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Boldbobbin

boldbobbin.com

From $21/mo Free plan WebWindowsmacOSLinuxiOS
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Spec score 9.4 #1 of 31 in Embroidery Design Software

What it is

Boldbobbin is an embroidery digitizing workspace for creating and editing machine-ready designs. Its auto-digitizing tool turns images into editable embroidery designs, and the software also offers photostitch and a pixel art editor. The editor supports parametric modeling, running stitch, satin columns, tatami fill, and special fills. Users can import their own fonts and adjust how each letter stitches. Exports include machine formats such as PES, PEC, DST, JEF, EXP, VP3, XXX, and U01, as well as SVG and PNG. The site lists compatibility references including Brother, Bernina, Janome, Elna, Pfaff, Husqvarna Viking, BAI, Tajima, Ricoma, and Baby Lock. Designs can be stored in the cloud and shared by URL for browser viewing. The free Personal plan is for non-commercial use, with six fonts and cloud storage for ten designs; image and video exports have a watermark, but machine files do not. Pro permits commercial sales of embroidered goods and exported machine files, but native.vemb project files cannot be resold standalone. Pro is $21 per month, billed yearly at $252.

Spec sheet

What it does
Boldbobbin converts artwork, lettering and imported designs into stitch files for embroidery machines.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.boldbobbin.com
Product
Boldbobbin is an embroidery digitizing workspace for professional shops, Etsy sellers and independent makers.Read 30 Sep 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Platforms
Boldbobbin runs natively on Windows and Mac, in a browser, and on an iPad with a stylus.Read 30 Sep 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Integrations
The documented machine compatibility list includes Brother, Bernina, Janome, Elna, Pfaff, Husqvarna Viking, Baby Lock, Tajima, Ricoma and BAI.Read 15 Oct 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Security
The download page says the Windows app is code-signed by Boldbobbin GmbH and notes that SmartScreen may still show a prompt on a new release.Read 30 Sep 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Support
Personal users receive Discord community support, while Pro adds email support and Business/Max add priority support.Read 15 Oct 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Headquarters
Zürich, SwitzerlandRead 28 Sep 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Company
The site identifies Boldbobbin GmbH as a Swiss limited liability company and says it is built in Switzerland.Read 30 Sep 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Maker
Boldbobbin is driven by founder Alexandre Binninger, who holds a Dr. sc. in Computer Science from ETH Zurich.Read 30 Sep 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Account requirement
Drawing, importing, exporting and local .vemb saving work without an account; cloud storage requires sign-in.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.boldbobbin.com
Advanced server tools
Pixel-art, line-art/redwork and vector-stylization auto-digitizing run on Boldbobbin servers and consume credits.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.boldbobbin.com
API and SDK
The public documentation describes the editor and file formats but does not publish a developer API or SDK.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.boldbobbin.com
Auto-digitizing
The software can turn images into editable embroidery stitches automatically.Read 15 Oct 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Cloud and sharing
Cloud designs can be accessed across devices and published through browser links or a community gallery.Read 15 Oct 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Commercial use
The Pro commercial-use licence permits selling embroidered physical goods and exported machine files; the native .vemb project file cannot be resold as a standalone product.Read 30 Sep 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Company purpose
The official-register summary describes development, distribution and licensing of embroidery, digitizing and textile-design software and related services.Read 15 Oct 2026 · help.ch
Company registration
Boldbobbin GmbH is an active Swiss limited-liability company registered in Zürich on June 1, 2026, with CHF 20,000 capital.Read 15 Oct 2026 · help.ch
Company size
The maker's About page lists a one-person team.Read 15 Oct 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Credits
Some server-run tools use credits, and purchased credit packs never expire.Read 30 Sep 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Digitizing
Auto-digitizing turns images into editable embroidery designs, and the product also offers photostitch and a pixel art editor.Read 30 Sep 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Documentation
Documentation covers installation, tutorials, core concepts, reference tables, how-to guides and troubleshooting, but warns that some pages await human review.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.boldbobbin.com
Editing
