In today's digital age, with the emergence of embroidery digitizing software, the art of embroidery has taken a quantum leap. As a result, embroidery digitizing software has become an indispensable tool.

Choosing the right embroidery digitizing software is a crucial step in achieving perfect embroidery. There are countless software options available in the market, each with unique features and capabilities. Therefore, selecting the ideal embroidery software can be a daunting task for many embroidery beginners.

But fret not, for we have prepared a list of recommended embroidery digitizing software to help you find the perfect embroidery software amidst the myriad of choices. Let us embark on a journey together to explore the embroidery digitizing software that can turn your dreams into reality!

Embroidery Digitizing Software Recommendations

In this article, I will recommend three commonly used embroidery digitizing software available in the market. I will provide you with detailed information on each software, including an overview, versions, pricing, target audience, features, and pros and cons.

Wilcom Embroidery Software

1.Introduction：

Wilcom is a commercial embroidery software originally developed by Tajima and later spun off as an independent entity. It has become the most popular embroidery software in the world due to its quality, productivity, ease of use, and service. Wilcom is a professional-grade embroidery design and production software, catering to professional users such as embroidery designers and embroidery workshops. Its official website can be found at: https://www.wilcom.com/.

2.Version Comparison:

Wilcom embroidery software offers a total of four versions to choose from. I will compare and explore the features and functionalities of each version, highlighting their unique advantages and applications, so that you can select the version that best suits your needs.

Lettering

The Lettering version focuses on providing a comprehensive set of tools for creating and manipulating embroidery letters. You can easily add text to your embroidery designs.

Price: USD $999 (One-time payment)

Target Audience: Designed specifically for individuals who want to add personalized embroidery lettering to their designs.

Decorating

Decorating Version is a specialized software tailored specifically to the needs of the apparel industry. It combines the functionalities of embroidery and printing, allowing users to blend these two techniques to create unique designs. With this version, users can easily add vibrant and intricate prints to garments.

Price: USD $1,999 (One-time payment)

Target Audience: Individual users in the apparel industry.

Designing

The Designing version is the core product of Wilcom, offering comprehensive embroidery design and editing capabilities. It includes powerful tools and options such as automated embroidery, complex pattern editing, fill effects, and more, catering to the everyday needs of embroidery design.

Price:

USD $3,999 (One-time payment)

USD $149/month (Monthly subscription) or USD $1,490/year (Annual subscription)

Target Audience: Various types of users, including professional designers, embroidery business owners, and embroidery enthusiasts.

Editing

The Editing version of Wilcom software offers an intuitive interface and powerful editing capabilities, allowing users to easily adjust the size, change colors, arrange elements, and meet various specific requirements for their designs.

Price: USD $1,299 (One-time payment)

Target Audience: Designed specifically for professionals who frequently work with existing embroidery designs and require advanced editing capabilities.

Here is my comparison of the features offered by the 4 versions mentioned above, in comparison:

Functions/Versions	Lettering	Editing	Decorating	Designing
Open and Export embroidery files	✔	✔	✔	✔
Create Lettering and monograms	✔	✔	✔	✔
Professionally digitized embroidery fonts	228	200+	200+	228
Recolor and assign thread charts	✔	✔	✔	✔
Edit and Reshape designs	✔	✔	✔	✔
Adjust stitch settings	✔	✔	✔	✔
Team Name name drop	✔	✔	✔	✔
Outline stitch types		4	6	12
Fill stitch types			5	9
Manual Digitizing Tools			5	16
Auto digitize designs			✔	✔
CorelDRAW®CorelDRAW			✔	✔
Offset and borders			✔	✔
Create applique			✔	✔
Partial applique				✔
Branching and automatic sequencing				✔
Shaping tools				✔
Styles				✔
Embroidery clipart browser				✔
Jagged Edge effect				✔
Hand Stitch effect				✔
Add-on Elements available to purchase	2	2	6	19

3.Trial period:

You can get a 14-day free trial.

Pros:

Powerful Design Capabilities: Wilcom software offers a wide range of design features and tools, allowing users to create intricate and detailed embroidery designs.

Strong Compatibility: Wilcom software is compatible with multiple embroidery machine brands and file formats.

Stitch Simulation and Visualization: This feature allows users to visually see how the design will appear in the form of embroidery stitches, enabling precise adjustments and fine-tuning for more accurate and satisfying results.

