Boldbobbin
8.0#1 in embroidery design softwareFrom $21 a monthFree planiOSWebLinuxmacOS
VisitBoldbobbin vs PEmbroider
PEmbroider
7.1#4 in embroidery design softwareFree planFree planAPImacOSWindows
VisitWhat both publish
| Fact | Boldbobbin | PEmbroider |
|---|---|---|
| Documentation | Documentation covers installation, tutorials, core concepts, reference tables, how-to guides and troubleshooting, but warns that some pages await human review. | The project supplies a cheat sheet, full API, examples, FAQ, installation instructions and a tutorial video. |
| Headquarters | Zürich, Switzerland | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Licence | The terms identify Boldbobbin software code, interface design and technology as Boldbobbin GmbH property; no open-source licence is stated. | PEmbroider is released under GPLv3 and Anti-Capitalist Software License 1.4; adapted EmbroidePy file-writing code is MIT licensed. |
| Machine formats | Exports include DST, PES, PEC, JEF, EXP, VP3, XXX and U01 machine formats plus SVG and PNG previews. | It exports DST, EXP, JEF, PEC, PES, VP3 and XXX embroidery files. |
| Notable news | Boldbobbin's site says ETH Zurich formally recognized it as a spin-off in September 2026. | The Frank-Ratchye STUDIO hosted a full-day computational-embroidery workshop featuring PEmbroider on February 25, 2023. |
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
PEmbroider plans
- FreeFree
- PEmbroiderFree
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 PEmbroider if…
PEmbroider suits artists, makers, educators, craftspersons, and schools using Processing to create embroidery designs. It is also relevant to users preparing output for supported embroidery machines or other 2D devices.