HOME / COMPARE / QLAB ALTERNATIVE FOR WINDOWS AND MAC

WINDOWS + MAC · RELEASED TOGETHER

The simple QLab alternative for Windows and Mac

WareCue is show control software for Windows and Mac that anyone can run. Load your media into Assets, build your scenes, then press GO from a cue stack across up to 4 screens and 4 audio outputs. QLab is Mac-only and built for deep programming. WareCue gives museums, attractions and AV crews the same core cueing, without the learning curve.

WINDOWS + MACOSASSETS · SCENES · CUE STACKGO BUTTON4 VIDEO + 4 AUDIONO LEARNING CURVE

Download free trial See how it works

Free trial with every feature. Outputs are watermarked until you buy. No credit card.

WareCue cue stack on Windows with a GO button, firing four video and four audio outputs

HOW IT WORKS

Assets, scenes, cue stack

Load your media into Assets, build your scenes, then create your cue stack. Stop at scenes for a simple show, or carry on to the cue stack when you need more.

01Assets

The home for all your media. Organise it into collections for easy management, and keep reusable assets such as stings in a global collection that every show can use.

02Scenes

CLOSEST TO MITTIYour designer. Choose how each scene looks by layering assets or building a slideshow, and manage show timers. Scenes work as a take-and-go system on their own.

03Cue stack

CLOSEST TO QLABFor more complex shows. Each cue fires multiple outputs and triggers at the same time, with GO and the next cue waiting on standby.

Can you get QLab for Windows?

No. QLab is made by Figure 53 and runs only on macOS, and there is no Windows version. Windows users either buy a Mac to run QLab, or use show control software that runs on Windows, such as WareCue, which also runs on Mac.

WHO IT’S FOR

Who WareCue is for

Museums and visitor attractionsExhibits that start at opening time, loop all day, recover after a power cut, and need no specialist to look after them.

AV and event production companiesWalk-in loops, stings, speaker videos and awards packages on the Windows or Mac show machines already in the kit room.

Venues with mixed or rotating crewsA show any trained operator can pick up, not one that only its programmer understands.

Theatres and schoolsQLab-style cueing on the Windows or Mac computers you already own.

SIDE BY SIDE

WareCue vs QLab

	WARECUE	QLAB
Runs on Windows	Yes	No
Runs on macOS	Yes, released alongside Windows	Yes
Learning curve	Low: assets, scenes, cue stack, GO	Higher: deep programming options
Take-and-go scenes without a cue list	Yes: layers, slideshows and show timers	Cue list based
Cue stack with GO and standby	Yes	Yes
Independent video and audio outputs	Up to 4 + 4 per machine	Yes

When QLab is the right choice: pick QLab for complex theatre sound design and deep show programming on a Mac — it is the industry standard for that work. Pick WareCue when you want the same cue-stack approach on Windows or Mac, a take-and-go scenes system for simpler shows, and a show that people who aren’t show programmers can run.

QLab details are limited to what’s verifiable; for its full feature set see figure53.com.

FEATURES

What you get

Assets and global collectionsOne home for all your media, organised into collections. A global collection keeps reusable assets such as stings available to every show.

Scenes you can take and goLayer assets or build slideshows, add show timers, and take scenes straight to an output with no cue list needed.

Cue stack with GOPlayhead and standby, decimal cue numbers (4, 4.1, 4.2) so you can insert cues without renumbering, and multiple outputs and triggers firing from one cue.

Up to 4 video and 4 audio outputsEach output plays its own content: a stage screen, a confidence monitor and a foyer screen from one machine.

Made for unattended runningAuto-start, kiosk mode after a restart, and scheduled cue stacks for opening and closing times.

Works on locked-down networksSign in once to license the machine, then it runs offline. Fully offline activation is available for museums. Media is never uploaded.

Backup machine includedA Master licence includes two activations for an A/B failover machine.

Fires from, and sends to, other systemsOSC, MIDI, HTTP, WebSocket and TCP in and out, plus a ready-made Bitfocus Companion template to load in and run from a Stream Deck.

WareCue scene view showing layers positioned across output boundaries

PRICING

Simple licences, offline activation

LICENCE	PRICE	OUTPUTS	BEST FOR
Trial	Free	Full Master features, watermarked	Trying your show
Solo	£199 one-off	1 video + 1 audio, inbound triggers	Single exhibits and screens
Master	£249/yr or £29/mo	4 video + 4 audio, outgoing sends, 2 activations	Events, galleries, multi-screen shows
Node	£99/yr	Adds 4 video + 4 audio to a Master	Larger installs

See full pricing on the pricing page.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is there a Windows version of QLab?

No. QLab is made by Figure 53 and runs only on macOS; there is no Windows version. WareCue is show control for Windows (and Mac) with a similar cue-and-GO workflow.

What is the best QLab alternative for Windows?

WareCue: cue-based video and audio playback for live events, museums and venues on Windows and Mac, with a GO cue stack, take-and-go scenes, scheduling and kiosk mode.

Is WareCue easier to learn than QLab?

WareCue is built around three steps — assets, scenes, cue stack — so a trained operator can run a show without deep programming. QLab offers deeper programming for complex theatre work.

Can WareCue play video on several screens at once?

Yes. A Master licence drives up to 4 independent video outputs and 4 audio outputs from one machine. Node licences add more outputs on other machines.

Does WareCue run unattended for museums and exhibitions?

Yes. It can start with the computer, reopen in kiosk mode after a restart, and follow a schedule so playback starts and stops with your opening hours. Offline activation is available.

Can I trigger WareCue from a Stream Deck?

Yes. There's a Bitfocus Companion module, so a Stream Deck can fire cues. WareCue also accepts OSC, MIDI, HTTP, WebSocket and TCP, in and out.

How much does WareCue cost?

Solo is £199 one-off. Master is £249 a year or £29 a month. Node is £99 a year. The trial is free with watermarked outputs.

Does WareCue run on Mac as well?

Yes. WareCue runs on Windows and macOS, released together, so mixed Windows and Mac kit can use one tool.

Show control anyone can run

Download the free trial, load your media into Assets, build a scene and press GO. Add a cue stack when the show needs it.

WINDOWS + MACOS · FREE TRIAL · NO CARD REQUIRED

Download free trial See pricing

Related: Mitti alternative for Windows

LAST UPDATED 11 OCTOBER 2026