PAD System vs Valentina
PAD System
padsystem.comValentina
smart-pattern.com.uaSide by side
| Figure | PAD System | Valentina |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $1.25/mo | €6.88/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 5 |
| Spec score · Fashion Design Software | 8.0 (#7) | 7.7 (#12) |
| Purpose | PAD System is software for the apparel industry used for pattern design, pattern grading, marker production, and pattern digitizing. | Valentina is open-source software for creating clothing patterns, with a focus on parametric patterns. |
Plans
Valentina
- FreeFree
- Basic€8.26 a month
- Premium€16.51 a month
- Basic€82.57 a year
- Premium€165.15 a year
In their own words
PAD System
PAD System is apparel-industry software for pattern design, grading, marker production and digitizing. Its cloud offering combines PAD Pattern, PAD Marker and Auto-Nesting. Users can open, create and edit pattern files and work with pattern design, grading and marker-making tools; the cloud service also supports communication and sharing for designers and teams. Listed formats include DXF, Gerber, Lectra, Illustrator, HPGL and ANSI, with additional export formats including Excel, DXF-AAMA, DXF Basic, TIIP, Text and Eastman. The company says its products are compatible with standard digitizing tables, plotters, plotter cutters and scanners. PAD System 8.0 has an open architecture for third-party plugins or add-ons. The maker’s wiki lists version 8.0.3, released in June 2026, with a self-contained nesting engine and Vietnamese language support among its changes. The Basic plan is $15 a year and includes 20 pattern pieces and 3 sizes; Standard is $45 a year with unlimited pattern pieces and sizes. Both list grading, MTM, marker design, digitizing and format support. A free trial is available.
Valentina
Valentina is clothing-pattern software for building and modeling patterns, with an emphasis on parametric sizing. Measurements, increments, formulas, and construction rules can be used to rearrange patterns. It supports 2D pattern making and size grading, and exports SVG, PDF, PNG, OBJ, PS, EPS, and DXF. The software runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows. Stable downloads list an AppImage for Linux, Windows 7+ 32-bit and Windows 10+ 64-bit packages, and macOS packages for Intel, Apple Silicon, and Universal systems. Valentina is GPLv3+ licensed, and its FAQ says there are no restrictions on the kind of work made with it. It supports.val files from Seamly2D, though the reverse compatibility is not supported; DXF import is unavailable. The Free plan is free and includes source code access, historical versions, and community support, but no current binaries, manual, or developer support. Basic is €8.26 a month and Premium is €16.51 a month.