Official Arnis: How to Download Safely and Spot Fake Sites

A few sites use the Arnis name without being us. Here is how to make sure you have the real thing.

Arnis is a free, open-source tool that turns real OpenStreetMap locations into playable Minecraft worlds. Because it is popular and the name is short, a handful of other sites have started using the "Arnis" name. If you landed on one of those first, it is fair to wonder which one is actually ours.

This page clears that up. The real Arnis comes from exactly two places, and there is one official online version called MapSmith. Anything else using the Arnis name is unofficial, meaning it is not run by us, not affiliated with us, and not supported by us. We cannot vouch for how those sites handle security, billing, or your data, so use them at your own risk.

Where to get the real Arnis

There are only two official sources for Arnis itself, plus one official online version. That is the whole list.

• The official website: arnismc.com. This is the project home, with the description, screenshots, and download links.
• The official source code and releases: github.com/louis-e/arnis. Every desktop release lives here. The download links on the website point here too.
• The official online version: MapSmith at arnismc.com/mapsmith. This is the hosted generator you run in your browser, made by the same creator, Louis Erbkamm.

Arnis is free and open-source, licensed under Apache 2.0. The desktop app runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. You download it once and generate worlds on your own machine, no account needed.

MapSmith is the paid online option for people who would rather not install anything, or who are on a phone or tablet. It runs the generation on a server and sends you a download link. Important point: "paid" does not mean "fake." MapSmith is a legitimate paid product from the same creator as Arnis. Other paid sites that use the Arnis name are a separate matter, because they are not official and not connected to us.

How to recognize unofficial sites

A number of unofficial sites and lookalike domains use the Arnis name without being connected to the project. The most common one we get asked about is arnis.io, but it is only one example among several. None of these sites are run by us, and none are affiliated with the Arnis project.

Rather than memorize a list of domains, use one simple rule. The only official places are arnismc.com and our GitHub at github.com/louis-e/arnis, plus the official online version at arnismc.com/mapsmith. Anything else is unofficial, even if it looks similar, uses the same screenshots, or describes itself as "the official Arnis."

A few things to check before you trust a site that claims to be Arnis:

• Look at the exact domain in your address bar. If it is not arnismc.com (or our GitHub), it is not us. arnis.io, for example, is a different domain run by someone else.
• Remember that the desktop app is free. If a site presents itself as the official desktop download but pushes you to pay or install extra software, that is a signal it is not ours.
• For an online or paid version, MapSmith at arnismc.com/mapsmith is the only official one. Any other paid site using the Arnis name is unofficial.

There are other lookalike domains beyond arnis.io, and new ones can appear over time. We are not going to publish a full directory of them, partly because they change, and partly because the rule above covers all of them: if it is not arnismc.com or our GitHub, treat it as unofficial.

Why it matters

When a site is unofficial, it is outside our control. We did not build it, we do not maintain it, and we cannot see what it does. That has a few practical consequences.

• It is unsupported by us. If something goes wrong on an unofficial site, we cannot help with it, and our Discord and GitHub cannot fix issues on a site we do not run.
• We cannot vouch for its security, its billing, or how it handles your data. We simply have no visibility into any of that.
• Updates and fixes we ship may not reach it. You could end up with an old or altered version without knowing.

None of this is a judgment about any particular site. We are only describing what we can and cannot stand behind. The safe move is to stick to the official sources below, where you know exactly who built the software and where it comes from.

Official sources

These are the only official Arnis sources. Bookmark them so you can always get back to the real thing.

• Website: arnismc.com
• Source code and downloads: github.com/louis-e/arnis
• Official online version: MapSmith (arnismc.com/mapsmith)

You can also reach the creator and community through the official Discord and the YouTube channel linked from arnismc.com. If you are ever unsure whether a link is genuine, start from arnismc.com and follow the links there.

Frequently asked questions

Is Arnis free?

Yes. Arnis is free and open-source, licensed under Apache 2.0. You can download the desktop app from our GitHub at no cost and use it on Windows, macOS, or Linux. The only paid product we offer is MapSmith, the official online version at arnismc.com/mapsmith, for people who prefer to generate worlds in the browser without installing anything.

Is arnis.io official?

No. arnis.io is not run by us and is not affiliated with the Arnis project. It is one of several lookalike domains that use the Arnis name. The only official places are arnismc.com and our GitHub at github.com/louis-e/arnis, plus the official online version at arnismc.com/mapsmith. We cannot vouch for the security, billing, or data handling of any site we do not run, so use unofficial sites at your own risk.

Where do I download Arnis safely?

Download Arnis from our GitHub releases page at github.com/louis-e/arnis, or follow the download links on arnismc.com, which point to the same place. Those are the only official sources for the desktop app. Avoid mirror sites, repackaged downloads, and links from random video descriptions.

Is there an official online or paid version?

Yes, one. MapSmith at arnismc.com/mapsmith is the official online version, made by the same creator as Arnis, Louis Erbkamm. It runs the generation on a server and sends you a download link, which is handy on phones, tablets, or any device that cannot run desktop software. Other paid sites using the Arnis name are not official and not connected to us.