Cut List Optimizer for Mac: Free, in Your Browser
Updated
The best-known desktop cut list programs, MaxCut, CutList Plus fx and CutLogic, are Windows-only. Each vendor says so on its own site and points Mac users to Parallels, Boot Camp or CrossOver instead (as of October 2026). A browser-based optimizer avoids all of that. EZNESTING opens in your Mac's browser and lays out sheet goods and linear stock with kerf, grain direction and edge banding. There's nothing to download and you don't need an account to start.
Below is the full list of what works on a Mac, including the options that aren't ours.
Try it on your Mac: a desk from one 4×8 sheet
Edit any number and the layout updates. Runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
| Part | W | H | Qty | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Nesting…
| Tool | On a Mac | Price |
|---|---|---|
| EZNESTING | Runs in the browser, no install | Free (unlimited optimizations); Pro $7.99/month or $79.99/year |
| optiCutter | Runs in the browser ("device and OS independent") | Free tier; from €9/mo |
| CutList Optimizer | Runs in the browser | Free with daily limit; from $15/mo |
| Cutlist Evolution | Runs in the browser; iOS app | Free up to 40 parts |
| OpenCutList | Inside SketchUp desktop on Mac (not SketchUp web or iPad) | Free |
| SketchCut PRO | Has a macOS version | Price not shown on site |
| MaxCut | "Not available for Mac" | Community free; $20/mo per device |
| CutList Plus fx | "No native Mac OS version"; Parallels, Fusion, Boot Camp or CrossOver | $89–$499 one-time |
| CutLogic 1D / 2D | "No version for macOS"; Parallels or Boot Camp | Free Community; paid from $799 |
Why the Windows tools don't run on a Mac
MaxCut's FAQ says it "is a Windows-based application and is not available for Mac", and that running it in a Windows environment on a Mac is not officially supported. CutList Plus's support page says "There is no native Mac OS version of CutList Plus", and that the developer uses Parallels. TMachines says CutLogic has "no version for macOS".
The workarounds all cost something. Parallels and VMware Fusion need a Windows license and a fair amount of disk space. Boot Camp only exists on Intel Macs, so it's no help on Apple silicon. CrossOver avoids a Windows license but isn't guaranteed to run every program.
If you only need to plan cuts, a browser tool skips all of that. If you need a specific desktop feature, like MaxCut's job costing, the workaround may be worth it.
What EZNESTING does on a Mac
It's the same app on every computer, because it runs in the browser:
- Sheet goods (2D): plywood, MDF, melamine, acrylic, sheet metal, glass. Guillotine layouts a panel saw or table saw can cut, with grain direction per part.
- Linear stock (1D): lumber, trim, pipe, bar, extrusion, cut from stock lengths.
- Kerf, trim and edge banding in inches (with fractions like 23 1/4) or millimeters.
- Import from CSV or Excel (.xlsx), including files exported from Numbers.
- Export PDF, CSV, Excel and DXF for a CNC router.
Free gives you unlimited optimizations and up to 5 part sizes and 3 stock sizes per job. Pro is $7.99/month or $79.99/year. You need an internet connection to load it.
Worked example: a desk from one sheet
The calculator at the top of this page is pre-filled with a simple desk in 3/4" plywood: a 24" × 60" top, two 23¼" × 28½" end panels, three 22½" × 11¼" drawer parts and two 10" × 21" shelves. On a 4×8 sheet with a ⅛" kerf, all eight parts fit on 1 sheet at 85.6% yield.
Change any size and the layout updates in your browser. When it looks right, open it in the full optimizer to add grain direction and edge banding, then print the cutting diagram or export it.
Related guides
Related calculators
- MaxCut AlternativesMaxCut is Windows-only. Alternatives that run on a Mac or in a browser, or that cut lengths as well as panels, compared with prices as of October 2026.
- CutList Plus AlternativesCutList Plus fx is Windows-only and sold once from $89. Alternatives that run on a Mac or in a browser, compared honestly with prices as of October 2026.
- Plywood Cut CalculatorFree plywood cut calculator: enter your parts, get the sheet count and a cutting diagram for 4×8 or 5×5 plywood, with kerf and grain. No signup.
- Cut List Optimizer for ExcelImport your Excel or CSV cut list, get an optimized sheet or linear layout with kerf, and export it back to Excel. Free, in the browser, no signup.