Embrizo

Hatch vs Ink/Stitch

Hatch runs only on Windows and is a one-time purchase from $199 (auto-digitizing from $699); Ink/Stitch runs on Windows, Mac and Linux inside Inkscape and is free and open source. Only Ink/Stitch runs on a Mac. Hatch auto-digitizes images; Ink/Stitch is for hand digitizing. For turning logos and artwork into machine files, Embrizo is the top pick over both: it auto-digitizes in any browser, on a Mac or a PC, in seconds and from $8 a month.

Try auto-digitizing freeSee the comparison
Top pickEmbrizoAuto-digitizing on Mac, Windows and Chromebook, from $8 a month

Hatch

by Wilcom

Mac
No
Auto-digitizing
Yes
Free
Paid

One-time, from $199 ($699 with auto-digitizing)

Ink/Stitch

by the Ink/Stitch open-source project

Mac
Yes
Auto-digitizing
No
Free
Yes

Free and open source

From each vendor's site, checked October 2026.

Side by side

Embrizo, Hatch and Ink/Stitch

The same five questions for each. Embrizo is the only one that auto-digitizes on any computer with nothing to install.

FeatureEmbrizoHatch Embroidery 4Ink/Stitch
Works onAny modern browser on Windows, Mac, Linux or a Chromebook. Nothing to install.Windows 11 (64-bit) only. On a Mac it needs Parallels or similar.Windows, macOS 12+ and Linux, as an extension to Inkscape (install Inkscape first).
PriceFree account to digitize, preview and save designs. Plans for downloads from $8 a month billed yearly ($96 a year), or $20 monthly.One-time license: Organizer $199, Personalizer $299, Composer $699, Digitizer $1,199.Free and open source (GPL-3.0).
Auto-digitizing from imagesYes, on every plan: upload a PNG, JPG, WebP, GIF, BMP or SVG and get stitches in seconds.In Composer ($699) and Digitizer ($1,199).Works from vector paths. Images are traced with Inkscape's Trace Bitmap and cleaned up before stitching.
Manual digitizing and editingYou adjust settings, not individual stitches: colors, stitch type per color, size, fabric, underlay, rotation and mirroring.Full manual digitizing in Digitizer, the top level.Yes: you set stitch types and parameters on each path.
Trying itFree account, no credit card. Downloads need a plan; cancel anytime.30-day free trial of every level; 30-day money-back guarantee.Free to download and use.
Top pick

Why Embrizo beats both

Embrizo turns logos and artwork into clean, ready-to-sew embroidery files in your browser. Upload an image and get stitches in seconds; no digitizing skills needed.

  • Works on Mac, Windows, Linux and Chromebook, nothing to install
  • Auto-digitizes on every plan, with satin, fill and underlay set for your fabric
  • Writes DST, PES, JEF, EXP, VP3, XXX, PEC, U01 and TBF
  • Free account to digitize and preview; downloads from $8 a month instead of $199 up front
Digitize an image freeSee plans
The Embrizo digitizer showing artwork turned into stitches

Choose Hatch if…

  • You want to digitize by hand, object by object, with professional-grade tools.
  • You work on one Windows 11 PC and want everything offline.
  • You'd rather pay once than subscribe.

Learning curve: Guided, with plenty of tutorials; the lower levels are easy to learn.

Hatch vs Embrizo

Choose Ink/Stitch if…

  • You're comfortable in Inkscape and like full control over every path.
  • You want free, open-source software and don't mind the learning curve.
  • You need G-code or other specialist output.

Learning curve: A steep start: you learn Inkscape and stitch settings first.

Ink/Stitch vs Embrizo

Free account

See your logo stitched in seconds

Create a free account to digitize any image, try every setting and watch it sew. Choose a plan only when you want to download files.

  • Digitize and preview any image
  • Realistic stitch preview and sew-out
  • Download free ready-made designs
  • No credit card needed
FAQ

Hatch vs Ink/Stitch questions

The quickest way to see what it does with your artwork is to try it. With a free account, digitizing and previewing cost nothing and take about a minute.

Is Hatch better than Ink/Stitch?

Hatch suits auto-digitizing and hand digitizing on a Windows PC; Ink/Stitch suits free, hands-on digitizing from vector paths. For most people who need files from logos and artwork, Embrizo is the better choice than either: it auto-digitizes in the browser on any computer, in seconds.

Which works on a Mac, Hatch or Ink/Stitch?

Ink/Stitch. Hatch runs only on Windows, so on a Mac it needs Windows in a virtual machine.

Which is cheaper?

Ink/Stitch, at the entry level: free and open source. The other is a one-time purchase from $199 (auto-digitizing from $699). Compare the level you actually need, since features differ by tier.

Can Hatch and Ink/Stitch auto-digitize images?

Hatch can. Ink/Stitch is built for digitizing by hand.

What's the best alternative to Hatch and Ink/Stitch?

Embrizo. Upload an image in your browser and get a ready-to-sew file in seconds, on a Mac, PC or Chromebook. Digitizing and previewing are free with an account; downloads start at $8 a month billed yearly.

Where do these details come from?

From Wilcom's and the Ink/Stitch open-source project's own websites, checked in October 2026. Prices and features change, so confirm with the vendor before you buy.

Sources

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