Boldbobbin
8.0#1 in embroidery design softwareFrom $21 a monthFree planiOSWebLinuxmacOS
VisitBoldbobbin vs Octostitch
Octostitch
6.2#13 in embroidery design software£40 one-timeLinuxmacOSWindows
VisitWhat both publish
| Fact | Boldbobbin | Octostitch |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
Boldbobbin plans
- 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
Octostitch plans
- Octostitch£40, paid once
Pick Boldbobbin if…
Boldbobbin suits independent makers, Etsy sellers, and professional embroidery shops creating or editing designs. The free Personal plan is for non-commercial work; commercial users can consider the Pro licence.
Pick Octostitch if…
Octostitch suits hobbyists and craft businesses that need desktop embroidery digitising tools across Linux, macOS, or Windows. It may also fit commercial users who want machine-format export and reusable custom libraries.