposes
- Isadora — best for interactive installations
1. HeavyM
Our Verdict — Best Of The Best
Price: Starts at $219 (use code CONTENTMAVERICKS for a 10% discount)
HeavyM is a powerful projection mapping software with a shallow learning curve. We think it’s the best of the best because of its user-friendly interface, pre-built templates, and drag-and-drop mapping.
The Best Part:
- It’s incredibly user-friendly. HeavyM’s intuitive interface and simple tools make it easy for beginners to dive right into projection mapping without feeling overwhelmed.
The Worst Part:
- Not cut out for the big leagues. HeavyM might not be the best fit for huge events or complex setups that require more advanced features.
Get it if you want a user-friendly software to practice projection mapping or add an extra layer of excitement to smaller events.
I recommend you get started with the demo version, then upgrade to the HeavyM Live plan for $219.
(Use code CONTENTMAVERICKS for a 10% discount)
Best For
HeavyM is best for beginners in projection mapping who want easy-to-use software with a reasonable price tag.
Top Features
No need to start from scratch. HeavyM lets you start creating pro visuals for your events in no time with its cool pre-built templates.
Drag and drop. Load your images or videos directly onto surfaces by dragging-and-dropping them into your canvas.
Keep it always rolling. You can set up continuous loops of your visuals with a few clicks.
Sync it up. Integrate audio elements easily into your visual creations for a fully synced-up video projection.
Take control on the go. Control HeavyM remotely with your smartphone or tablet via OSC support (Pro and Pro+).
Pricing
HeavyM offers three pricing plans:
- HeavyM Live: $219 one time, for artists and live performers who want essential projection mapping features without breaking the bank.
- HeavyM Pro: $449 one time, for audiovisual professionals who require advanced features for bigger projects.
- HeavyM Pro+: $559 one time, for audiovisual professionals who want to manage continuous installations with the help of top-tier technical support.
All plans are one-time payments with no auto-renewal.
Try HeavyM today with a free demo.
Use code CONTENTMAVERICKS for a 10% discount.
Our Verdict — Best For Venues And Events
Price: Starts at $1,000
POGUMAX Designer is a plug-and-play projection design software for decorating venues and events. It’s our pick for venues and events because you can have a full projection show running in about 15 minutes, with no technical skills required.
The Best Part:
- Effortless setup. POGUMAX Designer takes you from installation to a running projection show in about 15 minutes, with no technical skills required.
The Worst Part:
- No native Mac app. POGUMAX Designer runs on Windows and Linux, but on a Mac you have to run it through Parallels Desktop.
Get it if you want to decorate your venue or event with immersive projections, without hiring a technical crew.
I recommend you start with the Basic package for $1,000.
(one-time purchase)
Best For
POGUMAX Designer is best for cafés, kindergartens, event venues, and design studios that want immersive projections without a dedicated technician.
Top Features
A library that fills the walls. Drop ready-made animations across 23 categories straight into your show — up to 1,332 of them on the Unlimited package.
Millions of Giphy animations. Pull animations straight from Giphy’s library inside the software, so you never run out of fresh visuals.
Make it your own. Add your own videos, images, and text to any projection — handy for branding, greetings, and performances.
Go fully immersive. Combine 2 to 8 projectors to turn a whole room into a panoramic, multi-wall projection.
Help is always there. Every package comes with video tutorials and online technical support.
Pricing
POGUMAX Designer offers four pricing plans:
- Basic package: $1,000 one time, for venues that want to start with HD animations and a 604-animation library.
- Extended package: $1,500 one time, for venues that want a 1,068-animation library and one year of software updates.
- X package: $2,000 one time, for venues that want FullHD animations, a 1,281-animation library, and 10 years of software updates.
- Unlimited package: $2,800 one time, for venues that want FullHD animations, the full 1,332-animation library, and lifetime software updates.
Try POGUMAX Designer today.
3. MadMapper
Our Verdict — Best For 3D Mapping
Price: Starts at ~$51.17/month
MadMapper is a powerful video mapping software for professionals and beginners alike. It’s our pick for 3D mapping because of its advanced 3D calibration features.
The Best Part:
- 3D mapping support. MadMapper lets you take your projection mapping to new dimensions with its advanced 3D calibration features.