Cons:

Price: Wilcom software is a professional-grade embroidery design software, and as such, it comes with a relatively higher price tag, which can be a significant investment for individuals or small businesses with limited budgets.

Learning Curve: Wilcom software has extensive functionality, and while it has a user-friendly interface, learning and becoming proficient in using it may require some time and experience, especially for beginners.

Limited Mac Compatibility: Wilcom embroidery software primarily caters to Windows users, which can be a drawback for Mac users who prefer working on Apple devices. Although there are workarounds such as running virtual machines or using Boot Camp, it adds extra complexity for Mac users.

Hatch Embroidery Software

1.Introduction:

Hatch Embroidery software is a powerful and intuitive embroidery design software developed by Wilcom. Unlike Wilcom software, Hatch software is designed to be user-friendly, offering an easy-to-use interface and a wide range of embroidery design features. It is suitable for beginners and non-professional users who are looking to explore the world of embroidery design. The official website of Hatch Embroidery software can be found at: https://hatchembroidery.com/.

2.Version Comparison:

Hatch offers four different series versions to cater to various embroidery needs. Whether you are a beginner in embroidery or an expert in need of advanced digitizing tools, Hatch Embroidery software has got you covered.

Organizer

Hatch Organizer is the entry-level version of Hatch Embroidery software. It provides basic editing tools to customize designs, allowing users to add text and lettering to their designs and choose from a variety of fonts and customization options. It also enables the conversion of basic images into embroidery designs.

Price: USD $149 (One-time payment)

Target Audience: Embroidery beginners and hobbyists.

Personalizer

Hatch Personalizer is the intermediate version of Hatch Embroidery software. It offers additional editing tools and digitizing capabilities, allowing users to have more freedom in personalizing their designs. With just a few simple steps, users can add beautiful letter combinations to ready-made items.

Price: USD $249 (One-time payment)

Target Audience: Users with some embroidery experience who are looking for more creative freedom in their designs.

Composer

Hatch Composer is the advanced version of Hatch Embroidery software. It provides a comprehensive set of digitizing tools and advanced editing capabilities, allowing users to create complex designs from scratch or convert intricate artwork into embroidery designs.

Price: USD $599 (One-time payment) or USD $45/month Over 14 months with FlexPay

Target Audience: Professional embroiderers and businesses in need of comprehensive digitizing and editing tools.

Digitizer

Hatch Digitizer is the ultimate version of Hatch Embroidery software, offering the most advanced features and performance. It provides a complete suite of digitizing tools, including automatic digitizing, manual digitizing, and conversion capabilities. Users can effortlessly create intricate designs with ease.

Price: USD $1099 (One-time payment) or USD $99/month Over 12 months with FlexPay

Target Audience: Professional digitizers and professional embroidery design businesses.

Here is my comparison of the features offered by the 4 versions mentioned above, in comparison:

Functions/Versions	Organizer	Personalizer	Composer	Digitizer
64-bit Operating System	✔	✔	✔	✔
New Home Screen	✔	✔	✔	✔
Organize Files with Design Manager	✔	✔	✔	✔
Convert to machine formats	✔	✔	✔	✔
Change Design Color	✔	✔	✔	✔
Resize Designs	✔	✔	✔	✔
Auto Fabric	L	L	✔	✔
Customize Designs	✔	L	✔	✔
View designs, virtual sewing, information	✔	✔	✔	✔
Setup your own design space	✔	✔	✔	✔
Finishing the design	✔	✔	✔	✔
Center All	✔	✔	✔	✔
Hoop and machine Management System	✔	✔	✔	✔
Change blocks of colors	✔	✔	✔	✔
Multi-position hoop	L	L	✔	✔
Create/Add lettering		✔	✔	✔
Create Monograms		✔	✔	✔
New Hints docker		✔	✔	✔
Laydown Stitch		L	✔	✔
Keyboard Design Collection		L	L	✔
Auto-Digitizing (7 methods)			✔	✔
Multi-hooping			✔	✔
Edit design objects			✔	✔
Layout Tools			✔	✔
Sequence Tools			✔	✔
Creative tools			✔	✔
CorelDRAW® GEM add-on			✔	✔
Vector file support				✔
Reef PhotoStitch				✔
Hand-Stitch Effect				✔
Close Shape				✔
Manual Digitizing (10 methods)				✔
Create Outlines and Offsets				✔
Carving Stamp				✔
Motif Stamp				✔
Color PhotoStitch				✔
Photo Flash				✔
Redwork				✔
Weld				✔
Create Applique' – Auto				✔
Digitize Applique'				✔
Convert vectors to Applique'				✔
Advanced Editing				✔
Creative Stitches and Effects				✔
Cross-stitch GEM - add on				✔

3. Trial period:

You can get 30 days free trial.