The editor supports parametric modeling, running stitch, satin columns, tatami fill, and special fills.Read 30 Sep 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Formats
It exports embroidery files including PES, PEC, DST, JEF, EXP, VP3, XXX and U01, plus SVG and PNG.Read 30 Sep 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Founder
Alexandre Binninger is identified as Boldbobbin's founder and an ETH Zurich computer-science PhD.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Free plan limits
The Personal plan is for personal, non-commercial use; free plan image and video exports carry a Boldbobbin watermark, while machine files are not watermarked.Read 30 Sep 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Free-plan gate
Free users can create and preview paid features, but exporting or publishing many of those results requires Pro.Read 15 Oct 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Free-plan watermark
Free PNG, SVG and video exports carry Boldbobbin branding, while machine files are not watermarked.Read 15 Oct 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Independent usage
A Reddit maker says they use Boldbobbin as their own developing software and shared an embroidery result made with it.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reddit.com
Lettering
Boldbobbin includes six digitized fonts, supports importing personal typefaces and provides a lettering editor.Read 15 Oct 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Licence
The terms identify Boldbobbin software code, interface design and technology as Boldbobbin GmbH property; no open-source licence is stated.Read 15 Oct 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Limit: browser rendering
Realistic rendering in the web app is unavailable without WebGPU support.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.boldbobbin.com
Limit: cloud retention
After subscription cancellation, cloud designs are retained for at least six months but may later be removed after warning.Read 15 Oct 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Limit: export restrictions
The Personal plan does not include batch export, PDF run sheets, density analysis or commercial-use rights.Read 15 Oct 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Limit: lettering and fills
The same Reddit comparison says Ember has better lettering, Boldbobbin lettering was then limited to tatami fills, and Boldbobbin had fewer fill patterns.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reddit.com
Limit: smaller community
In a Reddit comparison, the Boldbobbin creator says Ember's community is much larger.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reddit.com
Machine compatibility
The site lists compatibility references including Brother, Bernina, Janome, Elna, Pfaff, Husqvarna Viking, BAI, Tajima, Ricoma and Baby Lock.Read 30 Sep 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Machine formats
Exports include DST, PES, PEC, JEF, EXP, VP3, XXX and U01 machine formats plus SVG and PNG previews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Machine setup
Users can configure their machine, hoop, fabric presets and thread palette so designs fit their setup.Read 15 Oct 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Native project format
Boldbobbin saves editable projects in its proprietary .vemb format.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.boldbobbin.com
Notable news
Boldbobbin's site says ETH Zurich formally recognized it as a spin-off in September 2026.Read 15 Oct 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Photostitch
Photostitch converts photographs into dense photo-like embroidery.Read 15 Oct 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Pixel art
Users can generate and manually edit pixel-art embroidery rendered as cross-stitch, mini-satin or tatami.Read 15 Oct 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Praise: free resizing
A Reddit discussion says resizing to fit a hoop is included in the free functionality.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reddit.com
Praise: platform availability
A Reddit developer announcement highlights browser, Mac and Windows availability and full control over digitization.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reddit.com
Security and privacy
The privacy policy says data protection follows Swiss nFADP and, where applicable, GDPR, with designs hosted primarily in Germany through Hetzner.Read 15 Oct 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Stitch types
Core stitch types include running stitch, satin columns and tatami fills, with additional decorative fills on paid plans.Read 15 Oct 2026 · boldbobbin.com
System requirements
Desktop releases target Windows and macOS; Linux is described as best-effort rather than an official release target, and the web app needs WebGPU for realistic rendering.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.boldbobbin.com
Team collaboration
Business and Max provide shared design libraries, pooled credits, usage dashboards and version history.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.boldbobbin.com
Visualization
The editor offers vector, stitch and realistic render modes plus animated stitch playback.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.boldbobbin.com

