Loremapper and Wonderdraft: how they differ
Wonderdraft and Loremapper both make world and regional fantasy maps. Wonderdraft is a desktop app for drawing beautiful illustrated maps; Loremapper is a free browser tool that generates believable terrain and lets you edit it.
| Loremapper | Wonderdraft | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A fantasy map generator and editor focused on believable terrain | A desktop map maker for illustrated world and regional maps |
| How maps are made | Generated from a seed at true scale (real elevation, rivers, climate), then edited by hand | Brushed and generated landmasses, painted symbols, styled labels and themes |
| Where it runs | Browser; can also run on your own computer | Desktop: Windows and Ubuntu (per their site) |
| Cost | Free, non-commercial project | One-time purchase (see their site) |
| Source code | Open source (MIT) | Proprietary |
| Account | None; maps stay in your browser | Purchase required |
What Wonderdraft does well
- Made for illustrated maps: landmasses with beautified coastlines, painted groups of trees and mountains, artistic rivers and roads.
- Styled labels and curated map themes for a finished look.
- A desktop app bought once, with pen and tablet support (see their site for systems and details).
How Loremapper differs
- Runs in the browser with nothing to install, or on your own computer; free and open source (MIT).
- Terrain has real elevation in metres; the generator forms mountain ranges, river networks and climate at true scale.
- Exports 16-bit heightmaps besides images and project files, and has fog of war for player maps.
- Its look comes from map styles over the terrain rather than painted symbols; you can add your own art as icons.
Which to choose
Wonderdraft may suit you if…
you want to draw a richly illustrated map on your computer, with a pen or tablet, painted symbols and curated themes.
Loremapper may suit you if…
you want realistic land generated in seconds and editable in the browser, with elevation, heightmaps and fog of war, for free.
Using both
You can generate and refine a landmass in Loremapper and use the exported image as a reference for an illustrated map drawn in the tool you like.
Questions
Is Loremapper a free alternative to Wonderdraft?
Loremapper is free and runs in the browser, but it works differently: it generates realistic terrain with elevation, while Wonderdraft is a desktop tool for drawing illustrated maps.
Can I run Loremapper on my own computer?
Yes. Besides the online version, you can run your own copy with Docker or Node.js; see the project on GitHub.
Can I use my own symbols in Loremapper?
Yes. Import PNG, WebP or SVG files into the asset library and place them like the built-in icons.
See also: all comparisons · guides · open Loremapper