Decklab vs Squib
Squib is for designers who code: cards are Ruby, layouts are YAML, and everything lives in version control. Decklab reaches the same result, a deck built from data, without writing code.
At a glance
| Feature | Decklab | Squib |
|---|---|---|
| Runs on | Your browser on desktop (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari 17+). Works offline once signed in. | Anywhere Ruby runs. |
| Price | Free forever. Pro is $9 a month or $99 a year, for AI credits and more cloud space. | Free and open source (MIT). |
| 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. | Ruby code, with layouts in YAML files. |
| Card data | A built-in data grid. Import and export CSV and Excel, or paste from a spreadsheet. | CSV and Excel (.xlsx). |
| Print-and-play PDF | Free. Letter, A4 or A3, with cut marks, bleed, and double-sided or fold-and-glue backs. | Yes, as sheets. |
| Images | Free. PNG per card up to 600 DPI, with bleed and sprite sheets. | PNG and SVG. |
| Tabletop Simulator | Free. Deck sheets and a saved object, with import notes. | Not built in; you make sheets yourself. |
| Playtesting | A free solo table that deals your real cards. | None. |
| AI | Optional. Each step is a proposal you accept or discard, paid with credits. | None. |
The main differences
Code or canvas
With Squib you write Ruby and rerun it to see your cards. That’s ideal if you live in a code editor and want diffs of every change. Decklab shows the card as you edit it, links text and images to columns, and handles layout rules without code.
Updates
Squib’s latest release on RubyGems is 0.19.0, from April 2023.
Choose Squib if
- You write code and want your cards in Git
- You want a free, open-source tool you can extend
Choose Decklab if
- You’d rather see the card as you design it
- You want playtesting, deck checks and Tabletop Simulator export built in
Questions
Do I need to know Ruby to use Squib?
Yes: Squib is a Ruby library, so cards are made by writing Ruby. Decklab needs no code.
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.