Ghost Arcade
Ghost Arcade: A broad, free toolkit for projection mapping, live visuals, and VJ performance. Ranked #5 of 24 in Projection Mapping Software by our editors (7.7/10); pricing: Free plan; best for open-source VJ and projection experiments.
At a glance
- Editor score7.7 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forOpen-source VJ and projection experiments
- Free planYes
- Paid fromNone
- 3D mappingYes
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Corner, mesh, mask, blend, and multi-display projection tools
- 200+ effects, GPU shader instruments, and dual-deck VJ playback
- Runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux with MIDI, OSC, and Ableton Link
Where it doesn't
- No paid tiers for teams seeking a planned commercial progression
- AGPL-3.0 licensing may not fit every proprietary distribution model
- Its broad feature set may be more than simple mapping projects need
Our verdict on Ghost Arcade
Ghost Arcade is desktop software for projection mapping and live visual performance, aimed at VJs, projection artists, and developers exploring open-source visual workflows. It combines layers for video, images, text, 3D models, point clouds, and GPU-generated visuals with corner and mesh warping, shape masks, slices, edge blending, and multi-display output. The package also includes a 3D stage and projection simulator, a show timeline with audio tracks and crossfades, recording, frame-locked export, and dual-deck VJ tools.
Pricing is straightforward: the Ghost Arcade plan costs $0 USD always. Its published feature set includes full projection mapping, 200+ effects, a 16-channel VJ clip launcher, MIDI and OSC control, recording, Spout and Syphon output, and support for macOS, Windows, and Linux. The official description states that the software is free forever with no paid version, so there is no higher tier adding expanded capabilities or commercial-plan features. That makes it a strong fit for independent artists and experiments where software cost matters, but less suitable for buyers specifically comparing tiered support or product editions.
The ecosystem fit is broad for a desktop visual tool. Ghost Arcade supports OBS, Resolume, TouchDesigner, MadMapper, vMix, Notch, Syphon, Spout, NDI, and Ableton Link, while MIDI, OSC, and Ableton Link cover external control and synchronization. Outputs are available for every display the operating system can see. Its breadth is a major strength for hybrid workflows involving mapping, VJ playback, live input, 3D imports, audio reactivity, and recording. Choose it for an open-source, cross-platform environment with wide creative scope; choose a narrower tool if you only need basic surface warping or prefer a paid product progression.
Ghost Arcade pricing
All 1 Ghost Arcade plans and prices →
Ghost Arcade fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | None |
| Workflow | Hybrid |
| Projection outputs | Not verified |
| Edge blending | Yes |
| Live video input | Yes |
| 3D mapping | Yes |
| Control protocols | Advanced |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Support | Email, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 10 integrations: OBS, Resolume, TouchDesigner, MadMapper, vMix, Notch … |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | ghostarcade.live |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Ghost Arcade integrations
Ghost Arcade lists 10 integrations on its own site.
- OBS
- Resolume
- TouchDesigner
- MadMapper
- vMix
- Notch
- Syphon
- Spout
- NDI
- Ableton Link
Alternatives to Ghost Arcade
- VIOSOA broad professional toolkit for planning, aligning, controlling, and playing projection shows.9.8
- Christie MystiqueA focused choice for automating alignment and projection mapping across Christie systems.8.8
- ScreenberryA broad, control-focused choice for projection mapping and live visual shows.8.5
See all Ghost Arcade alternatives →
Ghost Arcade vs the competition
- Ghost Arcade vs VIOSO
- Ghost Arcade vs Christie Mystique
- Ghost Arcade vs Screenberry
- Ghost Arcade vs MadMapper
- Ghost Arcade vs Millumin
- Ghost Arcade vs LightAct
Compare Ghost Arcade with any tool side by side →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026
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