The Worst Part:
- Occasional glitches. Some professional MadMapper users report occasional software hiccups during heavy use.
Get it if you want a user-friendly and powerful video mapping software to create stunning projections with.
I recommend you download the Demo Version, then buy MadMapper for 479€ (about $557.08).
(free demo)
Best For
MadMapper is best for visual artists and stage designers who want a top-notch video mapping software that’s easy to use.
Top Features
Get your timing right. Synchronize your visuals to music or other cues with MadMapper's versatile MIDI and OSC support.
Keep it all in sync. Create seamless multi-projector setups with MadMapper's powerful edge blending capabilities.
Interactiveness overload. Bring your projections to life by integrating interactive elements like Kinect or Leap Motion.
Master of light. Manage DMX lighting fixtures with ease with MadMapper's built-in DMX control system.
Easy-peasy integration. Navigate back and forth between MadMapper and other creative applications such as Modul8, VDMX, and Resolume.
Pricing
MadMapper offers three pricing plans:
- Demo Version: Free forever, for beginners and hobbyists who want to feel what MadMapper is like.
- Rent MadMapper: Starts at 44€/month (about $51.17/month) for creative professionals and event planners who require advanced features on a project basis, without a long-term commitment.
- Buy MadMapper: Starts at 479€ one time (about $557.08), for committed visual artists, stage designers, and multimedia production companies that want a perpetual license for the current MadMapper 6 version.
Try MadMapper today with the free demo.
Our Verdict — Best For Live Performances
Price: €799
Resolume Arena is incredible for creating immersive visuals during live performances. We think it’s the best for live performances because of its real-time video mixing capabilities.
The Best Part:
- Real-time video mixing. Resolume Arena gives you the tools to create and manipulate live visuals on the fly during live performance.
The Worst Part:
- Pricey one-time fee. Resolume Arena’s €799 upfront cost might feel a little steep, especially for those new to projection mapping.
Get it if you want a versatile tool for real-time video mixing and project mapping that will make your live events unforgettable.
I recommend you start with the free demo, then invest in the €799 one-time payment plan.
(free demo)
Best For
Resolume Arena is best for VJs, DJs, and visual artists who want an intuitive tool to create stunning visuals during live performances.
Top Features
Sync to the beat. Let your visuals groove along with the music with Resolume Arena's BPM-synced effects and animations.
Save your best moments. Record your live shows right within the software with Resolume Arena's handy built-in recording feature.
Mix and match video inputs. Add live feeds and external live video sources effortlessly with Arena's wide range of video input options.
Keep it all in sync. Share video syncs between multiple computers with Resolume Arena's network-based synchronization features.
Make it your own. Customize your workspace to suit your style with Resolume Arena's super-flexible layout options.
Pricing
Resolume Arena offers two pricing plans:
- Free demo: Free to try for as long as you like, for VJs, DJs, and visual artists who want to practice and learn the software with full features, but keep in mind it puts a Resolume logo watermark on the video output and a robot voice in the audio.
- Paid plan: €799 one-time payment, for VJs, DJs, and visual artists who want unrestricted access to the software, forever.
Try Resolume Arena today with the free demo.
Our Verdict — Best For Complex Visualizations
Price: Starts at $300
TouchDesigner is a tool for creating dynamic digital art, from installations and 3D projections to live music visuals and VR worlds. We think it’s the best for complex visualizations because it combines built-in 3D to simulate real-world objects, multi-projector outputs, and an ultra-resolution video engine in one package.
The Best Part:
- Free to learn. The Non-Commercial version is free for personal use and learning, and every account starts with 10 Non-Commercial keys.
The Worst Part:
- Free stops at 1280x1280. The Non-Commercial version limits your resolution to 1280x1280 and can’t be used in paying projects, so paid work means buying a Commercial license.
Get it if you want one tool that grows from your first projection test to a multi-projector installation.
I recommend you start with the free Non-Commercial version, then buy the Commercial license for $600 when you take on paid projects.
(free plan)
Best For
TouchDesigner is best for media artists and technical designers who want to build complex, custom projection shows.
Top Features
Built for projection mapping. Built-in 3D simulates your real-world objects, and multi-projector outputs let you cover them from every angle.
Ultra-resolution playback. TouchDesigner’s video engine maximizes your hardware power, so you can do more with less.
