BlueMap vs squaremap

BlueMap reads Minecraft Java Edition world files and turns them into 3D surface maps that people can view in a browser. It can run as a Spigot/Paper or Sponge plugin, a Fabric or Forge mod, or a standalone command-line tool without a Minecraft server. The CLI documentation also covers Docker use. Plugin and mod installations render asynchronously relative to the Minecraft server thread, and the render-thread count is configurable. After the first conversion, BlueMap tracks world changes and processes only changed chunks. Maps can be stored in files or an SQL server. Configuration files can add or remove maps, with settings for display names and web app ordering. An API lets third-party plugins, mods, resource packs, and external tools integrate features. BlueMap is free: the listed plan is free. Server plugin and mod use requires Java 25 or later; the standalone CLI documentation lists Java 21 or later. BlueMap does not support Bedrock worlds. Its integrated webserver has no SSL or built-in authentication; the FAQ suggests using an external webserver for those functions.

squaremap is a free Minecraft server plugin or mod that generates a live world map viewable in a web browser. Its vanilla-like, top-down 2D presentation is designed for navigation and supports live updates, dimension maps, and markers or waypoints. Player markers can show yaw rotation, health, and armor. The project lists Paper, Fabric, NeoForge, and Sponge support; Fabric additionally requires Fabric API. An internal web server is enabled by default and uses port 8080 by default, although a host may restrict available ports. For advanced arrangements such as SSL certificates, the documentation recommends an external web server. Integrations include ChunkyBorder, Heatmap, PlotSquared, Residence, and Towny, plus add-ons for banners, claims, death spots, mobs, signs, skins, vanish, and WorldGuard. Developers can use the API to draw markers, shapes, and icons on rendered maps. Downloads are directed through Modrinth, with development builds on Jenkins. squaremap uses the MIT License, while its Leaflet frontend uses the 2-clause BSD License.