Boldbobbin vs Stitch Era
Boldbobbin
boldbobbin.comStitch Era
sierra-software.comSide by side
| Figure | Boldbobbin | Stitch Era |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $21/mo | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 13 | 2 |
| Spec score · Embroidery Design Software | 9.4 (#1) | 7.1 (#25) |
| Digitizing | Auto-digitizing turns images into editable embroidery designs, and the product also offers photostitch and a pixel art editor. | It can digitize raster or vector artwork automatically or manually and export designs in commercial machine formats. |
| Headquarters | Zürich, Switzerland | Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Integrations | The documented machine compatibility list includes Brother, Bernina, Janome, Elna, Pfaff, Husqvarna Viking, Baby Lock, Tajima, Ricoma and BAI. | The product page says Stitch Era may integrate with the maker’s Hotfix Era software for rhinestone or sequin decoration. |
| Lettering | Boldbobbin includes six digitized fonts, supports importing personal typefaces and provides a lettering editor. | Its lettering tools support pre-digitized fonts and TrueType fonts installed on the computer. |
| Machine compatibility | The site lists compatibility references including Brother, Bernina, Janome, Elna, Pfaff, Husqvarna Viking, BAI, Tajima, Ricoma and Baby Lock. | The maker says the software supports most embroidery machine brands and models and lists formats including DST, PES, JEF, and HUS. |
| Support | Personal users receive Discord community support, while Pro adds email support and Business/Max add priority support. | Users can contact Sierra Software technical support in English or Spanish, and the maker warns that response may be slower than support through a dealer. |
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
Stitch Era
- Stitch Era Liberty perpetual licensePrice not published
- Stitch Era Liberty subscriptionPrice not published
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.
Stitch Era
Stitch Era is paid embroidery design software for small apparel-decoration shops and home embroiderers. It can digitize raster or vector artwork automatically or manually, convert raster images into editable vector objects, and export designs in commercial machine formats. Users can edit individual stitches by changing stitch types, moving endpoints, or adding and deleting stitches. Lettering supports pre-digitized and computer-installed TrueType fonts. The maker lists compatibility with most embroidery machine brands and models, including formats such as DST, PES, JEF, HUS, PHB, PHC, PEC, SEW, VIP, PCM, PCS, EXP, 10O, U01, FDR, FMC, ZSK, TAP, INB, SST, KSM, Juki AMS, and 100. Features may vary by software level or configuration, with design limits of up to 12,000 or 40,000 stitches. A functional trial is available, but its duration is unspecified. The maker recommends 64-bit Windows 11 Professional; some Windows 10 64-bit systems may work. Mac use through virtual machines is not offered, warranted, or supported. Subscription licenses require a permanent high-speed internet connection. Pricing is available on request.