OptiCutter alternative
OptiCutter and CutNest both run in a web browser and handle sheets and lengths. They differ in the free plan, how they are priced and what you can do with the layout. Here is a fair side by side.
CutNest and OptiCutter side by side
| CutNest | OptiCutter | |
|---|---|---|
| Runs on | Any web browser: Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android. Installs as an app | Web browser |
| Works offline | Yes, once it has loaded | See their site |
| Account needed | No. Your jobs stay on your computer | See their site |
| Free plan | Jobs up to 50 parts, 1 material, 2 sheet sizes. No time limit | Free plan with up to 5 stock sizes, 20 part sizes and 500 parts, with PDF, spreadsheet and DXF export |
| Paid plan | £12 a month or £99 a year, plus VAT, per company. 14 days free | Standard €9 a month; Professional €19 a month. Two months free when paid yearly |
| Sheets and bars in one job | Yes (Pro) | See their site |
| Customer quote from the layout | Yes (Pro): material, cutting time, handling and your markup | See their site |
| Says when the sheet count is the minimum | Yes, when it can prove it | See their site |
OptiCutter facts are from its own website, checked on 28 October 2026. Prices and plans change, so check there before you decide. If anything here is out of date, email hello@cutnest.co.uk and it will be corrected.
When OptiCutter is the better choice
- Your jobs regularly have more than 50 parts and you want to stay on a free plan: OptiCutter’s free plan allows up to 500 parts.
- You want DXF, PDF and spreadsheet export without paying: OptiCutter’s free plan includes them. In CutNest, DXF is part of Pro.
- You want an API to call the optimiser from your own software: OptiCutter sells an Enterprise API plan.
When CutNest is the better choice
- You want to quote the customer from the layout, with material, cutting time, handling and your markup, and your logo on the quote.
- You want to know when the sheet count is the minimum: CutNest says when it has proved no layout can use fewer sheets.
- You want to keep your jobs on your own computer with no account, and work offline in the workshop.
- You want one price that covers the whole company.
Try both on the same job
The fairest test is one of your own recent jobs. Put the same parts, sheet size and kerf into both and compare the sheet count, the time it took and what you can do with the result. CutNest needs no account, so it takes a couple of minutes: open the app, or start with the sheet calculator or the inch version.
Questions
Try it on your own job
Free, in your browser, no account. Your cut list stays on your computer.