Best Embroidery Design Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Boldbobbin is ranked #1 of 28 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of mySewnet Embroidery and StitchConsole. The best-ranked option with a free plan is mySewnet Embroidery. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Boldbobbin at $1.75/mo.
Preparing an embroidery design means balancing creative tools with the requirements of your machine and project. Compare auto-digitizing, appliqué tools, and stitch simulation with machine file formats and maximum hoop size. Vector import and supported platforms can help you assess how each option fits your design workflow, while free plans and paid-from details add cost context. Boldbobbin, mySewnet Embroidery, and StitchConsole are among the names to weigh. Check the listed format and hoop-size details against your machine, then consider which design tools and platform support matter for the work you plan to do.
28 embroidery design software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
28ranked
4free plans on this page
$1.75/molowest paid tier
4 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Embroidery Design Software 25 channels on this page · 161 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromAuto-digitizingStitch simulationAppliqué toolsVector importMachine file formatsSupported platforms Spec sheet Score
01 Boldbobbin Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAuto-digitizingYesStitch simulationYesAppliqué toolsnot statedVector importYesMachine file formatsDST, PES, PEC, VP3, JEF, EXP, XXX, U01Supported platformsboth 6/8spec lines stated 7.6
02 mySewnet Embroidery Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAuto-digitizingYesStitch simulationYesAppliqué toolsYesVector importYesMachine file formatsART, PEC, PES, XXX, VP4, VP3, VIP, HUS, SHV, JEF, SEW, EXP, PCS, DST, 10*Supported platformsboth 7/8spec lines stated 7.5
03 StitchConsole Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAuto-digitizingYesStitch simulationYesAppliqué toolsYesVector importnot statedMachine file formatsDST, PES, JEF, EXP, VP3, PEC, XXX, U01, TBF, PMVSupported platformsboth 6/8spec lines stated 7.4
04 Ink/Stitch Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAuto-digitizingNoStitch simulationYesAppliqué toolsYesVector importYesMachine file formatsDST, EXP, G-CODE, JEF, PEC, PES, TBF, U01, VP3, XXX, 100, 10o, BRO, DAT, DSB, DSZ, EMD, EXY, FXY, GT, HUS, INB, JPX, KSM, MAX, MIT, NEW, PCD, PCM, PCQ, PCS, PHB, PHC, SEW, SHV, SPX, STC, STX, TAP, ZHSSupported platformsboth 7/8spec lines stated 7.1
05 DRAWings PRO XII Free planNoPaid from2,199 one-timeAuto-digitizingYesStitch simulationYesAppliqué toolsYesVector importYesMachine file formatsWings Systems NGS; Tajima DST, DSZ, DSB, TBF; SWF SST; Pfaff KSM, PCS, PCM; Singer XXX; Happy TAP; Bernina/Melco EXP; Brother/Baby Lock PEC, PES; Husqvarna HUS, VIP, VP3; Janome JEF, SEWSupported platformsboth 8/8spec lines stated 7.0
06 Embird Free planNoPaid from149 one-timeAuto-digitizingYesStitch simulationYesAppliqué toolsYesVector importYesMachine file formats9MM, ART, BRO, CSD, DAT, DSB, DST, DSZ, ECF, EMB, EOF, EXP, EXY, FXY, GT, HUS, INB, JEF, JEF+, JPX, KSM, M1/M2/M3, MAX, MIT, NEW, PCD, PCS, PCM, PCQ, PEC, PES, PHB, PHC, PLT, PSF, PTN, PUM, SEW, SHV, SPXSupported platformsboth 8/8spec lines stated 7.0
07 Hatch Embroidery Free planNoPaid fromnot statedAuto-digitizingYesStitch simulationYesAppliqué toolsYesVector importYesMachine file formatsEMB, EMT, EXP, DST, JEF, JEF+, JPX, SEW, EMD, ART, ARX, PES, PEC, VP3, VIP, SHV, HUS, PCS, PCD, PCQ, PCM, XXX, CSD, CND, SVGSupported platformsboth 7/8spec lines stated 7.0
08 SewArt Free planNoPaid from75 one-timeAuto-digitizingYesStitch simulationYesAppliqué toolsYesVector importYesMachine file formatsPES, DST, JEF, EXP, HUS, VIP, VP3, XXXSupported platformsboth 8/8spec lines stated 6.9
09 Brother PE-DESIGN 11 Free planNoPaid fromnot statedAuto-digitizingYesStitch simulationYesAppliqué toolsYesVector importYesMachine file formatsPES, PHC, PHX, DST, EXP, PCS, HUS, VIP, SHV, JEF, SEW, CSD, XXX, PENSupported platformswindows 7/8spec lines stated 6.7
10 TurtleStitch Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAuto-digitizingnot statedStitch simulationYesAppliqué toolsnot statedVector importYesMachine file formatsDST, EXPSupported platformsboth 5/8spec lines stated 6.3