Plans and prices

Personal Free $0/month personal non-commercial use · 6 fonts · 10 cloud designs · 5 public designs · Discord support Read 15 Oct 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Personal Free $0/month personal, non-commercial use · 6 fonts · cloud storage: 10 designs · public sharing: 5 designs Read 30 Sep 2026 · boldbobbin.com
500-credit pack $10, paid once one-time purchase 500 credits · credits never expire Read 15 Oct 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Pro $21 a month billed yearly at $252 1 seat · 1,000 credits/month · unlimited cloud storage within fair use · commercial licence · email support Read 15 Oct 2026 · boldbobbin.com
1,500-credit pack $25, paid once one-time purchase 1,500 credits · credits never expire Read 15 Oct 2026 · boldbobbin.com
3,500-credit pack $50, paid once one-time purchase 3,500 credits · credits never expire Read 15 Oct 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Business $83.33 a month billed yearly at $1,000 3 seats · 72,000 credits/year · shared library · pooled credits · 10% credit-pack discount · priority support Read 15 Oct 2026 · boldbobbin.com
8,000-credit pack $100, paid once one-time purchase 8,000 credits · credits never expire Read 15 Oct 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Max $166.67 a month billed yearly at $2,000 10 seats · 200,000 credits/year · shared library · pooled credits · 20% credit-pack discount · priority support Read 15 Oct 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Pro subscription $252 a year $21 per month, billed yearly at $252 1 seat · 1,000 credits/month · commercial-use licence · unlimited cloud storage subject to fair use Read 30 Sep 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Business $1,000 a year $83.33/month, billed yearly at $1,000 3 seats · 72,000 credits every year · 10% off every credit pack Read 30 Sep 2026 · boldbobbin.com
Pro Lifetime $1,500, paid once $1,500 one-time payment Pro feature set · commercial licence · lifetime access while service operates Read 15 Oct 2026 · boldbobbin.com

Every Boldbobbin plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Turns images into editable embroidery designs.
  • Includes photostitch and a pixel art editor.
  • Exports multiple machine formats, SVG, and PNG.
  • Designs can be shared by URL.
  • Pro licence permits commercial sales of embroidered goods.

Limits

  • Personal plan is limited to non-commercial use.
  • Free image and video exports carry a watermark.
  • Personal cloud storage is limited to ten designs.
  • Native .vemb files cannot be resold standalone.

Who it suits

It suits embroidery shops, Etsy sellers, and independent makers who need digitizing, editing, and machine-file exports. The free Personal plan is limited to personal, non-commercial use; commercial sellers need a commercial-use licence.

Boldbobbin in depth

Read the full write-up

Overview

Boldbobbin is a cross-platform workspace for turning artwork into embroidery designs and preparing them for machine output. It suits makers and shops that want digitizing, stitch editing, lettering and sharing together; its free Personal plan is strictly non-commercial, while paid tiers add commercial rights and usage capacity.

Built in Switzerland by Boldbobbin GmbH, the product runs on iOS, macOS, Windows and the web. Its combination of image conversion, detailed stitch controls and broad machine-file export makes it a credible all-in-one option, but the Personal plan’s caps and Pro’s annual billing deserve a close look.

Compare the wider category in Embroidery Design Software.

Key features

From artwork to stitches

Auto-digitizing turns images into editable embroidery designs, with photostitch and a pixel art editor for other source material. The editor offers parametric modeling plus running stitch, satin columns, tatami fill and special fills. Stitch simulation and vector import round out the workflow. That range is useful for makers who need to refine more than a one-click conversion; it may be more than someone seeking only a simple image converter needs.

Lettering, output and sharing

A dedicated lettering editor accepts users’ own fonts and allows adjustment of how each letter stitches out. Exports include PES, PEC, DST, JEF, EXP, VP3, XXX and U01 machine files, plus SVG and PNG. Compatibility references span Brother, Bernina, Janome, Elna, Pfaff, Husqvarna Viking, BAI, Tajima, Ricoma and Baby Lock. Designs can be stored in the cloud and shared by URL for browser viewing, which helps when a collaborator needs to inspect a design without opening the editing workspace.