4.Pros and Cons:

Pros:

1. User-Friendly Interface: Hatch Embroidery software has an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, allowing both beginners and experienced users to quickly grasp the basics and start creating beautiful designs.
2. Rich Design Library: Hatch Embroidery software offers a wide range of design templates and reference designs, enabling users to quickly create their own embroidery masterpieces.
3. Compatibility: Hatch Embroidery software is compatible with most embroidery machine brands and supports common embroidery file formats such as DST, EXP, PES, and more, making it convenient for users to transfer their designs to embroidery machines.
4. Customer Support: Hatch Embroidery software provides comprehensive customer support, assisting users in resolving any technical issues or inquiries they may have.

Cons:

1. Price: Compared to other embroidery software in the market, Hatch Embroidery software has a relatively higher price point. This may deter some budget-conscious users, especially those who are just starting their embroidery journey.
2. Limited Free Trial: While Hatch Embroidery software offers a free trial version, it has certain limitations. The trial version allows users to explore the software and its basic features but restricts access to advanced tools and functionalities.
3. Limited Mac Compatibility: Hatch Embroidery software is primarily developed for the Windows operating system, which means using it on a Mac may require additional software or virtual machines to be installed.

Embrilliance Embroidery Software

1.Introduction:

Embrilliance is a home embroidery software that was born in the new millennium. It has a unique interface style and offers a variety of features and tools to help users create and edit beautiful embroidery designs. The official website of Embrilliance can be found at: https://embrilliance.com/.

2.Version Comparison:

Essentials

As the foundation of Embrilliance, Essentials is a must-have version for all embroiderers. With Essentials, you can merge designs, resize designs (with stitch recalculation), remove overlapping stitches, colorize, print templates, add fonts, and more.

Price: $139.00

Target Audience: Individuals interested in embroidery design and need to edit and adjust patterns.

Embrilliance StitchArtist Level 1

StitchArtist Level 1 offers a powerful set of stitch types and tools, allowing users to easily create their own designs. With StitchArtist Level 1, you can transform sketches, images, or ideas into vibrant embroidery designs. StitchArtist Level 1 empowers you to imagine, design, and stitch your own unique creations.

Price: $169.00

Target Audience: Embroidery enthusiasts who want to do stitch drawing in an affordable and straightforward way.

Embrilliance StitchArtist Level 2

Embrilliance StitchArtist Level 2 offers an advanced set of tools and features, expanding upon the foundation laid in Level 1. With Level 2, you can create embroidery objects using a more comprehensive set of digitizing tools and a wider range of stitch types and attribute selections.

Price: $369.00

Target Audience: Individuals who want to create more complex embroidery designs and logos.

Embrilliance StitchArtist Level 3

Embrilliance StitchArtist Level 3 is the pinnacle of StitchArtist, including advanced tools such as Quick Styles, Custom Carving Lines, and shaping tools like AND, Subtract, Union, Flatten, Inflate/Deflate, Re-, and more. It can even automatically trace the outline of existing stitches, making it easy to add borders to existing stitch file elements.

Price: $649.00

Target Audience: Individuals who enjoy creating designs and digitizing for commercial machine embroidery.

Here is my comparison of the types of stitches available in the 3 versions of Embrilliance StitchArtist mentioned above:

Stitch	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
Line (no stitches)	✔	✔	✔
Manual	✔	✔	✔
Run (7 styles)	✔	✔	✔
Fill	✔	✔	✔
Satin Border	✔	✔	✔
Satin Column (auto-incline)	✔	✔	✔
Applique	✔	✔	✔
Stipple	✔	✔	✔
Motif Run	✔	✔	✔
Motif Fill	✔	✔	✔
Cross Stitch	✔	✔	✔
Freestanding Background	✔	✔	✔
Satin Column (inclines)		✔	✔
Candlewicking, French Knot		✔	✔
Contour (echo) 3 styles		✔	✔
Satin Contour		✔	✔
Satin Freestanding		✔	✔
Satin 3D Foam Auto-Underlay		✔	✔
Fringe		✔	✔
3, 5 Pass Whip		✔	✔
Curved Fill/Curved Motif Fill (User-drawn curve)		✔	✔
Gradient Fill (& curved mode)		✔	✔
Feathered Fill (& curved mode)		✔	✔
Fill Embossing		✔	✔
Motif Run (gradient)		✔	✔
Eyelets, Single and Run			✔
User-defined Motifs			✔
User-defined Embossing			✔
Carving Lines			✔
Break lines			✔
Patch Edge (Faux Merrow)			✔

