What does embroidery digitizing software do?
A digitizing program lets you draw or trace shapes over artwork and tell the software how to stitch each one: as a running stitch, a satin column or a fill, with its own angle, stitch density, underlay and pull compensation. The program then calculates the needle points and exports a machine file such as DST or PES.
Most products are sold in levels, and the lower levels are often not digitizing tools at all:
- Lettering and editing levels: add names, resize, recolor and combine existing designs. They cannot build a new design from artwork.
- Auto-digitizing levels: convert an image to stitches automatically, with tools to adjust the result.
- Full digitizing levels: manual tools for building every object yourself, which is how production files for logos, caps and small text are usually made.
Good software also saves a working file (for Wilcom, an EMB file) that keeps the objects editable. A machine file exported from it holds only stitches, so keep the working file for later changes. For the terms used on this page, see the embroidery glossary, and for the stitch decisions themselves, the digitizing techniques hub.
Which embroidery digitizing software is available?
The table lists what each maker states on its own website. We checked every page on 19 September 2026 and give a price only where the official page displayed one. Prices and editions change, so confirm on the maker's site before buying. The programs are listed in no particular order, and we have no affiliation with any of them.
| Program and maker | Platform | Pricing model (as stated by the maker) | Auto-digitizing | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EmbroideryStudio 2026, by Wilcom (source) | Windows 11, 64-bit (requirements) | One-time purchase or annual subscription, billed yearly or monthly; the Lettering and Editing levels are one-time only. Prices were not displayed when we checked. 14-day free trial. | Yes, from the Decorating level up | Commercial shops and professional digitizers who need the full production toolset |
| Hatch Embroidery 4, by Wilcom (source) | Windows 11 only; Hatch says Mac users can run it through Parallels Desktop on Apple silicon | One-time purchase, four levels listed at $199 to $1,199 on 19 September 2026; FlexPay monthly payments on Composer and Digitizer. 30-day free trial. | Yes, in Composer and Digitizer | Hobbyists and home-based creators, which is how Hatch describes its users |
| Tajima DG17 by Pulse, by Pulse Microsystems (source) | Windows, 64-bit | Five levels, from Composer to Maestro. Price on request from a distributor. | Autotrace (from the Creator level) turns images into curves that are then assigned stitch types | Commercial shops, particularly those running LAN-enabled Tajima machines, for which Pulse says DG17 provides exclusive support |
| PE-DESIGN 11, by Brother (source) | Windows (the trial page lists Windows 7, 8.1 and 10) | Price not listed on Brother's product page. The trial cannot save, export or send designs to a machine. | Yes: Auto Punch and PhotoStitch | Casual hobbyists and home-based businesses, as Brother puts it, especially owners of Brother machines |
| StitchArtist, by Embrilliance (source) | macOS and Windows | One-time purchase, no subscription. Levels 1 to 3 listed at $179 to $699 regular price on 19 September 2026. | No: Embrilliance says it is not an autodigitizing program | People who want to learn manual digitizing, on a Mac or a PC |
| Chroma Inspire, Plus and Luxe, by Ricoma (source) | Windows 10 or later and macOS | Subscription: the first 12 months are paid upfront, then it renews monthly or yearly. | Yes, from vector, PNG or JPG files | Shops that want a tiered program on both Windows and Mac, with training and support included |
| Embird, by BALARAD (source) | Windows; the maker says Mac users can run it through Wine or Parallels Desktop | Modular: a base program for file management and editing, with optional paid plug-ins such as Studio. No prices shown on the home page. | Yes, in the Studio plug-in (auto trace), plus a separate photo-to-embroidery module | Users who want to start small and add modules; the maker lists support for more than 70 file formats |
| Ink/Stitch, open-source project (source) | Windows, macOS and Linux (install) | Free and open source, released under the GPL-3.0 license. Runs as an extension of the free Inkscape vector editor. | No automatic image conversion: you draw or import vector shapes and choose their stitch types | Learners and hobbyists comfortable with vector drawing; the project also aims at professional digitizers |
Embrilliance also sells Essentials, which edits, letters and converts existing designs on Mac and Windows but does not digitize. Several makers split products the same way, so check that the level you buy includes digitizing tools and not only editing.
What should you check before buying digitizing software?
- Your computer: EmbroideryStudio, Hatch, DG17 and PE-DESIGN are Windows programs. On a Mac, StitchArtist, Chroma and Ink/Stitch run natively; Hatch and Embird rely on Parallels or similar, according to their makers.
- Your machine's format: make sure the program writes the format your machine reads, such as DST for most commercial machines or PES for Brother and Baby Lock. The embroidery file formats guide lists which machines read which format.
- The level, not just the brand: compare the feature list for the exact level. The step from editing to full digitizing is usually the biggest jump in capability.
- A trial: Wilcom (14 days) and Hatch (30 days) offer free trials of all levels; Brother's PE-DESIGN trial is for evaluation only because it cannot save or export. Ink/Stitch is free to try.
- Updates and support: with a subscription, updates and support are part of the fee; Ricoma, for example, lists quarterly updates, technical support seven days a week and live training for Chroma. With a one-time license, ask how major version upgrades are priced and how many computers the license covers.
- Learning time: the software calculates stitches, but you still decide underlay, density, satin or fill and sequence for each object. Those decisions are what make a file sew well, and they take practice.
Every program with auto-digitizing lets you adjust the result, and most makers present it that way. Bold shapes and large text convert reasonably; small lettering, gradients, caps and stretchy fabrics usually need manual work before they sew cleanly. Before a production run, open the exported file in the free DST file viewer to check the stitch count, size and color stops.
When does digitizing software pay off, and when does a service make more sense?
Software tends to pay off when you digitize most weeks, want the skill in-house and need to make edits at the machine without waiting. Lettering and editing levels are also useful on their own for adding names and resizing designs you already have.
A flat-rate service makes more sense when you need a few new designs a month, run customer logos you did not design, or face harder jobs such as caps, 3D puff, small lettering and jacket backs. At PlixaLabs every design is digitized by hand, never auto-converted, and checked by a second digitizer, at one flat price per design from $10 with all machine formats and a stitch simulation preview included. Our embroidery digitizing service page explains how orders work.
Many shops use both: lettering or editing software for names and small changes, and a service for new logos. For costs, free trials and the break-even point in detail, see digitizing software compared with a digitizing service.
Rather have it digitized for you?
Hand-digitized files from $10 per design, back in 4–8 hours, in every machine format.
Get a free quote →Frequently asked questions
Sources
- Wilcom: EmbroideryStudio pricing and levels
- Hatch Embroidery: pricing, levels and platform
- Tajima Europe: Tajima DG17 by Pulse, all levels
- Ricoma: Chroma digitizing software
- Ink/Stitch: open-source embroidery digitizing platform
Sources checked 19 September 2026.