Talks to everything. Native support for input devices, web connectivity, video and audio devices, and network-based communication.
Export in real time. Paid licenses use the max resolution of your GPU and export H.264 and H.265 movies in real time on NVIDIA GPUs.
Yours to keep. Every paid license is perpetual and comes with one year of free updates.
Pricing
TouchDesigner offers four pricing plans:
- Non-Commercial: Free, for personal use and learning, with resolution limited to 1280x1280.
- Educational: $300 one time, for schools, faculty, and students working on projects that aren’t paid.
- Commercial: $600 one time, for artists and studios who use TouchDesigner in paying projects.
- Pro: $2,200 one time, for teams that need multi-machine sync, hardware frame-lock, camera tracking, and Pro Support.
All plans are one-time payments with no auto-renewal.
Try TouchDesigner today with the free plan.
6. VPT
Our Verdict — Best For Educational Purposes
Price: Free
VPT (Video Projection Tool) is a free, multipurpose real-time projection tool for Mac and Windows. We think it’s the best for educational purposes because it costs nothing, it’s open source, and it covers the core of projection mapping, from mapping onto complex forms to cue lists and multiscreen HD playback.
The Best Part:
- Free and open source. VPT costs nothing, and its files are open source, although you need Max from Cycling ’74 to work with them.
The Worst Part:
- No new versions. VPT 8, released in May 2018, is the last release of VPT, with only a macOS Big Sur update and a beta for Apple silicon Macs since.
Get it if you want to learn projection mapping without spending a cent.
I recommend you download VPT 8 for free and work through its online manual.
(free download)
Best For
VPT is best for students, teachers, and hobbyists who want to learn projection mapping for free.
Top Features
Map any surface. Project onto complex forms and adapt a projection to a particular space or surface.
Mix recorded and live. Combine recorded and live footage, and run multiscreen HD playback.
Control everything. Control almost every parameter over OSC, MIDI, serial communication, built-in LFOs, and Art-Net.
Share video streams. Send video between apps with Syphon on Mac and Spout on Windows.
Plays almost any codec. VPT 8 runs on the FFmpeg video engine, so it supports virtually any video codec.
Pricing
VPT offers one pricing plan:
- VPT 8: Free, for anyone who wants a real-time projection tool for Mac and Windows at no cost.
Try VPT today.
7. Isadora
Our Verdict — Best For Interactive Installations
Price: Starts at $17.50 for 7 days
Isadora is a node-based platform from TroikaTronix for crafting audiovisual effects in real time, from simple cueing to projection mapping. We think it’s the best for interactive installations because it processes video, lighting, sound, and data in real time, so your projections can respond to sensors and performers.
The Best Part:
- Easy in, deep down. Isadora’s node-based structure is accessible to newcomers, yet modular enough for experts, with JavaScript, GLSL, and Python integration on top.
The Worst Part:
- You can’t save for free. The free download lets you do everything except save your work, so any real project means paying for a license.
Get it if you want to build interactive, sensor-driven installations or run the cues of a live show.
I recommend you try the free download, then get the 30-day rental for $30 when you have a show to run.
(free demo)
Best For
Isadora is best for theater makers, installation artists, and performers who want projections that react in real time.
Top Features
Show control built in. Isadora’s scene-based show control makes it easy to program reliable, predictable cue sequences.
Multi-projector ready. Set up, blend, and route multiple projectors, with projection mapping included.
Lights and sound, too. Control lighting and multichannel audio from the same software.
Perform from anywhere. IzzyCast sends video, audio, and data between computers running Isadora anywhere in the world, and most licenses include 500 free IzzyCast Credits.
Mac or Windows. Every Isadora 4 license works on both Mac and Windows computers.
Pricing
Isadora offers four pricing plans:
- 7-Day Rental: $17.50 for short-term uses like trying out the software, productions, and workshops.
- 30-Day Rental: $30 for a month-long production or workshop.
- Yearly Subscription: $199/year for independent designers who work with Isadora on a regular basis.
- Perpetual: $725 one time, with two years of free updates.
Try Isadora today with the free demo.
