Choosing VJ software is easier when you start with the show instead of the feature list.
For clip-based club and festival performance, prioritize fast triggering, layer controls, effects, controller mapping, and reliable output routing. Resolume, VDMX, and similar deck-style tools are strongest when the performer needs to improvise quickly with prepared media.
For generative visuals, look for a realtime rendering engine, parameter control, audio-reactive routing, MIDI support, and a workflow that does not force every idea through exported video clips. This is where Mac-native tools built around Apple Silicon and Metal can matter.
For projection mapping, the most important feature is often not the visual source. It is the output system: surfaces, masks, perspective correction, LED mapping, projector setup, and how cleanly the tool receives video from other software.
For theatre, dance, and rehearsed audiovisual work, cue reliability usually beats improvisation. Timeline and show-control tools are better when the same media event has to happen the same way every night.
The safest way to choose is to write down the show requirements first: media source, controller, audio input, output format, mapping needs, rehearsal style, and backup plan. Then pick the app that matches that workflow instead of the app with the longest feature page.