11 ApS-Ethos Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedAuto-digitizingnot statedStitch simulationnot statedAppliqué toolsYesVector importYesMachine file formatsnot statedSupported platformsnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.1
12 Embrilliance StitchArtist Free planNoPaid from179 one-timeAuto-digitizingNoStitch simulationYesAppliqué toolsYesVector importYesMachine file formatsCSD, DST, DSZ, EXP, EXP+, HUS, JEF, PCS, PCM, PES, SEW, SHV, TAP, VIP, VP3, XXXSupported platformsboth 8/8spec lines stated 6.1
13 Octostitch Free planNoPaid fromnot statedAuto-digitizingYesStitch simulationYesAppliqué toolsYesVector importYesMachine file formatsPES, DST, JEF, VP3, EXP, XXX, HUS, TAPSupported platformsboth 7/8spec lines stated 6.1
14 PEmbroider Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAuto-digitizingnot statedStitch simulationYesAppliqué toolsnot statedVector importYesMachine file formatsDST, EXP, JEF, PEC, PES, VP3, XXXSupported platformsboth 5/8spec lines stated 6.1
15 BERNINA Embroidery Software 9 Free planNoPaid fromnot statedAuto-digitizingYesStitch simulationYesAppliqué toolsYesVector importYesMachine file formatsART, EXP, SEW, EMD, PEC, PES, VP3, VIP, SHV, HUS, PCS, PCD, PCQ, PCM, XXX, CSD, DST, GNCSupported platformsboth 7/8spec lines stated 6.0
16 Janome Artistic Digitizer Free planNoPaid fromnot statedAuto-digitizingYesStitch simulationYesAppliqué toolsYesVector importYesMachine file formatsJPX, JEF, JEF+, SEW, NGS, SEF, DST, DSZ, DSB, TBF, SST, KSM, PCS, PCM, XXX, TAP, EXP, PEC, PES, HUS, VIP, VP3, SHV, M3, 10O, MST, HQF, TXT, CQP, CMD, QLI, 1??, U??, Z??Supported platformsboth 7/8spec lines stated 6.0
17 Perfect Embroidery Pro Free planNoPaid fromnot statedAuto-digitizingYesStitch simulationYesAppliqué toolsYesVector importYesMachine file formatsART, DAT, UXY, C2S, GNC, CND, SEW, JEF, JEF+, SST, EXP, KSM, VP3, PCM, XXX, DST, DSB, DSZ, 10O, PCS, CSD, PES, VIP, SHV, HUSSupported platformsboth 7/8spec lines stated 6.0
18 Tajima DG Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedAuto-digitizingYesStitch simulationnot statedAppliqué toolsYesVector importYesMachine file formatsPXF; other popular embroidery formatsSupported platformswindows 5/8spec lines stated 6.0
19 Tajima Embroidery i2 Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedAuto-digitizingYesStitch simulationYesAppliqué toolsnot statedVector importYesMachine file formatsnot statedSupported platformsboth 4/8spec lines stated 6.0
20 BasePac Free planNoPaid fromnot statedAuto-digitizingYesStitch simulationYesAppliqué toolsnot statedVector importYesMachine file formats[.dst, .dsz, .tap, .exp, .pat, .z00]Supported platformswindows 6/8spec lines stated 5.9
21 EmbroideryWare Free planNoPaid from119 one-timeAuto-digitizingnot statedStitch simulationYesAppliqué toolsYesVector importYesMachine file formatsDST, DST + EDR, PES, PEC, EXP, EXP+, JEFSupported platformswindows 7/8spec lines stated 5.9
22 Embrowser Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAuto-digitizingYesStitch simulationYesAppliqué toolsnot statedVector importYesMachine file formatsPES, DST, JEF, VP3, EXP, U01Supported platformsboth 6/8spec lines stated 5.9
23 Melco DesignShop 12 Free planNoPaid from590 one-timeAuto-digitizingYesStitch simulationYesAppliqué toolsYesVector importYesMachine file formatsDST, EXP, EXP+, EPS, ART8, PES, EMB, OFMSupported platformswindows 8/8spec lines stated 5.9
24 Ricoma Chroma Free planNoPaid fromnot statedAuto-digitizingYesStitch simulationYesAppliqué toolsYesVector importYesMachine file formatsRDE, EXP, DST, DSB, DSZ, T01, SST, KSM, U01, U02, DAT, T03, PHC, 10o, ZSK, T05, TAP, PES, EMD, PCS, PCM, SEW, HUS, SHV, CSD, JEF, VIP, VP3, VP4, ZHS, XXXSupported platformsboth 7/8spec lines stated 5.9
25 Stitch Era Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedAuto-digitizingYesStitch simulationYesAppliqué toolsYesVector importYesMachine file formatsJEF, DST, PES, PHB, PHC, PEC, SEW, HUS, VIP, PCM, PCS, EXP, 10O, U01, FDR, FMC, ZSK, TAP, INB, SST, KSM, Juki AMS, 100Supported platformswindows 6/8spec lines stated 5.9
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which embroidery design software is ranked first on Specifiction?
Boldbobbin is ranked #1 of 28 with a score of 7.6. mySewnet Embroidery is second and StitchConsole third.
How many of these have a free plan?
4 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Boldbobbin has the lowest first paid tier we found: $1.75/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing. Paid placements never change a rank.
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