squaremap vs The Explorer's Friend

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.

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.