OptiCutter (opticutter.com) is an online cutting optimisation tool offering monthly subscriptions. It targets both individual woodworkers and professionals, handling both panel (2D) and linear (1D) cutting optimisation. How does it compare to Offcut, which is free with unlimited calculations? Here is the full comparison.
Comparison table
| Criterion | Offcut | OptiCutter |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (advanced exports in paid plan) | Free limited / Pro €19/month / API €99/month |
| Free calculations | Unlimited | Limited (restricted parts and sheets) |
| Grain direction | ✅ | ✅ |
| Edge banding | ✅ | ✅ |
| 2D optimisation (panels) | ✅ | ✅ |
| 1D optimisation (linear lumber) | ❌ | ✅ |
| DXF export (CNC) | ✅ (paid plan) | ✅ (paid plan) |
| SVG export | ✅ (paid plan) | ❌ |
| Part label export | ✅ | ❌ |
| Weight statistics | ✅ per part and total | ❌ |
| Enterprise API | ❌ | ✅ (€99/month) |
| Languages | 10 | 9 |
Price: €19/month vs free and unlimited
OptiCutter offers a free plan, but the limits are significant: restricted number of parts and sheets per calculation. For real professional use, the Pro version at €19/month is required. Over 12 months, that is €228 per year — a meaningful recurring cost.
Offcut is free with unlimited calculations. The paid version of Offcut unlocks advanced exports (DXF, SVG, PDF) but is not required for optimisation itself. For the vast majority of use cases, Offcut remains completely free with no functional limitation on the core product.
1D optimisation: OptiCutter’s specific advantage
The main functional difference is 1D optimisation: OptiCutter also handles linear lumber (bars, tubes, profiles, moulding offcuts). If your projects regularly include dimensional solid wood in large quantities, this capability is a direct advantage. Offcut specialises in 2D panels.
Weight statistics and advanced exports: Offcut ahead
OptiCutter does not offer weight statistics. Offcut automatically displays the weight of each part and the total project weight — an exclusive feature missing from all its direct competitors. For furniture deliveries, load calculations or logistics planning, Offcut’s weight statistics are a strong differentiator.
On exports, Offcut also offers SVG (absent from OptiCutter) and part labels. OptiCutter offers DXF, as does Offcut in its paid plan.
Enterprise API: a different market
OptiCutter offers an API at €99/month, aimed at developers and companies who want to embed cutting optimisation in their own software (ERPs, online furniture configurators, etc.). This is a B2B positioning that neither Offcut nor other consumer tools address. If you are building a business application, OptiCutter Pro or Enterprise may be relevant.
Which tool should you choose?
Choose OptiCutter if: you need to optimise linear 1D lumber in addition to panels, or you are building an application that requires a cutting optimisation API.
Choose Offcut if: you primarily work with sheet goods, you want a free tool with no monthly subscription, or you need weight statistics, SVG exports, and part labels.
Verdict
OptiCutter is a solid tool, particularly for 1D use cases and enterprise API integrations. But for standard wood panel optimisation, Offcut is more complete (weight, SVG, labels) and entirely free without a subscription. At €228/year, OptiCutter Pro is hard to justify when Offcut covers the same functional target without recurring costs.
For a broader overview of free panel cutting plan software, see our free panel cutting software comparison.
Offcut tools to go further
- 🪵 Offcut app — cutting plan — generate an optimised cutting plan in a few clicks.
- 📊 Wood weight calculator — instantly estimate the weight of your panels.
Frequently asked questions
Is OptiCutter free?
OptiCutter offers a free plan with limits on the number of parts and sheets per calculation. For unlimited professional use, the Pro plan at €19/month is required. Offcut is free with unlimited calculations.
Does OptiCutter provide weight statistics?
No. OptiCutter does not calculate the weight of parts or the project. This feature is exclusive to Offcut among mainstream panel cutting optimisation tools.
Can Offcut handle linear lumber (1D)?
No. Offcut specialises in panel (2D) optimisation. For linear lumber optimisation (bars, profiles, studs), OptiCutter or MaxCut are better suited.
