ShuffleKit vs nanDeck
One of these is a script-driven Windows app from 2006, which is why people keep searching for a Mac, Linux or online version of it. The other opens in a browser tab on any of those machines, has AI built in, and prints to The Game Crafter in one click.
- Platform
ShuffleKitBrowser-based, works on any device
nanDeckWindows desktop only (Wine on macOS/Linux)
- Pricing
ShuffleKitFree plan; paid from $4/month billed yearly
nanDeckFree, donation-supported
- Learning curve
ShuffleKitVisual editor, no code required
nanDeckScript-driven, requires learning a custom syntax
When to choose ShuffleKit, when to stay with nanDeck
nanDeck has been around since 2006, and the designers who like writing scripts swear by it. It is also still maintained, with version 1.29 shipping in May 2026, so treat it as an old tool rather than an abandoned one. If you like scripting your layouts and want the files on your own disk, nanDeck still wins, and it costs nothing. ShuffleKit is the better pick if you would rather not write code at all, or if the machine you design on is not a Windows one.
Feature comparison
Side-by-side, no spin.
How we compared: Checked on 9 September 2026 against nanDeck's own feature page and its current release listing (version 1.29, May 2026). ShuffleKit's limits come from our published plan configuration. Check nanDeck directly, since software pricing changes.
Why designers switch
You don't have to learn a scripting language
nanDeck's syntax is powerful but steep. ShuffleKit's visual editor and spreadsheet view do the same work without writing code.
Design, playtest, print in one tool
With nanDeck you build cards in one app, export to another to playtest, and upload to a third to print; ShuffleKit collapses all three.
Modern AI assistance
ShuffleKit's AI proposes balanced cards, generates art, and rewrites rules against your project's actual properties. nanDeck has no AI.
Runs on a Mac, Linux or a Chromebook
nanDeck runs only on Windows, so macOS and Linux designers reach for Wine, a virtual machine, or a borrowed PC. ShuffleKit opens in any modern browser on Mac, Windows, Linux, iPad, Chromebook and phones, with nothing to install.
Built-in playtesting
Share a link and your testers join. The session runs in the browser. No Tabletop Simulator licence, no setup grind.
Direct print fulfillment
ShuffleKit is a Game Crafter integration partner. On the Indie plan, click publish and get a printed deck shipped worldwide.
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know before getting started.
Still have questions? Contact us
Does nanDeck run on a Mac?
Not natively. nanDeck is a Windows program, and Mac designers run it through Wine, CrossOver, Parallels, or a Windows machine on the side. That works, and plenty of people do it, but it means maintaining a compatibility layer to lay out a deck of cards. ShuffleKit runs in Safari, Chrome, or any other modern browser on macOS, with nothing to install and no Windows licence.
Is there an online version of nanDeck?
No. nanDeck is a desktop download for Windows, still maintained — version 1.29 shipped in May 2026 — but there is no browser version and no hosted account. If what you want is nanDeck's data-driven deck building without the desktop, ShuffleKit is the closest equivalent that runs online: your cards live in a spreadsheet-style view, one layout applies across the whole deck, and the project opens on any machine you sign in from.
Does ShuffleKit run on Linux or a Chromebook?
Yes. ShuffleKit is a web app, so it runs on Linux and ChromeOS the same way it runs on Windows and macOS: open a browser and sign in. nanDeck on Linux means Wine, and on a Chromebook it means the Linux container plus Wine underneath it.
Is nanDeck a bad tool?
Not at all. nanDeck has been around since 2006 and has a loyal community of designers who appreciate its script-based control and offline workflow. If you prefer writing layouts in a terminal-style syntax and don't need cloud features, nanDeck is still a solid choice. ShuffleKit is for people who would rather have the visual editor, the AI, the playtable and the print order in one place.
Can I import a nanDeck project into ShuffleKit?
Yes. Export your card data from nanDeck as CSV, then import the CSV into ShuffleKit. Column matching pairs your nanDeck headers with card fields, near-miss names included, and you confirm each one. Card art can be re-uploaded or regenerated with AI.
Is ShuffleKit really free to try?
Yes. The free plan covers a full project of up to 120 cards and 10 layouts, 30 AI image credits a month, and unlimited online playtest sessions. Visual export to PNG, SVG, PDF and Tabletop Simulator is a paid feature, and paid plans start at $4/month billed yearly.
Does ShuffleKit work offline like nanDeck?
No. ShuffleKit is browser-based and requires an internet connection. The tradeoff is real-time sync, cloud backups, online playtesting, and AI features that wouldn't work locally.
Will my nanDeck scripts work in ShuffleKit?
No, ShuffleKit doesn't use a scripting language. Card layouts are built with a visual editor and data is stored as structured properties, not script directives. Most nanDeck workflows can be reproduced visually in ShuffleKit with less code.
Other comparisons
Still weighing the options? These are the closest calls to this one.
- ShuffleKit vs Tabletop CreatorA $59 one-time desktop app for Windows and macOS, against a browser tool with AI, online playtesting and print on demand.
- ShuffleKit vs Magic Set EditorThe Windows custom-card workshop with thousands of community frames, against a browser tool whose designs you can actually publish.
- ShuffleKit vs SquibKeep the deck in Ruby and git, or get the same data-driven cards without the code, plus playtesting and printing.
See for yourself
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