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Arnis vs MapSmith vs Map2Minecraft

Three ways to turn a real place into a Minecraft world, all built on the same open-source Arnis engine by Louis Erbkamm. What each costs, how fast you get your world, and when we're not the right pick.

We make Map2Minecraft, so read this knowing that. Map2Minecraft is not affiliated with the Arnis project. Facts about the other tools link to their sources and were checked on 1 October 2026.

Arnis app

Official · free

Pick it if you have a computer and want it free, at any size, with every setting.

Download from GitHub

MapSmith

Official · from €3

Pick it for big areas or the lowest price per km², if you're happy to pay first and wait for an email.

Go to MapSmith

Map2Minecraft

Unofficial · free preview

Pick it to see your own world before you pay and download it in minutes, on any device.

Generate a free preview

Side by side

Feature	Arnis app	MapSmith	Map2Minecraft	Other websites
Made by	Louis Erbkamm — official	Louis Erbkamm — official	Map2Minecraft — independent, built on Arnis	Various — unofficial
Cost	Free, open source	€3–€50 by area	Preview free · $5–$20 per world · Pro $39/mo	Varies
Install	Windows, macOS or Linux app	Nothing — runs in the browser	Nothing — runs in the browser	Varies
Phones and tablets	No — needs a computer	Yes	Yes	Varies
See your world before paying	Free, so nothing to risk	No — generation starts after payment	Yes — free preview of the real result	Varies
Getting your world	Built on your own computer	Download link by email; terms aim for within 24 hours	Download as soon as it's built (usually 1–5 min)	Varies
Largest area	Whatever your computer can handle	500 km² Java · 250 km² Bedrock	25 km² one-time · 100 km² with Pro	Varies
Editions	Java 1.17+, Bedrock, Luanti	Java, Bedrock	Java, Bedrock	Varies
Settings	The most: scale, spawn point, interiors, terrain modes, one persistent world	Mode, game mode, time of day, spawn point, roofs, land cover, interiors	Scale, terrain, interiors, roofs, ground fill	Varies

Price for the same area

The honest headline: MapSmith is cheaper than Map2Minecraft at every paid size, and far cheaper for big areas. What the extra buys with us is seeing your actual world before you pay anything, then downloading it the moment you do. If you already know exactly what you want, or you need more than 25 km², MapSmith or the free app is the better deal.

Area	Arnis app	MapSmith	Map2Minecraft
0.06 km² · a street (~250 m square)	Free	€3 (smallest order is 0.2 km²)	$5
0.5 km² · a neighbourhood	Free	€3.21	$5
3 km² · a town centre	Free	€4.93	$10
9 km² · a downtown	Free	€6.56	$20
25 km²	Free	€10.19	$20
40 km² · a small city	Free	€11.15	Pro only ($39/mo)
100 km²	Free	€15	Pro only ($39/mo)
500 km² · a whole region	Free	€50 (Java only)	Not offered

MapSmith prices are in euros and charged in your local currency at checkout. They follow MapSmith's published price curve: €3 up to 0.2 km², then a straight line between €5 at 3.1 km², €10 at 22 km², €15 at 100 km², €25 at 250 km² and €50 at 500 km². Map2Minecraft prices are in US dollars, one-time per world, with free generation and preview.

Using another website?

Other sites also offer generation built on Arnis. Before you pay anywhere, check four things:

Does it claim to be the official Arnis? The project says its only official sites are GitHub and arnismc.com (its guide), and the desktop app is always free.
Can you see your own world before paying, or only a sample?
Is the download instant, or emailed later?
What area does the price cover, and is Bedrock included?

Questions

Is MapSmith cheaper than Map2Minecraft?+

Yes — per km² it is cheaper at every paid size. For example, 9 km² is about €6.56 on MapSmith and $20 on Map2Minecraft; 22 km² is about €10 vs $20. What the difference buys with us: you see your actual generated world free before paying, and you download it straight away. MapSmith generates after payment and emails the world (its terms aim for within 24 hours).

What's the difference between Arnis and MapSmith?+

Both are official and made by Louis Erbkamm. Arnis is the free, open-source desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux. MapSmith is the paid online version that runs in a browser, for people who can't or don't want to install software, or who want a larger area than their computer can manage.

Is Map2Minecraft an official Arnis product?+

No. Map2Minecraft is an independent service that runs a fork of the open-source Arnis engine. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Arnis project, whose only official sites are github.com/louis-e/arnis and arnismc.com.

Which one works on a phone?+

MapSmith and Map2Minecraft both run in a phone's browser. The Arnis app needs a Windows, Mac or Linux computer, though the Bedrock worlds it makes can be copied to a phone afterwards.

Can I see the world before I pay?+

With the Arnis app there's nothing to pay. On MapSmith, generation starts after payment. On Map2Minecraft, generating and previewing are free and you only pay to download.

Which is best for big areas?+

The free Arnis app (limited only by your computer) or MapSmith (up to 500 km² for Java, 250 km² for Bedrock). Map2Minecraft goes up to 25 km² as a one-time purchase and 100 km² with Pro.

Sources

Arnis on GitHub (README) — author, license, editions, platforms, settings, official sites
arnismc.com — official download guide — MapSmith is the official online version; which sites are official
MapSmith — price curve, size limits, settings, pay-before-generating flow
MapSmith terms — €3–€50 range, 24-hour delivery aim, payment providers

More on how we use the Arnis engine: Arnis online, with nothing to install.

See yours before you decide

Generate any place free and look around it. Pay only if you want to keep it.

Generate a free preview