Comparison · Updated June 2026
Play Catan Online: Catan Universe vs Colonist.io vs gotland.gg
There are several good ways to play Settlers of Catan in your browser
or on a phone. This page lays them out side by side — features,
cost, setup time, expansions and the small details that matter
once you've played a few games — so you can pick the one that fits
you. We host this page on gotland.gg but try to keep the comparison
honest: every platform on this list is good for somebody.
Disclosure: this comparison lives on gotland.gg. We list our own
weaknesses (no replays, smaller player base) alongside the
strengths so you can make your own call.
At a glance
The three browser-first platforms compared on the criteria most
people ask about. Scroll horizontally on mobile.
|
Catan Universe
Official
|
Colonist.io
Fan-made
|
gotland.gg
Fan-made
|
| Cost |
Freemium · expansions paid |
Free · optional supporter perks |
Free · everything included |
| Platform |
Web, iOS, Android, PC, Mac, Switch |
Web (browser) |
Web (browser) |
| Account required |
Yes |
Optional |
Optional · guest play |
| Time to start a game |
Several steps · login + matchmaking |
Fast · under a minute |
Fast · a few clicks |
| Bots / AI opponents |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Multiplayer with friends |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes · share link to invite |
| Cities & Knights expansion |
Yes · paid |
Yes · free |
Yes · free |
| Seafarers / sea maps |
Yes · paid |
Yes |
Yes |
| Map editor |
No · official maps only |
Yes |
Yes · built-in editor |
| Spectator mode |
Limited |
Yes |
Yes · watch live |
| Replays / game history |
Limited |
Yes |
No |
| Tournaments |
Yes · scheduled events |
Yes |
Yes · built-in tournament builder |
| Official Catan branding |
Yes · licensed |
No |
No |
| Player base |
Large |
Largest · most active |
Small but growing |
|
Visit Catan Universe |
Visit Colonist.io |
Play on gotland.gg → |
The three platforms in detail
Catan Universe is the officially licensed digital adaptation
from Catan Studio and Asmodee Digital. It uses the official
artwork, rules and card designs, and ships across the widest
set of devices — web, iOS, Android, PC, Mac and Nintendo
Switch — with a shared account across all of them.
Strengths
- Officially licensed — original art, rules, card text
- Available on essentially every device
- Mature feature set, regular updates from the publisher
- Solid community of long-time players
Trade-offs
- Cities & Knights, Seafarers and other expansions are paid
- Setup involves more steps than the fan-made browser options
- No built-in map editor — official maps only
Open Catan Universe
Colonist.io is a long-running fan-made browser implementation
of Catan's rules. It has the largest active player base of
the unofficial options, with quick matchmaking around the
clock and a polished interface. Replays — the ability to
rewatch a finished game move-by-move — are a standout feature
that the official app and gotland.gg don't currently match.
Strengths
- Largest fan-made community — fast matchmaking
- Full replays of finished games
- Expansions and variants included for free
- Mature, responsive web client
Trade-offs
- Not officially licensed — uses different names & art
- Optional paid supporter tier for some extras
Open Colonist.io
gotland.gg is a free, browser-based take on Catan focused on
getting you into a game quickly. There's no install, no paid
expansions, and you can start a game against bots in a few
clicks without signing in. Multiplayer works by sharing a
link. A built-in map editor lets you design and play custom
boards, and a live spectator view lets you watch games in
progress. The catch: it's smaller than the two above and
doesn't have replays.
Strengths
- Free, with everything (including Cities & Knights) included
- Fastest game setup of the three — open the lobby and play
- Built-in map editor for custom boards
- Live spectator mode on running multiplayer games
- Built-in tournament builder
- No account required — share a link to invite friends
Trade-offs
- Smaller player base than Colonist.io
- No replays of finished games
- Not officially licensed — uses original art & names
- Web only — no native mobile app
Start a game on gotland.gg →
How to choose
You want the official experience
If the original art, card text and rules matter to you,
or you want to play on your Switch or phone with a native
app, Catan Universe is the right pick.
Be ready to pay for expansions.
Go to Catan Universe
You want the biggest player base + replays
For 24/7 matchmaking with strangers and the ability to
rewatch your games afterwards, Colonist.io
is the most established free option.
Go to Colonist.io
You want to play right now, free, with friends
If you have a few friends, a link to share, and want to
be playing in under a minute — including Cities &
Knights without paying for it — try
gotland.gg. The map editor is a bonus
if you like custom boards.
Open the lobby
Other ways to play
Not browser-first, but worth knowing if you've outgrown the
three above.
-
Tabletop Simulator — paid sandbox software
on Steam with community-made Catan mods. Great if you also
play other board games digitally; setup is heavier.
-
Tabletopia — browser sandbox for board
games; has Catan-like mods made by the community.
-
Catan Classic — older official mobile app
from before Catan Universe consolidated the experience. Some
players still prefer its simpler interface.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free Catan website?
Colonist.io and gotland.gg are the two most popular free,
browser-based options. Colonist.io has the larger active
player base and supports replays. gotland.gg launches a
game in a few clicks, includes a built-in map editor, and
is free with no expansions to unlock. Which one is "best"
depends on whether you value the bigger community or the
quicker setup and custom maps.
Is Catan Universe free?
Catan Universe is the officially licensed app from Catan
Studio. The base game can be played for free with limits;
full multiplayer and the expansions (Cities & Knights,
Seafarers and others) are sold as one-time purchases or via
a subscription.
Which Catan site has the fastest game setup?
gotland.gg is designed for fast setup — you can start a game
against bots or open a multiplayer lobby in a few clicks
without signing in. Colonist.io is similarly quick. Catan
Universe involves more steps including login, mode selection
and matchmaking.
Can I play Cities & Knights online?
Yes. Catan Universe, Colonist.io and gotland.gg all support
Cities & Knights. On Catan Universe it's a paid
expansion; on Colonist.io and gotland.gg it's included for
free.
Are these sites officially licensed?
Catan Universe is the only officially licensed digital
adaptation of CATAN. Colonist.io and gotland.gg are
independent fan-made implementations of the underlying game
design and do not use official Catan branding or artwork.
Can I play Catan online with friends without an account?
On gotland.gg you can — open a lobby, copy the invite link,
and your friends join as guests. Colonist.io also supports
guest play. Catan Universe requires accounts for all
players.
