$65 per month for the first location
Installed at your business, with unlimited rooms and devices. ARC is free to download and try, and your first 14 days are free when you subscribe.
Owner's comparison guide
ARC vs Escape Room Master
Escape Room Master and ARC can both handle day-to-day staff controls, player communication, media, automation, and hardware. They differ most in how they run, their multi-room workflow, and how far the control system reaches beyond the timer and clue display.
Last verified July 2026
$69 per month for Game Master
The official pricing page lists per-location monthly, yearly, and lifetime options and a free trial by contacting ERM.
Installed system vs cached web application
ARC runs the live platform on your computer. ERM says its application works offline once it has loaded and cached locally.
Side by side
What changes in day-to-day operation
This is a practical comparison, not a scorecard. Both products can run escape rooms; the important question is which operating model fits your business.
| Decision area | ARC | Escape Room Master |
|---|---|---|
| Staff workflowWhat staff sees during a game | One multi-room operations view for objectives, hints, timers, room state, quick actions, resets, cameras, and complete activity history. | A Game Master Console with timer controls, predefined text and media clues, room soundtracks, clue tracking, and customizable player views. |
| Automation modelHow events trigger actions | Native When / If / Do automations can use game state, devices, scenes, variables, delays, staff actions, and system-wide schedules. | An events-to-actions editor supports if-then conditions, multiple actions from one event, automated props, and custom action buttons. |
| Hardware and protocolsWhat can connect directly | MQTT, Modbus TCP / PLC, DMX, OSC, Z-Wave, Zigbee, Hue, Kasa, Shelly BLU, Arduino / ESP, Raspberry Pi, and ARC Node-RED nodes. | ERM publicly lists Arduino, Raspberry Pi, Philips Hue, network props, and its own Ethernet hardware interface controller. |
| Operation when internet is downWhat keeps running at your business | The game engine, automations, hardware control, media, and staff screens run from the ARC computer at your business. | ERM says the application works offline after loading because it is cached locally. |
| Multi-room setupHow computers are arranged | One ARC installation is designed to operate multiple rooms and serve authorized staff and display browsers over the local network. | ERM says multiple rooms can run from one computer, but its FAQ recommends a single computer per room. |
| Pricing shown publiclyUSD, checked July 2026 | $65/month for the first location and $50/month for each additional location. | $69/month for Game Master. ERM also advertises yearly and lifetime options and says monthly pricing is per location. |
| Try before switchingHow the evaluation begins | Download and try ARC instantly. Create your account when you open it; subscribing starts with 14 days free. | ERM advertises a free trial arranged by contacting the company. |
| Moving existing gamesHow much starts over | ARC Portal can turn a saved ERM game page into a starter ARC game with text and image hints plus supported HTTP GET and POST custom-button automations. | ERM does not publish an ARC exporter. The ARC importer reads a browser-saved ERM page and its matching files folder. |
A fair decision
Which one fits your escape room?
- An installed platform that runs the game engine and hardware control at your business
- One multi-room staff view plus dedicated game-building, device, automation, and diagnostic tools
- Direct connections across smart-home, industrial, stage-lighting, custom-prop, and Node-RED ecosystems
- A migration tool that turns existing ERM hints and supported custom buttons into a starting package
- A familiar, media-focused Game Master Console and customizable timer display are the center of your needs
- ERM waivers, leaderboards, corporate products, or store hardware are important parts of your current setup
- A computer-per-room arrangement already works well for your business
- Your team is established in ERM and a broader control platform would not add enough operational value
ARC publishes this comparison. Escape Room Master details come from the official pages linked below; ARC details come from the current ARC product and billing configuration. Compare the complete workflow, not only the timer screen.
Switch without starting blank
Turn a saved ERM game page into an ARC starter game
Save the ERM Game Master page as a complete webpage, zip the HTML with its files folder, and ARC builds the import package in your browser. Supported custom-button automations can be included when you save the automations page too.
- Text and image hints in one starter objective
- Supported HTTP GET and POST custom-button automations
- A configurable ARC game ID
- A review summary of items that need manual setup
How this page was checked
Official sources, linked for verification
Competitor details can change. We use the company's own public pages and date the review so you can check the current information yourself.
Run ARC alongside your current system during your first 14 days free
Download ARC and try it free. When you subscribe, your first 14 days are free — build one room, connect the hardware you already use, and let your staff try the live control workflow before you switch.