Decklab vs nanDECK
nanDECK is free, powerful and has been a designer favourite for years, but you build cards by writing a script, and it runs on Windows. Decklab gives you the same idea, one design filled from rows of data, in a visual editor that runs in any desktop browser, Mac included.
At a glance
| Feature | Decklab | nanDECK |
|---|---|---|
| Runs on | Your browser on desktop (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari 17+). Works offline once signed in. | Windows. |
| Price | Free forever. Pro is $9 a month or $99 a year, for AI credits and more cloud space. | Free. Donations welcome. |
| Free plan | The full editor and every export, with unlimited local projects and 3 cloud projects. | Everything, with no limits. |
| How you design | A visual editor measured in millimetres, with text styles, inline icons, variables and rules. | A script of directives, one line per element, with a visual editor to help write it. |
| Card data | A built-in data grid. Import and export CSV and Excel, or paste from a spreadsheet. | Linked CSV or Excel (.xlsx) files. |
| Print-and-play PDF | Free. Letter, A4 or A3, with cut marks, bleed, and double-sided or fold-and-glue backs. | Yes, from the script. |
| Images | Free. PNG per card up to 600 DPI, with bleed and sprite sheets. | PNG and JPEG. |
| Tabletop Simulator | Free. Deck sheets and a saved object, with import notes. | Card sheets, or decks written into a save file. |
| 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
Script or canvas
In nanDECK, a card is a script: lines like RECTANGLE and TEXT that you write and rerun. It’s precise and repeatable, and it takes time to learn. In Decklab, you place text, images and icons on the card and link them to columns. Rules in plain sentences change how a card looks, without code.
Mac and Linux
nanDECK is a Windows program. Decklab runs in Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari on any desktop, with nothing to install.
Beyond the cards
Decklab keeps cards, tokens, boards, boxes and a rulebook in one project, checks the deck for problems, and deals a hand on a playtest table.
Choose nanDECK if
- You’re on Windows and happy to script
- You want a tool that costs nothing, with no account
- You need features only a script can reach
Choose Decklab if
- You’d rather design visually than write a script
- You’re on a Mac or Linux
- You want a deck checker, playtest table and rulebook in the same project
Questions
Is there a nanDECK for Mac?
nanDECK’s site describes it as Windows software. Decklab runs in a browser on a Mac, with print-and-play PDFs and Tabletop Simulator export included free.
Can I bring my nanDECK data to Decklab?
Your spreadsheet, yes: Decklab imports CSV and Excel files. The nanDECK script itself doesn’t carry over, so you rebuild the layout in the editor.
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.