articy:draft X From €5.83/mo · Free plan 9.4 Visit ChatMapper
chatmapper.com
What it is
ChatMapper is a browser-based workspace for designing, simulating, validating, and delivering branching conversations. Its visual graph handles dialogue, choices, actors, variables, conditions, scripts, media, and links across conversations. The simulator runs Lua logic and checks for broken links, dead ends, and undefined variables. An AI collaborator can suggest structured edits for review, with accepted changes saved as revisions. ChatMapper imports.cmp, XML, Arcweave, Twine, articy:draft, and CSV, and exports JSON, Unity XML, SCORM, xAPI, Yarn, HTML, and LearnBrite. Its canonical JSON can be used with Unreal, Godot, and custom engines; the maker also describes Unity and Yarn exports. Use cases include games, interactive stories, learning, immersive experiences, and AI character roleplay. The free plan allows one editor, three projects, and 300 nodes per project, with core exports and commercial use permitted. Paid plans start at $19 a month, billed annually. ChatMapper Cloud supports current Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari; the separate offline Desktop 1.9.1 app is Windows-only.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- ChatMapper is a visual workspace for designing, simulating, validating and delivering branching conversations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · chatmapper.com
- Product
- ChatMapper is a browser-based workspace for designing, simulating, validating, and delivering branching conversations.Read 28 Sep 2026 · chatmapper.com
- Integrations
- The site lists OpenAI, Anthropic, ElevenLabs, HeyGen, and Synthesia as supported provider integrations using customers’ own keys.Read 28 Sep 2026 · chatmapper.com
- Support
- The Enterprise plan lists onboarding, an SLA, and commercial support; the Team plan lists priority support.Read 28 Sep 2026 · chatmapper.com
- Founded
- LinkedIn lists ChatMapper's founding year as 2012.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ec.linkedin.com
- AI assistance
- The AI collaborator proposes structured edits for human review, and accepted changes are saved as revisions.Read 28 Sep 2026 · chatmapper.com
- AI billing
- Generative media uses customers’ own provider keys, with provider usage billed directly by the provider and no ChatMapper markup.Read 28 Sep 2026 · chatmapper.com
- AI editing
- The AI collaborator proposes structured scenario drafts, branch extensions, rewrites and scoring logic that a person must approve before application.Read 15 Oct 2026 · chatmapper.com
- AI providers
- ChatMapper lists OpenAI, Anthropic, ElevenLabs, HeyGen and Synthesia as provider options, with customers supplying their own keys.Read 15 Oct 2026 · chatmapper.com
- Authoring
- Its visual graph supports dialogue, choices, actors, variables, conditions, scripts, media, and cross-conversation links.Read 28 Sep 2026 · chatmapper.com
- Browser compatibility
- The documentation says ChatMapper Cloud runs in current Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari.Read 28 Sep 2026 · docs.chatmapper.com
- Company size
- LinkedIn lists ChatMapper as a privately held company with 2–10 employees.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ec.linkedin.com
- Custom engines
- Unreal, Godot and proprietary engines can consume the canonical JSON format through a documented custom-runtime route.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.chatmapper.com
- Data portability
- The site says scenarios use a public canonical JSON format with an MIT reference parser and can be exported.Read 28 Sep 2026 · chatmapper.com
- Desktop download
- Desktop 1.9.1 is distributed as a 21.85 MB executable installer and a 26.20 MB MSI for managed Windows deployment.Read 15 Oct 2026 · chatmapper.com
- Desktop platform
- ChatMapper Desktop 1.9.1 is a Windows-only application that runs fully offline; the maker says it is stable and maintained while active development happens in the browser product.Read 28 Sep 2026 · chatmapper.com
- Desktop status
- The maker describes Desktop 1.9.1 as stable and maintained, while active development is concentrated in the browser product.Read 15 Oct 2026 · chatmapper.com
- Deterministic validation
- Validation checks broken links, dead ends, unreachable content, undefined variables and runtime-readiness issues across the graph.Read 15 Oct 2026 · chatmapper.com
- Documentation depth
- Developer documentation covers the data model, normative JSON, runtime semantics, Lua, XML, format extensions, validation, importers and multiple integrations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.chatmapper.com
- Engine support
