Setplot
Setplot: A browser-based tool for theatre teams to plan sets, lighting looks and production paperwork. Ranked #16 of 28 in Lighting Design Software by our editors (7.0/10); pricing: Free plan · paid from $29; best for theater teams creating plots and set-change paperwork.
At a glance
- Editor score7.0 / 10
- PricingFree plan · paid from $29
- Best forTheater teams creating plots and set-change paperwork
- Free planYes
- 3D visualizationYes
- Facts checked4 Oct 2026
Where it wins
- Draw scaled groundplans and preview scenery and lighting from audience viewpoints.
- Export lighting plots, hookups, schedules, patch sheets and magic sheets.
- Free plan includes lighting, a 3D card model, standard exports and view-only links.
Where it doesn't
- The 3D card model does not predict measured light levels or project gobo patterns.
- Free-plan sharing is view-only; collaboration is included on paid plans.
- MVR/GDTF interchange is limited to eligible paid plans.
Our verdict on Setplot
Setplot is browser-based software for theatre set and lighting design, aimed at set designers, directors and drama teachers planning a production. Teams can draw stage groundplans to scale, arrange scenery, add and aim fixtures, then inspect the design in 3D from audience viewpoints. Lighting looks can be created for each set, with crossfades previewed between them. The tool also generates production paperwork, including scaled lighting plots, channel hookups, hanging schedules, patch sheets and magic sheets, and can compare sets to produce shift plots and running orders. It suits theatre teams that want set planning and lighting documentation in one browser-based workspace.
Its free plan includes lighting, a 3D card model, standard exports and view-only share links. Production Pass costs $29 one time and covers one production for life, with unlimited collaborators on that show and MVR/GDTF interchange. Pro costs $79 per year for unlimited productions and collaborators, MVR/GDTF interchange, version history and an audit trail. Organization is $299 per year and adds unlimited users and productions, a shared venue library and an admin log. The plan choices make the paid step depend on whether a team needs collaboration for one show, ongoing production capacity or organization-level administration.
Setplot’s 3D view is a planning aid, not a measured lighting simulation: its card model does not predict measured light levels or project gobo patterns. MVR lighting-rig export is available on eligible plans, while the free plan provides view-only sharing rather than collaborator access. Teams focused on scaled plots, set changes and paperwork can start with the free tier and consider a paid plan when collaboration or interchange matters. Designers who require measured light-level predictions or gobo projection in the 3D preview should look for a different tool.
Setplot pricing
All 4 Setplot plans and prices →
Setplot fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| 3D visualization | Yes |
| Plot & paperwork | Yes |
| Live previsualization | Yes |
| Console protocols | MVR |
| Platforms | Web browser |
| Fixture library size | Not verified |
| Deployment | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan · paid from $29 (source) |
| Website | setplot.app |
| Facts checked | 4 Oct 2026 |
Alternatives to Setplot
- Vectorworks SpotlightAn end-to-end CAD workflow for lighting design, from drafting to DMX previsualization.9.2
- DIALuxA Windows lighting design tool with a free core and paid BIM and export features.8.8
- Vectorworks VisionA console-connected 3D workspace for reviewing production lighting before load-in.8.7
See all Setplot alternatives →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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