Decklab vs Magic Set Editor
Magic Set Editor is the classic for fan-made cards in the style of existing trading card games, through community template packs. Decklab is for designing your own game: your own frame, your own data and print-ready sheets.
At a glance
| Feature | Decklab | Magic Set Editor |
|---|---|---|
| Runs on | Your browser on desktop (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari 17+). Works offline once signed in. | Windows, with Linux builds from the community. |
| Price | Free forever. Pro is $9 a month or $99 a year, for AI credits and more cloud space. | Free and open source (GPL 2.0). |
| Free plan | The full editor and every export, with unlimited local projects and 3 cloud projects. | Everything. |
| How you design | A visual editor measured in millimetres, with text styles, inline icons, variables and rules. | Fill in cards on templates from game packs. |
| Card data | A built-in data grid. Import and export CSV and Excel, or paste from a spreadsheet. | Card by card, in the program. |
| Print-and-play PDF | Free. Letter, A4 or A3, with cut marks, bleed, and double-sided or fold-and-glue backs. | Prints cards; no print-and-play sheet layout. |
| Images | Free. PNG per card up to 600 DPI, with bleed and sprite sheets. | Card images, and HTML spoilers. |
| Tabletop Simulator | Free. Deck sheets and a saved object, with import notes. | Not built in. Exports for Apprentice and Lackey. |
| Playtesting | A free solo table that deals your real cards. | None built in. |
| AI | Optional. Each step is a proposal you accept or discard, paid with credits. | None. |
The main differences
Someone else’s frame, or yours
Magic Set Editor shines when you want cards that look like an existing game’s, using a pack someone has built. In Decklab, you design the frame yourself and every row of data fills it.
Maintenance
The original Magic Set Editor’s last official release dates from 2011; community forks carry it on.
Getting it on the table
Decklab exports print-and-play sheets with cut marks and backs, 600 DPI images and Tabletop Simulator decks, all free.
Choose Magic Set Editor if
- You’re making fan cards for an existing game
- A community pack already has the frame you want
Choose Decklab if
- You’re designing your own game
- You want your cards filled from a spreadsheet
- You want print-and-play sheets and Tabletop Simulator export
Questions
Can Decklab make cards like an existing trading card game?
Decklab is built for your own designs. You can lay out any frame you like, but it doesn’t include other games’ templates, artwork or trademarks.
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.