- The site describes Unity and Yarn exports and says canonical JSON can be used with Unreal, Godot, and custom engines.Read 28 Sep 2026 · chatmapper.com
- Exports
- Exports include canonical JSON, Unity XML, Yarn, HTML player, SCORM, xAPI, CSV, RTF, SVG, CMPKG and LearnBrite delivery.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.chatmapper.com
- Import and export
- ChatMapper lists imports from .cmp, XML, Arcweave, Twine, articy:draft, and CSV, and exports to JSON, Unity XML, SCORM, xAPI, Yarn, HTML, and LearnBrite.Read 28 Sep 2026 · chatmapper.com
- Imports
- Supported imports include ChatMapper desktop files, .cmp, .cmpkg, XML, JSON, CSV/Excel, Twine, Arcweave and articy:draft.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.chatmapper.com
- JavaScript API
- The standalone player exposes window.chatmapperPlayer with scenario, session, completion and choice callbacks.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.chatmapper.com
- Limit: editor clutter
- A Bath Spa research thesis reports that ChatMapper's UI and output felt encumbered by extra avatar and game-asset features for the author's writing workflow.Read 15 Oct 2026 · researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk
- Limit: extra processing
- The same thesis says ChatMapper exports redundant data that required additional processing for the author's application.Read 15 Oct 2026 · researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk
- Limit: macOS use at the time
- The thesis author reported needing a Windows emulator to use ChatMapper on macOS during the period studied.Read 15 Oct 2026 · researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk
- Limit: Windows desktop
- An independent review notes that Desktop 1.9.1 is Windows-only and that Cloud and Desktop are separate offerings.Read 15 Oct 2026 · challengingvoice.com
- Lua simulation
- The browser simulator runs real Lua logic through WebAssembly and exposes changing variables during play.Read 15 Oct 2026 · chatmapper.com
- Maker relationship
- The official footer identifies ChatMapper as part of Hyperspace.Read 15 Oct 2026 · chatmapper.com
- Praise: interoperability
- An independent review highlights the broad export coverage across Unity, Unreal, Godot, Yarn Spinner, SCORM, xAPI, LearnBrite, HTML and JSON.Read 15 Oct 2026 · challengingvoice.com
- Praise: workflow
- An independent review describes the core workflow as usable without AI and says AI changes require human approval.Read 15 Oct 2026 · challengingvoice.com
- Privacy and compliance
- The maker states that customer scenarios are not used for training, provider retention is disabled where supported, and GDPR-aligned DPA and deletion processes are available.Read 15 Oct 2026 · chatmapper.com
- Public API status
- ChatMapper states that Cloud has no public API yet and currently integrates through deterministic file imports and exports.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.chatmapper.com
- Reference parser licence
- The dependency-free TypeScript reference parser is MIT licensed, while the Desktop product itself uses personal, commercial and team licences.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.chatmapper.com
- SCORM limitation
- The SCORM/xAPI documentation says each package contains one scenario and one score, and SCORM 2004 is not produced.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.chatmapper.com
- SDK
- The Desktop download page provides a 1.9 SDK with source and samples for reading projects in an external pipeline.Read 15 Oct 2026 · chatmapper.com
- Security and deployment
- Enterprise offerings list SSO, security review, DPA, private deployment, and on-prem options.Read 28 Sep 2026 · chatmapper.com
- Security claims
- ChatMapper says model keys are encrypted at rest, decrypted server-side only, and never sent to the browser.Read 15 Oct 2026 · chatmapper.com
- Self-hosting
- Private deployment and on-premises operation are offered under Enterprise and OEM arrangements.Read 15 Oct 2026 · chatmapper.com
- Simulation and validation
- The product simulates Lua logic and checks for broken links, dead ends, and undefined variables.Read 28 Sep 2026 · chatmapper.com
- Standalone player
- The standalone HTML export is a single self-contained file that runs from file://, email attachments or static hosting without a server.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.chatmapper.com
- System requirements
- ChatMapper Cloud runs in current Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari; Desktop 1.9.1 is Windows-only.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.chatmapper.com
- Unity integration
- Unity projects can consume a native Dialogue System XML export for Pixel Crushers Dialogue System.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.chatmapper.com
- Use cases
