BedrockMap vs The Explorer's Friend
BedrockMap
bedrockmap.netThe Explorer's Friend
github.comSide by side
| Figure | BedrockMap | The Explorer's Friend |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $4/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 4 | 1 |
| Spec score · Minecraft World Map Viewers | 9.5 (#1) | 8.2 (#4) |
| Notable limitation | The Bedrock Premium addon requires a Bedrock Dedicated Server and does not work on Minecraft Realms or single-player worlds. | Forge is not shipped, and the documentation says Paper/Bukkit 26.x uses default biome tints because Minecraft 26.x removed world-generation JSONs from the server and client JARs. |
| Purpose | BedrockMap lets users upload Minecraft Bedrock and Java world files and generate interactive web-based maps. | The Explorer's Friend is a server-side Minecraft world mapper that renders a live topographic map and serves it through an embedded web server. |
| What it does | BedrockMap converts uploaded Bedrock or Java Minecraft worlds into interactive maps viewable and shareable in a browser. | It renders a live topographic map of a Minecraft world and serves it as a web page from an embedded HTTP server. |
Plans
In their own words
BedrockMap
BedrockMap turns Minecraft Bedrock and Java world files into interactive web maps. It accepts Bedrock.mcworld and Java Edition.zip files up to 20GB, then maps the Overworld, Nether, and End for switching between dimensions. The viewer supports panning, zooming, touch gestures, coordinates, and customization of block colors, render size, zoom scale, grid display, thumbnails, and marker styles. Premium Timelines preserve earlier renders as versions to revisit and compare. Premium Auto-Sync can retrieve server backups over SFTP, FTP, or FTPS, or receive API Push uploads from a server script. Premium addons or plugins can add live player tracking and marker creation for Bedrock and Java servers. The free plan allows one world upload and two renders per day, with a limited render area and public sharing links. Premium is listed at $4 a month; the pricing note also says paid plans start at $5/mo. Private maps are restricted to the owner and authorized users, and uploaded world data is not shared with third parties. BedrockMap says it is not an official Minecraft product or associated with Mojang.
The Explorer's Friend
The Explorer's Friend renders a live topographic map of a Minecraft world and serves it from an embedded web server. It runs on a server using Fabric, Quilt, NeoForge, Spigot or Paper, with different builds depending on the platform and Minecraft version. Explored chunks appear as players move through the world; full renders read region files on worker threads without loading chunks. Players can open the map in a browser using vanilla Minecraft clients, without installing a client mod. Separate layers show claims, player positions, markers and Waystones. Claim data can connect to several protection systems or be imported from JSON. Server administrators can disable or round player positions; invisible players and spectators are hidden by default. The server binds to 127.0.0.1 by default and has no built-in account system, so the project recommends a reverse proxy for public maps. Its optional outbound connection downloads the official vanilla client JAR once and verifies it by SHA-1. The MIT-licensed project is free, with live updates, dimension maps and read-only HTTP endpoints.