Software comparison

QLab vs Splash

QLab is a show-control application, while Splash is an open-source mapping tool — they overlap in places but are often used together rather than as substitutes.

	QLab	Splash
Developer	Figure 53	Société des arts technologiques (SAT)
Country	United States	Canada
Category	Show control	Open source
Platforms	macOS	Linux
Licence	Free to program; paid licences to run advanced features	Free & open source (GPL)
Skill level	Beginner → Pro	Pro
First release	—	—
Best for	Theatre sound and video playback with simple mapping.	Domes and multi-projector immersive spaces on Linux.
Key features	Cue-based show control Video surfaces with corner-pin & mesh warp Audio playback & mixing MIDI / OSC / Network cues	Multi-projector video mapping Automatic calibration Dome & immersive spaces Real-time blending

Verdict

Only QLab runs on macOS.

Only Splash runs on Linux.

Choose QLab for theatre sound and video playback with simple mapping.

Choose Splash for domes and multi-projector immersive spaces on Linux.

Facts are curated and checked against vendor websites; licences and prices change — always confirm on the official sites before buying.

QLab alternatives · Splash alternatives · All software