- The maker presents ChatMapper for games and interactive stories, serious games and learning, immersive experiences, and AI character roleplay.Read 28 Sep 2026 · chatmapper.com
- Visual canvas
- The editor represents dialogue as a graph with actors, choices, group nodes, variables, conditions, scripts, media and cross-conversation links.Read 15 Oct 2026 · chatmapper.com
- Yarn integration
- ChatMapper exports Yarn Spinner files usable with Unity, Godot, Unreal or web runtimes through Yarn's runtime.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.chatmapper.com
Plans and prices
Desktop Personal Free Free forever 1 user · Windows Desktop 1.9.1 · fully offline · local files · personal and non-commercial use only Read 15 Oct 2026 · chatmapper.com
Free Free 1 editor · 3 projects · 300 nodes each · visual canvas · Lua simulation · deterministic validation · JSON/HTML/screenplay export · commercial use Read 15 Oct 2026 · chatmapper.com
Creator $19 a month Billed annually at $228/year, or $24 month to month unlimited projects and nodes · production exports · AI collaborator · generative voice/video with provider keys · localization · 90-day history Read 15 Oct 2026 · chatmapper.com
Creator $19 a month Billed annually Unlimited projects and nodes · Unity, Yarn, SCORM, xAPI and LearnBrite exports · AI copilot · localization · 90-day history Read 28 Sep 2026 · chatmapper.com
Desktop Commercial $35 a month Billed annually at $420/year 1 professional user · commercial/client work · advanced exports · Windows Desktop 1.9.1 Read 15 Oct 2026 · chatmapper.com
Team $79 a month Billed annually at $948/year, or $99 monthly; 3 editors included, plus $20 per extra editor organizations · roles · live presence · conflict protection · full diff/history/restore · shared AI provider configuration · priority support Read 15 Oct 2026 · chatmapper.com
Team $79 a month Billed annually 3 editors included · $20 per extra editor · roles and teams · live presence · full history · priority support Read 28 Sep 2026 · chatmapper.com
Desktop Team $110 a month Billed annually at $1,320/year 3 professional users · commercial/client work · advanced exports · Windows Desktop 1.9.1 Read 15 Oct 2026 · chatmapper.com
Enterprise & OEM Priced on request OEM/white-label engine · custom integrations/exporters · SSO · security review · DPA · private or on-prem deployment · onboarding · SLA · commercial support Read 15 Oct 2026 · chatmapper.com
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Simulates Lua logic and checks common structural issues.
- Imports and exports numerous conversation formats.
- Free plan permits commercial use.
- Canonical JSON supports custom engines.
Limits
- Free plan is limited to one editor.
- Desktop 1.9.1 is Windows-only.
- Creator pricing is billed annually.
Who it suits
ChatMapper suits creators of branching dialogue for games, learning, immersive experiences, or AI character roleplay. It also offers team and enterprise options for collaboration, support, and deployment needs.
ChatMapper in depth
Read the full write-up
ChatMapper is a visual workspace for authoring, checking, and delivering branching conversations. It suits game and interactive-story creators who need structured dialogue and multiple export routes. Its free tier is useful for small projects, but editor caps and separate Windows desktop plans make the right fit depend on team size and workflow.
Overview
ChatMapper brings dialogue and choices into a node-based graph, with actors, variables, conditions, scripts, media, and links between conversations. It can simulate Lua logic and flag broken links, dead ends, and undefined variables, giving authors ways to catch structural issues before delivery.
The AI collaborator suggests structured edits for human review; accepted edits become revisions. Scenarios use a public canonical JSON format, and an MIT reference parser supports work with that format outside ChatMapper. That portability is a meaningful advantage for teams that want an exportable project rather than a scenario locked to one workspace.
Key features
Authoring and validation: The graph combines branching dialogue with conditions and scripts, while simulation and checks help identify logic and structure problems.
AI and provider integrations: OpenAI, Anthropic, ElevenLabs, HeyGen, and Synthesia are supported using customers’ own keys. Generative-media charges go directly to the provider, with no ChatMapper markup; budget for those costs separately.
Interchange and delivery: Imports include.cmp, XML, Arcweave, Twine, articy:draft, and CSV. Exports include JSON, Unity XML, SCORM, xAPI, Yarn, HTML, and LearnBrite. Unity and Yarn are described export paths; canonical JSON can also be used with Unreal, Godot, and custom engines.
