Our Story
Built on set, by someone who's been there.
The Problem
I've spent years as a VFX data wrangler and supervisor on film and television sets. Like most wranglers, I started with legacy database tools - clunky files passed down from supervisor to supervisor, each one completely different. Every new show meant relearning the software from scratch. Features were inconsistent, the interface felt ancient, and there was no cloud sync or proper backup system. When something failed, it was catastrophic.
When newer apps came along with modern interfaces, I made the switch hoping for something better. It didn't take long to realize they were designed by people who had never actually worked on set.
The Solution
I built Wrangler to be the app I always needed - designed from real on-set experience, not a conference room.
Offline-first, always.
Your data lives on your device. Sync happens when you choose, not when the app decides. Lose wifi mid-shoot? Doesn't matter. Wrangler keeps working.
Everything on one screen.
See your entire slate at a glance. No more jumping between tabs wondering if you missed a field. Fast data entry that keeps up with the pace of production.
Your data is always yours.
Export your entire project anytime in open formats — JSON, CSV, or PDF. No lock-in, no proprietary formats. If you ever leave Wrangler, your data leaves with you, no questions asked.
ShotGrid Integration
Push slate data directly to your ShotGrid project and keep your VFX team in sync.
Features built for the job:
- Laser rangefinder integration for instant, accurate measurements
- Manual cloud sync with conflict resolution - collaborate without chaos
- VFX timing calculations and daily report generation built in
- Custom presets and gear libraries, importable via CSV
- Lens grid tracking with confirmation status
- Team management with configurable email recipients
- Local project merging when cloud isn't an option
Who's Behind Wrangler
Wrangler started as one wrangler's frustration, but it's grown into something bigger. We're built by Netch Creative Ltd, a production-side visual effects company offering VFX services to film & TV productions. We don't just build tools for the industry — we work in it.
Today, a dedicated team of software engineers, UX designers, and backend developers work full-time to keep Wrangler reliable, secure, and moving forward. Built on AWS infrastructure and committed to long-term support, this isn't a side project — it's our company.
How We Compare
See how Wrangler stacks up against the tools you might be using today.
| Feature | Wrangler | FileMaker | Setellite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offline-first architecture | ✓ | ✓ | - |
| Online cloud sync | ✓ | - | ✓ |
| Manual cloud-sync control | ✓ | - | - |
| Portrait & landscape mode | ✓ | - | Limited support |
| User-accessible, configurable local backup system | ✓ | - | - |
| Hardware-secured session persistence | ✓ | - | - |
| Single page slate data | ✓ | ✓ | - |
| ShotGrid integration | ✓ | - | In beta |
| Fast reference photo sync | ✓ | - | May struggle with large projects |
| VFX timing in-app | ✓ | ✓ | - |
| DTR generation | ✓ | Depends on database | - |
| VFX report generation | ✓ | ✓ | - |
| Laser rangefinder integration | ✓ | - | - |
| CSV importable gear library | ✓ | - | - |
| CSV importable field presets | ✓ | - | - |
| Lens grid tracking | ✓ | Depends on database | - |
| Enterprise security (AES-256, audit logging) | ✓ | - | ✓ |
| Migrate projects from other databases | ✓ | - | - |
| Export formats | JSON, PDF, CSV | CSV, PDF | JSON, PDF, CSV |
Enterprise-Grade Security & Trust
We understand that in the filmed entertainment industry, data and footage collected on set has to be treated with the utmost discretion. All your data is transferred encrypted and stored on our secure servers using Amazon Web Services with customer-managed encryption keys.
Your data is never locked in. Export everything in JSON, CSV, or PDF at any time — full portability is a core promise, not an afterthought. See what we're shipping on our changelog.
For security inquiries, contact us at [email protected]
Built by a Wrangler, for Wranglers
Wrangler exists because I was tired of apologizing for my software on set. I needed something reliable, fast, and designed for how we actually work.
No more crashes. No more lost data. No more fighting your tools.
Just get the shot.
- Matthew Whittaker, Founder & the Wrangler team
Get StartedInformation accurate as of January 2026. Features may have changed. Comparisons based on our testing and publicly available information.