MadMapper alternative for iPhone and iPad: when a phone app is enough

A MadMapper alternative for iPhone and iPad makes sense if you want to map a projector onto a house, a room or a backdrop and don't want to buy desktop software and carry a laptop to do it. MadMapper is excellent professional software, and for big shows it's still the tool. But most people searching for it want to light up one wall, one window or one stage, and for that a phone app does the core job. In the clip beside this article, two separate surfaces are mapped from an iPhone running EasyMapper Studio, with no computer involved.

Here's an honest comparison: what each one costs, what each one does, and when to pick which.

MadMapper is desktop projection mapping and LED mapping software for macOS (11 or later) and Windows (10 or later), used for concerts, theatre, installations and building projections. It handles many projectors at once, blends their edges, drives LED fixtures and lasers, and controls lighting over DMX.

On its own site, MadMapper costs from 399 euros (excluding tax) for a perpetual licence for the current version, or from 39 euros a month to rent. The free version lets you try everything, but video output is watermarked, so you can't use it for a real show.

EasyMapper Studio is a projection mapping app for iPhone and iPad. Your phone or tablet connects to the projector over HDMI or AirPlay and is both the media player and the controller.

• No laptop. Everything runs on the phone you already own (iOS 15.1 or later).
• Built for one projector. Map several surfaces from one projector, each with its own layer.
• Content included. Live shaders, Halloween loops and interactive room effects come with the app, and anything in your camera roll works too.
• Lower cost. Free to download. Premium is $7.99 a month or $39.99 a year, with a trial.

	MadMapper	EasyMapper Studio
Runs on	macOS and Windows computers	iPhone and iPad
Price	From 399 euros to buy, or 39 euros a month (excl. tax)	Free download; Premium $7.99/month or $39.99/year
Free version	Watermarked output	Map and play free; Premium unlocks unlimited layers, shaders and stencils
Projectors	Many, with edge blending	One per device
Mapping	Corner pin, mesh warp, masks, 3D	Corner pin, curved-surface warp, masks and stencils
Content	Your media, generators, live inputs	Your media, live shaders, built-in loops, room effects
Lighting control	LED mapping, DMX, lasers	None
Learning curve	Days	Minutes

More than most people expect. With one projector and an iPhone or iPad:

• A house front for Halloween or Christmas. Windows, door and garage, each with its own content. See the Halloween projection mapping guide.
• A DJ booth or small stage backdrop. Map the booth front and the wall behind it. See projection mapping for DJs.
• A room or a party wall. Shapes, shelves and the TV become surfaces.
• Props and objects. Pumpkins, boxes, sculptures and shop displays.

Pick MadMapper, honestly, if you need any of these:

• More than one projector on the same surface, blended into one image.
• LED strips, lasers or DMX lighting running in sync with the projection.
• Live camera or computer inputs such as Syphon, Spout or NDI from other software.
• A permanent installation that runs from a computer for months.
• Professional show control with cues and timecode.

If your project is one projector, a few surfaces and a night (or a season) of content, you don't need any of that, and the phone app saves you the licence and the laptop. You can always start on a phone and move to desktop software if you outgrow it.

Is there a free MadMapper alternative?

Yes. EasyMapper Studio is free to download, and there are free desktop tools too. The free projection mapping software guide compares them.

Can I use MadMapper on an iPad?

No. MadMapper runs on macOS and Windows computers. For iPhone and iPad, you need an app built for iOS, like EasyMapper Studio. The best projection mapping apps for iPhone article compares the mobile options.

What about HeavyM?

HeavyM is another desktop option for macOS and Windows, aimed at beginners and events, sold by edition with a buy or rent-to-own option. Like MadMapper, it needs a computer connected to the projector.

Do I need a special projector?

No. Any projector with HDMI or AirPlay works. The projector guide covers what to look for.

Try the mapping on the phone you already own: EasyMapper Studio is free on the App Store.