Compare plans
| Feature | Personal | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Design tools | ||
| Editing design tools Draw, edit and arrange stitches, shapes and text on the canvas. | Included | Included |
| Animated stitch sequence Play a design back stitch by stitch to check how it sews out. | Included | Included |
| Realistic preview See how the finished piece will look before you stitch it. | Included | Included |
| Studio setup Set your machine and hoop so designs are sized to fit them. | Included | Included |
| Thread palette management Build palettes from the threads you actually have on hand. | Included | Included |
| Fabric presets Start from settings suited to the fabric you are stitching on. | Included | Included |
| Embroidery file import Open existing .DST, .PES and other files to edit. | Included | Included |
| Vector graphics import Import a vector file and convert it straight to stitches. | Included | Included |
| Image import Bring in a PNG or JPG to trace. | Included | Included |
| Fonts Six fonts bundled with the app, plus auto-import for your own. | 6 pre-made + auto-import | 6 pre-made + auto-import |
| Auto-digitizing Turn an image straight into stitches instead of tracing it by hand. | Editing only | Included |
| Photostitch Turn a photograph into dense, photo-like stitching. | Editing only | Included |
| Pixel art cross-stitch Convert an image into a cross-stitch grid. | Editing only | Included |
| Export and save | ||
| Machine formats .PES, .PEC, .DST, .JEF, .EXP, .VP3, .XXX and .U01. | Included | Included |
| Image export .SVG and .PNG, for sharing and listings. | Watermark | Included |
| Video export A video of your design stitching out, for social posts and listings. | Watermark | Included |
| Save locally Keep your work on your own machine, with no account needed. | Included | Included |
| Cloud storage Designs saved to your account, reachable from any device. | 10 designs | Unlimited |
| Batch export Export a whole set of designs in one pass. | Not included | Included |
| PDF run sheet A printable sheet with stitch-out instructions for the machine. | Not included | Included |
| Selling | ||
| Commercial-use licence Sell the physical goods you embroider with Boldbobbin. | Not included | Included |
| Sell the files you export Sell the machine files themselves, in standard formats. | Not included | Included |
| Support | ||
| Discord community Ask questions and share work with other makers. | Included | Included |
| Email support Reach us directly rather than through the community. | Not included | Included |
- Editing only: you can run it on the free plan and see the result, but exporting it needs Pro.
- Watermark: image and video exports on the free plan carry a small Boldbobbin mark. Your machine files are never watermarked, on either plan.
- Unlimited is subject to fair use: store as many designs as your own work needs. There is no hard cap, and we would only get in touch if a single account sat far outside normal use for one maker.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to install anything?
Not if you don't want to. Boldbobbin runs in any modern browser. You can also download the desktop app for Windows or Mac if you prefer working offline.
What file formats can I export?
Boldbobbin exports to standard embroidery formats including .PES, .PEC, .DST, .JEF, .EXP, .VP3, .XXX, and .U01, compatible with most home and commercial embroidery machines. You can also export .SVG and .PNG for visualization and sharing, plus a PDF run sheet with stitch-out instructions (Pro).
What machines does Boldbobbin work with?
It exports the formats used by most home and commercial machines, including Brother, Bernina, Janome, Elna, Pfaff, Husqvarna Viking, Baby Lock, Tajima, Ricoma, and BAI. You set your machine and hoop in the app so designs fit your setup.
Can I bring in my own images or designs?
Yes. Import a reference image (PNG, JPG, SVG, and more) to trace, or open existing embroidery files (.DST, .PES, and others) to edit.
With Pro, auto-digitizing takes it further: point it at an image and it converts the artwork into stitches for you, so you start from a finished design instead of tracing it by hand. Pro also turns an image into photostitch or pixel art cross-stitch. You can edit everything these produce.
Can I use my own thread colors?
Absolutely. You can set up your thread palette so designs automatically match the colors you actually have on hand.
What do I get with Pro?
Pro includes everything in Personal, plus a commercial-use licence, auto-digitizing, unlimited cloud storage (within fair use), batch export, PDF run sheets, no export watermark, and email support. It's the plan for anyone selling what they make.
If I subscribe now, will my price go up later?
No. Subscribe to Pro during our introductory pricing and you keep that price for as long as your subscription stays active, even after we raise prices for new customers. Your rate would only change if you cancel and resubscribe later, or switch plans yourself.
Can I sell what I make with Boldbobbin?
With Pro, yes. The commercial-use licence lets you sell physical goods you embroider with Boldbobbin, as well as the machine files (.PES, .DST, and other standard formats) you export. The one exception is reselling Boldbobbin's native .vemb project file as a standalone product. You always own your designs on every plan. See our Terms for the details.
What happens to my Pro work if I cancel?
The commercial licence on every file you export while on Pro is permanent for that file. It stays valid even if you later downgrade or cancel, and you always keep your designs.
Anything you saved to the cloud stays there for at least six months after your subscription ends, and usually closer to a year. We do reserve the right to remove stored designs after that, but never automatically and never without warning: we'd email you at least a month in advance so you have time to download whatever you want to keep.
Does the free version watermark my work?
Only image and video exports. On the free plan, PNG and SVG previews and any video you export carry a small Boldbobbin mark; your machine files (.DST, .PES, and the rest) are never watermarked. Pro removes it.
If I have questions or feedback, how do I reach you?
We'd love to hear from you! Contact us anytime, or join us on Discord.