Decklab vs Dextrous
Dextrous is a mature browser tool for tabletop prototyping, with a strong print pipeline: CMYK PDFs with colour profiles and presets for manufacturers. Decklab is free with no project limits and every export included, and adds a deck checker, a playtest table and offline work.
At a glance
| Feature | Decklab | Dextrous |
|---|---|---|
| Runs on | Your browser on desktop (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari 17+). Works offline once signed in. | Your browser. |
| Price | Free forever. Pro is $9 a month or $99 a year, for AI credits and more cloud space. | Prototyper $6 a month, Designer $12 a month, Designer Pro $24 a month. |
| Free plan | The full editor and every export, with unlimited local projects and 3 cloud projects. | Tester: 2 projects, 10 layouts and 100 MB of storage. |
| How you design | A visual editor measured in millimetres, with text styles, inline icons, variables and rules. | A visual layout editor that renders in the browser. |
| Card data | A built-in data grid. Import and export CSV and Excel, or paste from a spreadsheet. | Spreadsheet and Google Sheets driven, with internal tables. |
| Print-and-play PDF | Free. Letter, A4 or A3, with cut marks, bleed, and double-sided or fold-and-glue backs. | On every plan. CMYK PDF with colour profiles and printer presets from Designer up. |
| Images | Free. PNG per card up to 600 DPI, with bleed and sprite sheets. | High-DPI images on every plan. |
| Tabletop Simulator | Free. Deck sheets and a saved object, with import notes. | On every plan, as a full mod file with hosted sprite sheets. Also Screentop and Dustin’s Designer Den. |
| Playtesting | A free solo table that deals your real cards. | Through exports to online play platforms. |
| AI | Optional. Each step is a proposal you accept or discard, paid with credits. | None listed. |
The main differences
Limits on the free plan
Dextrous’s free Tester plan covers 2 projects and 10 layouts. Decklab’s free plan has no project limit for local projects, and syncs 3 to the cloud.
Print for manufacturing
Dextrous exports CMYK PDFs with colour profiles such as FOGRA39, 100% K black text and presets for printers like Launch Tabletop and Longpack, from its Designer plan. Decklab exports RGB PDFs and 600 DPI PNGs with bleed, which suit home printing and most print-on-demand services. For an offset print run, check your manufacturer’s file requirements.
Checking the deck
Decklab’s Problems panel finds text that overflows, keywords that aren’t defined and resources with no way to gain them, and takes you to the card. Its playtest table deals your real cards before you print.
Online play platforms
Dextrous exports to more digital tables: Tabletop Simulator, Screentop and Dustin’s Designer Den. Decklab exports to Tabletop Simulator.
Choose Dextrous if
- You need CMYK PDFs and presets for a manufacturer
- You playtest on Screentop or Dustin’s Designer Den
- You keep your card data in Google Sheets
Choose Decklab if
- You want unlimited projects and every export for free
- You want a deck checker and a playtest table built in
- You want to keep working offline
- You want optional AI help with cards and rules
Questions
Does Dextrous have a free plan?
Yes. Its Tester plan is free with 2 projects, 10 layouts and 100 MB of storage, and includes PDF, PNG and Tabletop Simulator export.
Does Decklab export CMYK PDFs?
Not today. Decklab’s PDFs and PNGs are RGB, with bleed and cut marks, which suit home printing and most print-on-demand services.
Sources
Facts about other products were checked against their own sites in November 2026. Prices and features change, so check before you decide.
Other comparisons
Try it with your own game
It’s free, every export included, and your first deck is about an evening away.
Free forever. No card needed.