Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Inkarnate VS Map Chart

Compare Inkarnate VS Map Chart and see what are their differences

Inkarnate logo Inkarnate

A free-form map editor for role-playing games, focusing on overland and continental maps.

Map Chart logo Map Chart

Make a custom map with your own colors and descriptions.
  • Inkarnate Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-12
  • Map Chart Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-28

Inkarnate features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Inkarnate boasts a highly intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it accessible even for those who are not experienced in graphic design.
  • High-Quality Assets
    The platform provides access to a large library of high-quality graphical assets, such as terrain, structures, and icons.
  • Community Support
    Inkarnate has a strong community of users who share maps, tips, and tutorials, fostering a supportive environment for learning and creativity.
  • Versatility
    Suitable for a variety of map-making needs ranging from world maps and regional maps to battle maps and interior designs.
  • Frequent Updates
    The developers frequently update the platform with new features, bug fixes, and additional assets, ensuring the tool stays current and versatile.

Possible disadvantages of Inkarnate

  • Subscription Model
    While there is a free version, additional features and assets require a subscription that may not be affordable for all users.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its user-friendly interface, there is still a learning curve associated with mastering all the features and tools available.
  • Limited Export Options
    The platform has limited export resolution in the free version, which can be a drawback for users needing high-resolution maps.
  • Performance Issues
    Larger projects can sometimes cause performance issues, including slow load times and occasional crashes, especially on less powerful hardware.
  • Online-Only
    Inkarnate is an online tool, which means you need an active internet connection to work on your maps, limiting its use in offline scenarios.

Map Chart features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Map Chart offers an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, allowing users, including those without technical expertise, to easily create maps.
  • Customizability
    The platform provides a wide range of customization options, including colors, labels, and map projections, enabling users to tailor maps to their needs.
  • Variety of Map Types
    Map Chart supports a diverse selection of map types, such as world maps, continental maps, and individual country maps.
  • Free to Use
    Map Chart is free to use, which makes it accessible for individuals and organizations without the need for budgeting for mapping software.

Possible disadvantages of Map Chart

  • Limited Advanced Features
    Compared to professional GIS software, Map Chart lacks advanced features like spatial analysis, which may limit its usefulness for detailed geographic analysis.
  • Internet Dependency
    The tool is web-based, which requires an internet connection to access and use, potentially hindering accessibility in areas with poor connectivity.
  • Performance Limitations
    For large datasets or complex maps, the tool might experience performance issues or limitations due to its web-based nature.
  • Less Suitable for Professional Use
    While great for casual or educational purposes, Map Chart may not meet the standards required for professional or commercial mapping projects.

Analysis of Inkarnate

Overall verdict

  • Inkarnate is highly regarded among tabletop RPG enthusiasts and amateur cartographers alike. Its powerful features, intuitive design, and extensive asset library make it a strong choice for those looking to create visually appealing maps without a steep learning curve.

Why this product is good

  • Inkarnate is a popular online tool for creating detailed maps for tabletop role-playing games, world-building for writers, and other creative projects. The platform offers a user-friendly interface with a wide range of assets, textures, and customization options that allow users to create high-quality, professional-looking maps with ease. It is known for its versatility and ability to support various map types, including world maps, regional maps, and city maps.

Recommended for

    Inkarnate is recommended for game masters running tabletop RPGs, writers and novelists engaged in world-building, educators looking to create geographical materials, and any hobbyist interested in map-making. It's especially useful for those who appreciate an easy-to-use tool with professional-quality results.

Inkarnate videos

Inkarnate Review (2020)

More videos:

  • Review - Wonderdraft - Inkarnate Killer? (map-making app review)
  • Review - Inkarnate - Let's Make a Fantasy Map! (free version)

Map Chart videos

Overview of Map Chart Visualizations

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Inkarnate and Map Chart)
Maps
80 80%
20% 20
Game Engine
100 100%
0% 0
Mapping And GIS
74 74%
26% 26
Web Mapping
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Inkarnate and Map Chart. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Inkarnate and Map Chart

Inkarnate Reviews

The Best Map Makers For 2022
There is a free version of Inkarnate but the paid version unlocks a massive library of graphics and is not very expensiveโ€” just $25 per year.
10 Best Sites Like Roll20 Alternatives For Tabletop Gaming
Inkarnate also supports fantasy races. A whole of maps is also provided for the ease of the user.

Map Chart Reviews

We have no reviews of Map Chart yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Inkarnate should be more popular than Map Chart. It has been mentiond 307 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Inkarnate mentions (307)

  • CC0-licensed fantasy map brushes based on historical cartography
    Adding to the other answers, there are also -besides Photoshop, Gimp, etc- specialized tools to draw fantasy maps. The site mentions Wonderdraft [0], but there are a bunch of others though not all of them support using external brushes. Some other tools in this space may be Watabou's tools [1], Azgaar's tools [2], Inkarnate [3], Mapforge [4], or quite a few more which you can find links to in this list [5]. Again:... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • [PF2E][FoundryVTT][Saturday][CST-12:30PM][PAID] -|- Experienced GM seeking both new and experienced players! Explore a personalized fantasy world that is slowly changing as the Planes Converge! -|- [3-week trial period at (5$) per session. After that it's just (10$)!][2/5 slots open]
    Two, it incentivizes me to be best I can be, as I can as well as enabling me to more easily afford things like Dungeondraft or Inkarnate to create custom maps or battles for you guys! Also I kinda need more food money lol. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Mapping Software
    Inkarnate for pretty, colourful maps. Has free and paid tiers. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Temperate rainforest
    Erm. What do you mean? Like a map maker kinda deal that lets you place all the plants + details? Inkarnate allows users to make detailed maps of that extent. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Blank Map/Grid Asset
    As a side note - I have been using https://inkarnate.com/ and it has a lot of cool features for making maps. The Portrait or Landscape options with a 10x13 or 13x10 grid is pretty similar to the hero kids grids and prints well on regular letter sized paper. There's also a huge gallery of maps created by others you can browse through for ideas. There's a pretty limited free version to play around with but if you're... Source: over 2 years ago
View more

Map Chart mentions (81)

  • Maps showing the number of Squid Game: The Challenge contstants from each country and US state
    Peutro Rico is shown seperately from the US. That's down to mapchart.net. The other dot in the Caribbean is Trinidad and Tobago. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Real world locations of Snowrunner regions
    - Taymyr Peninsula is much smaller, the tool I was using (mapchart.net) only let me colour in the whole oblast, when Taymyr is just the top bit. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Anyone else keep a trip map?
    Mapchart.net is a fun one. I like to color in counties I've been to and see a long string from road trips. A little more labor intensive though. Source: over 2 years ago
  • It's Wallace Way! - What if George Wallace ran for third party again in 1972?
    Go to the mapchart.net, click UPLOAD MAP CONFIGURATION and choose a file, choose which you exported. And upload. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Could we post a modified software-generated map
    Thanks. I've been trying that out with paint.net, but it's still really pretty handy to have the border guides which I enjoy with mapchart.net. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Inkarnate and Map Chart, you can also consider the following products

Dungeon Scrawl - A dungeon scrawling tool by ProbableTrain

Google Maps - Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

donjon.bin.sh - Freely accessible online collection of random generators for tabletop games.

mamap.io - Easily create and embed a customizable, interactive map with markers, images and search functionality in just a few minutes. Enhance your user experience and streamline navigation.

Campaign Cartographer - Campaign Cartographer is the leading map making software for games (RPGs, miniatures and wargaming).

Leaflet - Leaflet is a modern, lightweight open-source JavaScript library for mobile-friendly interactive maps.