Localization and history: Localization is included in Creator, while revision history expands to 90 days there and full history on Team.
Pricing
The free web plan costs nothing and allows one editor, three projects, and 300 nodes per project, with core exports and commercial use permitted. It is a practical starting point for an individual or small prototype, but the project and node caps will constrain larger work. The separate Desktop Personal plan also costs nothing, but is for one user’s personal, non-commercial projects in the offline Windows app.
Creator costs $19 a month, billed annually. It removes project and node limits and adds Unity, Yarn, SCORM, xAPI, and LearnBrite exports, AI copilot, localization, and 90-day history. It is the clearest step up for a solo professional who has outgrown the free caps; annual billing is the trade-off.
Desktop Commercial costs $35 a month, billed annually at $420 a year, for one professional user doing commercial and client work, with advanced exports and Windows Desktop 1.9.1. Team costs $79 a month, billed annually, includes three editors, roles and teams, live presence, full history, and priority support; extra editors cost $20 per editor. Choose Team for collaborative browser work rather than paying for a desktop-only license. Desktop Team costs $110 a month, billed annually at $1,320 a year, and covers three professional users’ commercial and client work with advanced exports in the Windows desktop app.
Enterprise & OEM has custom pricing and adds OEM and white-label engine options, custom integrations and exporters, SSO, security review, DPA, private deployment or on-prem options, SLA, and support. It is aimed at organizations with procurement, deployment, or licensing requirements beyond the standard plans.
Platforms
ChatMapper Cloud runs in current Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari. The separate ChatMapper Desktop 1.9.1 application is Windows-only and runs fully offline; it is described as stable and maintained while active development takes place in the browser product. The platform mix makes Cloud the better fit for browser-based collaboration, while Desktop is for Windows users who specifically need offline authoring.
Who it's for
ChatMapper is suited to authors of games and interactive stories, serious games and learning, immersive experiences, and AI character roleplay. Its branching tools, validation, localization, and broad interchange options serve projects that need more than a linear script. The free web tier works for a single editor with a small project; teams needing collaboration, commercial desktop use, or enterprise deployment should choose a corresponding paid plan.
Pros and cons
Pro: Simulation and checks cover Lua logic, broken links, dead ends, and undefined variables, addressing common structural concerns in branching work.
Pro: Imports, exports, canonical JSON, and an MIT reference parser give projects several ways to move between tools and engines.
Pro: Commercial use is permitted on the free web plan, making it possible to start without a subscription if the caps are sufficient.
Con: Free web use is limited to one editor, three projects, and 300 nodes per project; collaboration and larger scenarios require an upgrade.
Con: Desktop is Windows-only, and the offline personal plan excludes commercial work; commercial desktop use starts with a separately priced plan.
Con: Creator’s $19 a month rate is billed annually, and AI media use can add provider charges billed outside ChatMapper.
Alternatives
For a broader set of options, browse Game Narrative Design Software.
Ren'Py is worth considering if a free authoring system for commercial or non-commercial visual novels is the priority.
Naninovel is an alternative with a free trial and support across desktop, mobile, and web platforms.
articy:draft X may suit authors who want a free tier with unlimited projects and a 700-object cap per project.
ink and Inky is a free option for authors who want Ink, its Inky editor, and the ink-Unity integration under the MIT license.
Narrat is a free, open-source choice with no use restrictions for personal or commercial projects.
Yarn Spinner is a free, open-source option with Unity, Godot, and Unreal integrations and a VS Code extension.
Narratyr is another freemium option with a visual editor and open document format.
TADS is a free authoring system with no restrictions on games created.
Verdict
Choose ChatMapper if you want a structured branching-conversation workspace with validation, portable formats, and routes into several engines and delivery formats. The free commercial web tier is a strong starting point for small projects, and Creator removes its project and node ceilings. Look elsewhere if you need more than one free editor, a non-Windows offline desktop app, or a plan without annual billing.
Verdict
ChatMapper specifies its authoring, validation, interchange, and engine pathways, with a useful free tier for small projects. Check editor and project limits, annual billing, and whether browser or Windows desktop access fits your workflow.
Where Specifiction places it
- Game Narrative Design Software#2 of 259.4
