Free Projection Mapping Software and Apps (2026)

Projection mapping app comparison

What “free” means for each tool

Free mapping software comes in three kinds, and the kind matters more than the feature list. If the technique is new to you, start with how projection mapping works. We checked each tool's official site, documentation, download page or store listing on October 28, 2026.

• Open source (MapMap, Splash, VPT 8): no cost and no watermark. MapMap and Splash are GPL-licensed, so paid work is allowed. The risk is an old build that won't install on a current computer.
• Free to download with a paid upgrade (Lazy Lighting): the free plan is watermarked, and Pro removes the watermark.
• Unlimited demos (MadMapper, Resolume Arena, HeavyM): no time limit, but the output carries a logo or watermark.
• Non-commercial license (TouchDesigner): no watermark, a 1280×1280 cap, and no paid work.

Which free tool for your device

Start with the device that will run the show. Most of these tools run on one or two platforms, and none runs everywhere.

• Phone or tablet: Lazy Lighting, on iPhone, iPad or Android. Newer iPhone and iPad mapping apps such as Viso, SurfaBeam and PicoMap appeared in 2026; we haven't tested their free tiers, so check that the free version can output to a projector.
• Mac: TouchDesigner Non-Commercial (macOS 13 or later) if you want a clean output and will put in the learning time; otherwise the MadMapper, Resolume Arena or HeavyM demo to learn a dedicated mapper.
• Windows: the same choices, plus Splash's Windows package. TouchDesigner needs Windows 10 or 11 and a graphics card with Vulkan 1.1 and at least 4 GB of video memory.
• Linux: Splash, installed from Flathub. MapMap can be built from source. TouchDesigner, MadMapper, Resolume and HeavyM don't run on Linux.

Which free tool for your project

Match the tool to the job, not to the longest feature list. The simplest tool that does the job is usually the one that still works on the night.

• A holiday window: one window with a rear-projection screen may not need mapping at all; play one of the many free Halloween projector videos full screen from a USB stick. To fit separate panes or several windows from one projector, map them with Lazy Lighting, and decide early whether the free plan's watermark is acceptable for a display that runs all season.
• Boxes on a table: the classic first project. Use Lazy Lighting on a phone, or the HeavyM demo on a computer for ready-made effects. A dark room and a small projector are enough.
• A stage, school play or event: rehearse in the Resolume Arena or MadMapper demo, then buy or rent a license before the audience arrives. For several projectors blended into one image on no budget, Splash is the free route, if someone can build the 3D model.
• Interactive work: TouchDesigner Non-Commercial, for cameras, sensors, sound and generative graphics, as long as nobody pays you for the piece. Lazy Lighting's audio-reactive visuals, MIDI and live camera input are Pro features.

What you still need to buy

Free software handles the warping. The light still has to come from a projector, and the signal still has to reach it.

No projector yet? Our guide to the best cheap projectors for projection mapping covers budget models; ignore unrated five-digit “lumens” claims and compare ANSI or ISO figures. The throw-distance calculator checks whether a projector fits your space.

• A projector with a video input. Any projector that accepts HDMI or screen casting can be mapped. After dark, plan on about 300 ANSI lumens for props or a window, 500–1,000 for an indoor wall in a dim room, and about 3,000 or more for a garage door.
• A cable or adapter. A laptop needs an HDMI port or a USB-C-to-HDMI adapter. iPhone 15 and later (except the 16e and 17e), most Samsung Galaxy S, Note, Fold and Tab S models, and Pixel 8 and later use the same kind of adapter. Lightning iPhones need Apple's Lightning Digital AV Adapter.
• Or a wireless link: Lazy Lighting also connects by AirPlay (iPhone and iPad), Miracast or Smart View (many Android phones), or the Lazy Lighting Link receiver app on Google TV projectors.
• A steady stand. Once the map is set, turn off the projector's automatic keystone and focus so nothing shifts under your shapes.

Free-tier limits that matter at a show

Free tiers are fine for practice. These are the limits that show up on the night:

• Watermarks: a logo on the output is visible to everyone on the street or in the room.
• Sound: Resolume's demo adds a robotic voice to the audio, so don't run show audio through it.
• Saving: if the app can't save, a crash or a restart means mapping every surface again. That rules out the MadMapper and HeavyM demos for a display that runs for weeks. Lazy Lighting's free plan doesn't save projects either; that is a Pro feature.
• Resolution: with TouchDesigner Non-Commercial, set the output to 1280×720 and let a 1080p projector scale it up.
• Commercial use: take money for a display and TouchDesigner Non-Commercial is no longer allowed.
• Old builds: VPT 8 and MapMap 0.6.2 date from 2018. Test on the exact computer you will use, and don't update its operating system that week.

When paying makes sense

Pay when a free-tier limit reaches your audience: a watermark on a public display, a voice in the soundtrack, or a map you rebuild every night. You don't always need a permanent license: MadMapper rents one for a temporary installation, and Lazy Lighting Pro is billed monthly, annually or once for lifetime access.

Our projection mapping software comparison ranks the paid versions by platform and workflow. Whichever you choose, test the free version first through the adapter and projector you will actually use.