Boldbobbin vs Octostitch
Boldbobbin
boldbobbin.comOctostitch
octostitch.comSide by side
| Figure | Boldbobbin | Octostitch |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $21/mo | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 13 | 1 |
| Spec score · Embroidery Design Software | 9.4 (#1) | 7.9 (#12) |
| 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. | The purchase includes commercial use with no extra licence or per-design fees. |
| Documentation | Documentation covers installation, tutorials, core concepts, reference tables, how-to guides and troubleshooting, but warns that some pages await human review. | The official documentation covers getting started, drawing tools, stitch types, lettering, importing artwork, hoops and export. |
| Platforms | Boldbobbin runs natively on Windows and Mac, in a browser, and on an iPad with a stylus. | The native desktop app runs on Windows, macOS and Linux; the download page lists Windows 10/11 64-bit, macOS Apple Silicon M1+, and Linux x86-64 packages. |
| Stitch types | Core stitch types include running stitch, satin columns and tatami fills, with additional decorative fills on paid plans. | Supported stitch types include satin with automatic underlay, tatami and guided fills, appliqué, bean stitch and cut lines. |
| Support | Personal users receive Discord community support, while Pro adds email support and Business/Max add priority support. | Support is available by email at [email protected] or through Instagram. |
Plans
Boldbobbin
- PersonalFree
- PersonalFree
- 500-credit pack$10, paid once
- Pro$21 a month
- 1,500-credit pack$25, paid once
- 3,500-credit pack$50, paid once
- Business$83.33 a month
- 8,000-credit pack$100, paid once
- Max$166.67 a month
- Pro subscription$252 a year
In their own words
Boldbobbin
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.
Octostitch
Octostitch is desktop embroidery digitising software for craft businesses and hobbyists, with tools to create designs and prepare them for embroidery machines. Stitches appear as you draw, and a sew-out playback lets you review the design. Stitch options include satin with automatic underlay, tatami and guided fills, appliqué, bean stitch, and cut lines. Guided auto-digitising lets you crop artwork, choose threads, remove the background with a brush, and assign stitches. The thread library covers Madeira, Isacord, Robison-Anton, Sulky, Gunold, and Brother. You can also make and share reusable fonts, decorative patterns, and tatami fills. Octostitch imports and exports PES, DST, JEF, VP3, EXP, XXX, HUS, and TAP formats, and runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows. The free trial lets you explore the digitising workflow, but saving projects and exporting machine formats require a licence. The one-time price is £40. The purchase includes commercial use with no extra licence or per-design fees.