Pricing

Personal is free ($0/month) for personal, non-commercial use. It includes six fonts, cloud storage for 10 designs and public sharing for five. Image and video exports carry a Boldbobbin watermark, although machine files do not. This is a useful way to work on personal projects and produce machine output, but the commercial restriction and small storage and sharing allowances rule it out for a selling business.

Pro subscription costs $21 per month, billed yearly at $252. It provides one seat, 1,000 credits per month, a commercial-use licence and unlimited cloud storage subject to fair use. The licence permits selling embroidered physical goods and exported machine files, but not reselling the native.vemb project file as a standalone product. Server-run tools consume credits, so the monthly allowance matters to users who rely heavily on those tools. Purchased credit packs never expire.

Business costs $83.33 per month, billed yearly at $1,000, and includes three seats, 72,000 credits per year and 10% off credit packs. Max costs $166.67 per month, billed yearly at $2,000, with 10 seats, 200,000 annual credits and 20% off packs. These tiers make sense for teams that need multiple seats or substantially larger credit pools; a solo maker pays more for capacity that may not be useful.

Pro Lifetime is a one-time $1,500 payment, with a commercial-use licence, 12,000 credits per year and unlimited cloud storage subject to fair use. It avoids a recurring subscription but still has an annual credit allocation. Personal includes Discord community support, Pro email support, and Business and Max priority support.

Platforms

Boldbobbin supports iOS, macOS, Windows and web, offering a choice of desktop, mobile and browser access. The Windows download page says the app is code-signed by Boldbobbin GmbH and cautions that SmartScreen may still prompt on a new release.

Who it's for

Independent makers and Etsy sellers who need a commercial licence, editable digitizing and flexible output should start with Pro. Personal is better for non-commercial projects and testing machine-file workflows within its storage and sharing limits. Shops with several users or credit-intensive server tools have a clearer case for Business or Max; the price jump is difficult to justify for an individual with modest needs.

Pros and cons

Pro: Image conversion, manual stitch editing, custom-font lettering and machine-file export share one workspace, reducing the need to split those tasks across tools.

Pro: Machine files from the free Personal plan are not watermarked, so hobbyists can still produce usable machine output without buying a commercial licence.

Pro: The Pro licence covers sales of embroidered goods and exported machine files, with cloud storage subject to fair use.

Con: Personal cannot be used commercially, and its 10-design cloud allowance, five public shares and six fonts constrain ongoing work.

Con: Pro’s $252 annual commitment is billed yearly, while its server-run tools draw from a finite monthly credit allocation.

Con: The native.vemb project file cannot be sold as a standalone product, even under the commercial-use licence.

Alternatives

mySewnet Embroidery is a sensible alternative for users who want a free basic tier with 100MB of Vault storage and standard embroidery, quilting and craft-cutting tools, or who need Android support.

StitchConsole may suit users prioritizing Linux support or a free tier with unlimited designs, though its free plan syncs ten designs at a time and allows ten image conversions and ten export formats.

Ink/Stitch is the free, open-source option for users comfortable working with an Inkscape extension.

DRAWings PRO XII, Embird, Hatch Embroidery, SewArt and Brother PE-DESIGN 11 are other options to compare.

Verdict

Choose Boldbobbin if you want one workspace for digitizing, stitch refinement, lettering and machine-ready exports, and Pro’s commercial licence fits your business. Personal is a worthwhile non-commercial starting point, but its use limits are real; solo sellers should weigh the annual Pro commitment and credit allowance, while teams should pay for Business or Max only when their seats and credit needs warrant it. Look elsewhere if you need a free commercial workflow or do not want subscription-style annual billing.

Verdict

Boldbobbin brings digitizing, stitch editing, lettering, and multiple export formats into one workspace. Review the Personal plan’s use limits and the Pro licence terms before choosing a tier.

Where Specifiction places it

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