MaxCut Alternatives: Options for Mac, the Browser and Linear Cutting
Updated
MaxCut is a Windows desktop cut list optimizer for cabinet shops. It has a free Community Edition and a Business Edition at $20/month or $200/year per device. MaxCut's own FAQ says it "is a Windows-based application and is not available for Mac", and that it is "specifically designed to optimize rectangular parts". There's no linear (1D) mode on its site (as of October 2026).
So the usual reasons to look for an alternative are a Mac, a browser tool you can open on any computer, or cutting bar and lumber lengths as well as panels. Here are the options, including where MaxCut is still the better choice. We make EZNESTING, so weigh our entry accordingly.
Try it: four 18" base cabinets
Edit any number and the layout updates. Runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
| Part | W | H | Qty | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Nesting…
| Tool | Runs on | Price | 1D linear | Best at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MaxCut | Windows | Community free; Business $20/mo or $200/yr per device | ✗ | Cabinet-shop costing, labels, parts library |
| EZNESTING | Web (Mac, Windows, Linux) | Free (unlimited optimizations); Pro $7.99/mo | ✓ | Sheet and linear in one browser tool, free DXF |
| optiCutter | Web | Free (5 stocks, 20 part sizes); from €9/mo | ✓ | Generous free tier, roll material, API |
| CutList Optimizer | Web, Android | Free with daily limit; from $15/mo or $4.90 for 3 days | ✗ (web app) | Phone app, large user base |
| OpenCutList | SketchUp (Win, Mac) | Free | ✓ | Cut lists straight from a SketchUp model |
| CutList Plus fx | Windows | $89 / $249 / $499 one-time | Lumber and sheet | One-time price, long track record |
| CutLogic 2D | Windows | Community free; $999 one-time | ✗ (separate 1D app) | Desktop panel optimization |
What MaxCut does well, and what to keep if you switch
MaxCut is more than an optimizer. It includes job costing, labels, a library of materials and edging, and settings like tension-free cuts that panel shops care about. A Windows-only shop that quotes from the same tool it cuts from has good reasons to stay.
What it doesn't do: run on a Mac (MaxCut doesn't support running it in a Windows virtual machine either, though some users do), cut linear stock, or open in a browser on a different machine. The Community Edition also restricts library items, kerf settings per material and CSV export, and adds ads to reports.
If you switch, check that your new tool covers the parts you rely on: grain direction, edge banding, kerf, trim and the export your saw or CNC needs.
The alternatives, one by one
EZNESTING (our tool) runs in any browser with no install, so it works on a Mac or a shop PC. It handles sheet and linear cutting in one project, with grain direction, edge banding, kerf and trim. Free gives you unlimited optimizations and up to 5 part sizes and 3 stock sizes per job, with PDF, CSV, Excel and DXF export. Pro is $7.99/month or $79.99/year. It has no offline desktop version, and its costing is lighter than MaxCut's.
optiCutter is browser-based with sheet, roll and length modes, and DXF export on every plan. Its free tier allows 5 stock sizes and 20 part sizes per project.
CutList Optimizer runs in the browser and has an Android app. The web app is panel-only, with no linear mode and no DXF export.
OpenCutList is free inside SketchUp on Windows and Mac. If you draw your cabinets in SketchUp, it builds the cut list and cutting diagrams from the model.
CutList Plus fx is Windows-only too, but sold once: $89 (50 parts per project), $249, or $499 for the edition with DXF export.
CutLogic 2D is a Windows panel optimizer with a free Community edition (250 parts, 10 part sizes per plan) and a $999 one-time Professional edition.
Worked example: four 18" base cabinets
The calculator at the top of this page has the 3/4" box parts for four frameless 18" base cabinets: 8 sides, 4 bottoms, 8 stretchers and 4 shelves. On 4×8 sheets with a ⅛" kerf, it comes out at 3 sheets, 73.6% yield. Two sheets are about 87% full, and the third holds the leftovers at about half full.
That's the same rectangular cabinet work MaxCut is built for. Run your own job in both and compare the sheet count, and how easy each layout is to cut.
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).
- 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.
- Cabinet Cut List CalculatorFree cabinet cut list calculator: turn your cabinet boxes into a plywood sheet count and cut plan. Base cabinet sizes 12" to 42", a real 12-box example. No signup.
- Panel Cut OptimizerFree panel cut optimizer: lay out rectangular parts on full boards with kerf, grain and edge-to-edge cuts. Chipboard, MDF, plywood, melamine. No signup.