Cut list optimisers compared
Every program below turns a list of parts into sheet layouts; they differ in where they run, how they are paid for and what they do around the layout. The details come from each maker’s own website, checked on 29 September 2026 — prices and limits change, so confirm them there before you buy.
At a glance
| Program | Runs on | How it is priced | Also plans lengths (bars, timber) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cutspan | Browser — PC, Mac, phone, iPad | Free, up to 200 parts per calculation | A separate free linear calculator |
| CutList Optimizer | Browser, Android, iPhone and iPad apps | Free plan with limits; subscriptions or a 3-day pass | Not described on the maker’s site |
| CutList Plus fx | Windows, installed | One-off licence: Silver $89, Gold $249, Platinum $499 | A separate product, CutList Plus Linear |
| OptiCut | Windows, installed | Editions by part limit (50, 200, 500, Pro); free demo | Yes — panels and bars |
| MaxCut | Windows, installed | Free Community Edition; paid editions | Not described on the maker’s home page |
| Cutlist Evolution | Browser, iOS app | Free up to 40 parts; paid plans by part count | Yes — sheets, lengths and rolls |
| OpenCutList | Inside SketchUp (extension) | Free and open source (GPLv3) | Yes — from the SketchUp model |
What Cutspan does differently
Free without an account
Layouts of up to 200 parts and every file are free, with no sign-up and no daily count.
Machine programs
BPP for Biesse and MPR for Homag, per part or per sheet, as well as DXF.
Read more →Lists from photos and PDFs
A photographed or printed list is read into the table as rows to check (free account).
Read more →UK boards and offcuts
Egger 2800 × 2070, 8x4 and 10x5 built in; offcuts on your rack are cut first.
Read more →When another program suits you better
Choose Cutspan when
- You want an answer in the browser without installing or paying
- The job goes to a Biesse or Homag machine
- The list arrives as a photo, PDF or spreadsheet
- Several people and devices work on the same job
Look elsewhere when
- You need lengths and sheets in one job — OptiCut, Cutlist Evolution or OpenCutList plan both together
- You must work with no internet connection — an installed program such as MaxCut, OptiCut or CutList Plus fx
- You design in SketchUp and want the list from the model — OpenCutList
- Your beam saw needs its own program file — check OptiCut’s CNC post-processor or Cutlist Evolution’s PTX export
How to compare fairly
- Use the same parts, the same sheet size and the same kerf and trim in every program.
- Decide whether grain is locked: a program allowed to turn parts will always use fewer sheets.
- Compare sheets to buy and whether the layout can really be cut on your saw, not only the percentage used.
- Check what you take to the workshop: a PDF plan, a CSV for the saw, labels or a machine file.
Questions
Which cut list optimiser is best?
The one that matches your workflow. For a free answer in the browser with machine files, Cutspan; for offline work on Windows, an installed program; for lengths as well as sheets, a program that plans both; for SketchUp models, OpenCutList.
Can I bring my list from another program?
Yes. Export it as CSV and import it in the template columns, or send a PDF or spreadsheet through the file reader and check the rows.
Why do two programs give different sheet counts?
Different settings — kerf, trim, grain, saw or CNC mode — and different search methods. Run the same list with the same settings before comparing.
Are these prices current?
They were taken from each maker’s website on 29 September 2026. Check the maker’s own page before buying.
Plan your cut list now
Free, in the browser, with no account. Layouts, edging totals and machine files from one list.