3.Feature Module Comparison:

Unlike the previous two software versions, Embrilliance offers a unique modular payment system: the base software plus continuously updated font and design combinations. I will explain the module features and prices for you.

Enthusiast

Features: Enthusiast combines the main features of multiple Embrilliance modules, providing a comprehensive solution for embroidery design editing and management. It includes advanced stitch file editing and combining, automatic Knockdown™ stitching, custom thread rings and thread palettes, as well as advanced manual density and pull compensation adjustment tools.

Price: $179.99

Density Repair Kit

Features: The Density Repair Kit (DRK) module is the core solution for addressing stitch density issues in embroidery designs. With DRK, you can use intelligent project guides and manual density adjustment controls to change the density of any existing embroidery design file, ensuring better performance on almost any fabric type.

Price: $128.95

AlphaTricks

Features: The focus of the AlphaTricks module is to enhance your lettering capabilities, allowing you to create stunning embroidery text and lettering designs. It also enables you to modify and rename purchased BX format fonts.

Price: $95.00

Thumbnailer

Features: The Thumbnailer module aims to simplify and enhance the browsing experience of your embroidery design library. It replaces the embroidery file icons with graphic previews, similar to the ones found in operating system file utilities, allowing you to view file previews without opening them.

Price: $35.95

4. Trial period:

You can get 30 days free trial.

5.Pros and Cons:

Pros:

User-friendly interface: Embrilliance values simplicity and provides a user-friendly interface that allows both beginners and experienced embroiderers to navigate the software with ease.

Modular approach: With Embrilliance's modular structure, you have the freedom to choose specific modules that best suit your embroidery needs.

Strong compatibility: Embrilliance supports various embroidery machine formats, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of embroidery machines. It is also available for both Windows and Mac versions.

Comprehensive support resources: Embrilliance software offers a range of support resources, including tutorials, forums, and direct assistance.

Cons:

High cost: The modular structure of Embrilliance means that each module comes with its own price tag, and investing in multiple modules can increase the overall cost.

Limited advanced features: While Embrilliance provides a powerful set of editing tools, some advanced features commonly found in other high-end embroidery software may be limited or unavailable in certain modules.

Dependency on modules: Embrilliance's modular approach means that certain features and functionalities can only be accessed through specific modules. This may require purchasing additional modules to access certain desired functionalities, which can be a consideration for those seeking an all-in-one software solution.

Factors to consider when choosing embroidery digitizing software

Choosing the right embroidery digitizing software can be overwhelming given the many options available on the market. Here are some other factors you should consider before choosing embroidery digitizing software.

1.User Interface and Overall Ease of Use: The software should have a user-friendly design, intuitive navigation, and clear instructions. Software with a gentle learning curve can help both beginners and experienced users work efficiently.

2.Compatibility: Check the compatibility of the software with your embroidery machine. Ensure that the software supports the file formats that your machine can read. Compatibility with different brands and models of machines is crucial for seamless integration between the software and embroidery equipment.

3.Features and Tools: Make sure the software has the necessary features and tools you require. The more robust the software's capabilities, the greater your creative freedom and flexibility in embroidery projects.

4.Budget and Software Price: Consider whether the price of the software aligns with the features and performance it offers. Prices for embroidery digitizing software can vary, with some offering monthly or yearly subscription plans, while others require a one-time purchase.

5.User Reviews and Reputation: Gain insights into the experiences of other users, the software's reliability, and customer satisfaction. This can provide valuable information about the software's performance and help you make an informed decision.

6.Training and Support: Look for software that provides sufficient training and support resources. Good training and support can help you quickly learn the software and address any issues that may arise during the digitizing process.

Whether you are an amateur or a professional embroiderer, investing in embroidery digitizing software can take your embroidery skills to new heights. These are the knowledge and insights that I have shared for you regarding embroidery digitizing software, and I hope that through this article, you can make an informed choice about the ideal software for you.