Embird vs Melco DesignShop 12
Embird
embird.netMelco DesignShop 12
melco.comSide by side
| Figure | Embird | Melco DesignShop 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 14 | 4 |
| Spec score · Embroidery Design Software | 8.8 (#4) | 7.3 (#22) |
| Founded | 1997 | 1972 |
| Purpose | Embird is modular software for machine embroidery digitizing, quilting, and customization. | DesignShop 12 is embroidery digitizing software with design capabilities and tools for creating embroidery designs. |
| Security statement | The download page says copies downloaded from embird.net are safe to install and explains Windows Microsoft-verified-app warnings. | Melco says it uses data collection, storage, processing practices, and security measures to protect information stored on its website, and that site data exchanges use SSL-secured communication. |
| Support | The maker lists support and training resources, including text tutorials, video tutorials, and a contact page. | Melco offers technical support by phone and email, along with an online knowledge base and FAQs. |
Plans
Embird
- Pre-digitized Alphabets$15, paid once
- Pre-digitized Alphabets$15, paid once
- Iconizer$20, paid once
- Iconizer$20, paid once
- Cross Stitch$75, paid once
- Cross Stitch$75, paid once
- Sfumato Stitch$90, paid once
- Sfumato Stitch$90, paid once
- Font Engine$145, paid once
- Font Engine$145, paid once
Melco DesignShop 12
- Lettering$590, paid once
- Editor$890, paid once
- Vector$1,990, paid once
- Professional$2,890, paid once
In their own words
Embird
Embird is modular software for machine embroidery digitizing, quilting and customization. Its Basic program resizes, splits, edits, displays, prints and converts embroidery designs. The maker lists support for more than 70 embroidery file formats and 20 home and industrial machine brands. Optional plug-ins add digitizing, lettering, cross-stitch design and conversion of TrueType fonts into embroidery. Embird Basic costs $149, paid once, with plug-ins sold separately; listed plug-in prices range from $15, paid once for Pre-digitized Alphabets, billed per alphabet, to $150, paid once for Digitizing Tools. The demo runs for up to 30 days or 100 runs, and some plug-in demos restrict saving or available characters. Embird is a 32-bit and 64-bit Windows application; the download page lists Embird 2026 for Windows 11 and previous versions. For Mac OS X, the maker describes using the Windows software with Wine or Parallels Desktop. Support resources include text and video tutorials, training and a contact page. One license password may be used on two computers owned by the license holder if no one else uses the software on them.
Melco DesignShop 12
Melco DesignShop 12 has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.