CutList Plus Alternatives: Mac, Browser and Free Options
Updated
CutList Plus fx is Windows cutting-diagram software for plywood and lumber, sold as a one-time purchase: Silver $89 (50 parts per project), Gold $249 (unlimited parts) and Platinum $499 (adds DXF export of diagrams). Its support page says "There is no native Mac OS version of CutList Plus" and suggests Parallels, VMware Fusion, Boot Camp or CrossOver instead (as of October 2026). Boot Camp only works on Intel Macs.
The usual reasons to look for an alternative are a Mac, wanting DXF without paying $499, or not wanting to install Windows software at all. Here are the options, including where CutList Plus is still a good buy. We make EZNESTING, so weigh our entry accordingly.
Try it: two 6-foot bookcases
Edit any number and the layout updates. Runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
| Part | W | H | Qty | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Nesting…
| Tool | Runs on | Price | DXF export |
|---|---|---|---|
| CutList Plus fx | Windows (Mac via Parallels, Fusion, CrossOver) | $89 / $249 / $499 one-time | Platinum ($499) only |
| EZNESTING | Web (Mac, Windows, Linux) | Free (unlimited optimizations); Pro $7.99/mo or $79.99/yr | ✓ Free |
| OpenCutList | SketchUp desktop (Win, Mac) | Free | ✓ |
| optiCutter | Web | Free (5 stocks, 20 part sizes); from €9/mo | ✓ All plans |
| CutList Optimizer | Web, Android | Free with daily limit; from $15/mo or $4.90 for 3 days | ✗ |
| SketchCut PRO | Windows, macOS, mobile | Price not shown; 30-day Windows trial | Not checked |
| MaxCut | Windows | Community free; Business $20/mo per device | ✓ (tier not stated) |
Where CutList Plus is still a good buy
A one-time price is a real advantage. If you build furniture every year on a Windows PC, $89 or $249 once can cost less than any subscription over a few years. It handles plywood and lumber in one program, runs locally on your PC, and says it has been used by more than 20,000 woodworkers. If that describes you and the Silver edition's 50-part limit is enough, it's a sensible choice.
The trade-offs: no native Mac version, DXF export only in the $499 Platinum edition, and its listed system requirements stop at Windows 10. We couldn't find a release date on the site, so we can't say how actively it's developed.
The alternatives, one by one
EZNESTING (our tool) runs in a web browser, so there's nothing to install on a Mac. It does sheet goods and linear stock (boards, trim, dowel) in one project, with grain direction, kerf and edge banding. Free gives you unlimited optimizations and up to 5 part sizes and 3 stock sizes per job, and DXF export is included. Pro is $7.99/month or $79.99/year. It's a subscription, not a one-time purchase, and it needs an internet connection to load.
OpenCutList is free and open source. It runs inside SketchUp (desktop 2017 and later, on Windows and Mac) and builds parts lists, cutting diagrams and labels from your model, with SVG and DXF export. It's the best free choice if you already design in SketchUp. It's not an option if you don't.
optiCutter is a browser tool with a free plan of 5 stock sizes and 20 part sizes per project, including DXF export. Paid plans start at €9/month.
CutList Optimizer is browser-based with an Android app. It handles sheet goods only in the web app, with no DXF export.
SketchCut PRO has Windows and macOS desktop versions plus free mobile apps. Its site shows a 30-day trial for Windows but no price.
MaxCut is another Windows desktop option with a free Community Edition, aimed at cabinet shops.
Worked example: two 6-foot bookcases
The calculator at the top of this page has two 72"-tall, 36"-wide bookcases in 3/4" plywood: 4 sides at 11¼" × 72" and 10 shelves (including tops and bottoms) at 34½" × 11¼". On 4×8 sheets with a ⅛" kerf, it comes out at 2 sheets, 77.3% yield. The first sheet is 87% full.
That's the kind of hobby project CutList Plus Silver is priced for. Run it in both and compare.
Related guides
More comparisons
- Cut List Optimizer for MacMaxCut, CutList Plus and CutLogic are Windows-only. A free cut list optimizer that runs in your Mac's browser, plus every Mac option compared (October 2026).
- 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.
- 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.
- Lumber Cut List CalculatorFree lumber cut list calculator for trim, molding, framing, and decking. Linear (1D) bin packing minimizes waste from 8ft, 12ft, 16ft sticks.