Our Top Three Picks
Here’s a quick summary of our top three picks:
- HeavyM — best of the best (use code CONTENTMAVERICKS for a 10% discount)
- POGUMAX Designer — best for venues and events
- MadMapper — best for 3D mapping
Here’s a quick comparison of our top seven picks:
Tool | Entry Offer | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
HeavyM | Free demo | $219 (one-time) |
POGUMAX Designer | None | $1,000 (one-time) |
MadMapper | Free demo | $51.17/mo |
Resolume Arena | Free demo | €799 (one-time) |
TouchDesigner | Free plan | $300 (one-time) |
VPT | Free download | Free |
Isadora | Free demo | Starts at $17.50 for 7 days |
Here are the top 50 projection mapping software we considered in this review:
- HeavyM
- POGUMAX Designer
- MadMapper
- Resolume Arena
- TouchDesigner
- VPT
- Isadora
- Lightform Creator
- Millumin
- MapMap
- Smode
- ProPresenter
- WATCHOUT by Dataton
- Visution Mapio
- Green Hippo Hippotizer
- QLab
- Ventuz
- Vioso Anyblend
- AV Stumpfl Pixera
- Christie Pandoras Box
- Lumitrix
- ArKaos GrandVJ XT
- Notch
- VYV Photon
- disguise
- Lightact
- OpenFrameworks
- Pure Data (Pd)
- Max/MSP/Jitter
- Adobe After Effects
- Blender
- Unity3D
- Unreal Engine
- Avolites Ai
- Synesthesia Live
- Scalable Display Manager
- Modulo Kinetic
- Splash by Papermoon
- FaçadeSignage
- Screenberry
- Showlogix
- ioversal Vertex
- MagicQ by ChamSys
- VDMX
- VVVV
- Coge VJ
- Spout
- Syphon
- Painting with Light
- LPMT
Frequently Asked Questions About Projection Mapping Software
What is the best projection mapping software?
HeavyM is our top pick. You get pre-built templates, drag-and-drop mapping, and music reactivity, plus a free demo to try it first.
How do I choose projection mapping software?
Match the pick to your use case. Reach for HeavyM overall, POGUMAX Designer for venues and events, MadMapper for 3D mapping, Resolume Arena for live performances, TouchDesigner for complex visualizations, VPT for educational purposes, and Isadora for interactive installations.
Is there any free projection mapping software?
Yes. VPT is completely free, and TouchDesigner has a free Non-Commercial version for personal use and learning. Reach for VPT if you want the best free pick to learn on.
What is the best projection mapping software for beginners?
HeavyM is our pick for beginners. You get pre-built templates and drag-and-drop tools with a shallow learning curve, so you map your first surface fast.
Which projection mapping software is best for live performances?
Resolume Arena is our pick for live performances, and it gives you a free demo. You get real-time video mixing, BPM-synced effects, and network-based sync across computers.
What features should I look for in projection mapping software?
Look for software that adapts to different display surfaces and supports real-time mapping for dynamic shows. Then weigh built-in sound analysis for music, 360-degree projections, support for 3D and static objects, and architectural mapping.
Which projection mapping tools are worth trying first?
Start with HeavyM overall, POGUMAX Designer if you decorate venues and events, and Resolume Arena for live performances. From there, TouchDesigner covers complex visuals and VPT covers free, so you match the tool to your show.
Which projection mapping software is best for complex visualizations?
TouchDesigner is our pick for complex visualizations. You get built-in 3D, multi-projector outputs, and an ultra-resolution video engine, and you can learn it for free with the Non-Commercial version.
What to look for when buying projection mapping software?
- Ability to create an immersive experience by adapting to various display surfaces
- Ability to set the nature of projection mapping for different environments
- Diverse projection mapping techniques
- Real-time projection mapping for dynamic presentations
- Ability to integrate special effects
- Support in mapping onto 3D objects and static objects alike
- A range of tools to integrate with music events, via built-in sound analysis
- Advanced tools like 360-degree projections
- Ability to create architectural projection mapping
- User reviews that show how the app faces common challenges in projection mappings
The Bottom Line
To recap, here are the best projection mapping software to try this year:
- HeavyM — best of the best (use code CONTENTMAVERICKS for a 10% discount)
- POGUMAX Designer — best for venues and events
- MadMapper — best for 3D mapping
- Resolume Arena — best for live performances
- TouchDesigner — best for complex visualizations
- VPT — best for educational purposes
- Isadora — best for interactive installations