Software Alternatives & Startups

Cutlist Evolution VS cutlistlab

Compare Cutlist Evolution VS cutlistlab and see what are their differences

Cutlist Evolution logo Cutlist Evolution

Our cutlist optimizer generates efficient layouts for both linear and sheet material. It's a professional tool that saves money and reduces waste, making it ideal for commercial workshops.

cutlistlab logo cutlistlab

Free cut list optimizer for plywood and sheet goods: least waste, sheet count, printable cutting diagram. No signup, no parts limit, runs in your browser.
  • Cutlist Evolution Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-09
  • Cutlist Evolution Inputs
    Inputs //
    2026-08-11
  • Cutlist Evolution Workbench
    Workbench //
    2026-08-11

Cutlist Evolution works out how to cut your parts from the stock you have with the least waste, then gives you a plan your workshop can actually follow.

It handles sheet goods (plywood, MDF, melamine, glass), linear stock (timber, tube, extrusion) and roll materials, with both guillotine cutting for panel saws and true-shape nesting for CNC. The constraints that matter on a real job are built in: grain direction and orientation locks, edge banding and face finishes, blade kerf, and per-edge trim.

Parts can be typed in, pasted from a spreadsheet, or imported as CSV or DXF. It also reads 3D models directly from Fusion 360, Shapr3D, Onshape, SketchUp and Blender, taking the model apart into measured panels with duplicates merged. A free SketchUp extension sends parts across with no export step at all.

Cutting plans export to PDF, CSV, DXF and SVG, plus saw formats including PTX, Biesse XML and Mayer.

It runs entirely in the browser with nothing to install, works on any device, and is available in 30 languages. The free tier covers up to 40 parts per cut list and 3 saved projects; paid plans raise those limits and add the CNC and saw-file exports. There is also a native iPhone and iPad app.

  • cutlistlab
    Image date //
    2026-09-04
  • cutlistlab Linear mode: battens, baseboard and profiles cut to length
    Linear mode: battens, baseboard and profiles cut to length //
    2026-09-08

cutlistlab is a free cut list optimizer for plywood, MDF, particleboard and melamine. Enter your parts (or design a cabinet to size), pick your sheet, and it nests the cuts with the least waste, tells you how many sheets you need and draws a numbered cutting diagram you can print or take to the panel saw at the hardware store.

  • Runs entirely in the browser, works on your phone at the workbench
  • No account needed, no limit on the number of parts or optimizations
  • Offcuts are kept as stock for your next project
  • Optional free account to sync projects across devices
  • 40 languages, metric and imperial units
  • Sheet libraries for US, NL, DE, AT and CH hardware stores
  • Exports: PDF/print, PNG, SVG, CSV, DXF and labels

Cutlist Evolution

$ Details
freemium £5 / Monthly (Starter)
Platforms
Web iOS
Release Date
2020 January
Startup details
Country
United Kingdom
Founder(s)
J Gibson
Employees
1 - 9

cutlistlab

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
free
Platforms
Web
Release Date
2026 June

Cutlist Evolution features and specs

  • Sheet & linear materials
    Y
  • Adjustable blade width / kerf
    Y
  • Grain direction / part orientation
    Y
  • Trim stock and parts
    Y
  • Edge banding
    Y
  • Offcuts
    Y
  • Stock management
    Y
  • Export in various formats
    Y
  • Import from speadsheet
    Y
  • Labels
    Y
  • Beam / panel saw support
    Y

cutlistlab features and specs

  • Pricing
    Free, no signup, no limit on parts or optimizations
  • Optimization
    Least waste or fewest cuts, sheet count, saw kerf, grain direction, edge banding, manual adjustments, offcut stock
  • Export
    PDF/print, PNG, SVG, CSV, DXF and labels; 40 languages, metric and imperial

Cutlist Evolution videos

Best free cutlist optimizer

cutlistlab videos

Cut battens, baseboard and profiles with the least waste (cutlistlab)

More videos:

  • Tutorial - Plywood cabinet cut list: from cabinet size to cutting plan
  • Tutorial - Make a cutting plan in cutlistlab: parts, sheet and settings
  • Demo - Free cut list optimizer for plywood, no signup, no parts limit (cutlistlab demo)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Cutlist Evolution and cutlistlab)
Productivity
100 100%
0% 0
Cutting Optimisers
86 86%
14% 14
Woodworking
0 0%
100% 100
Tool
95 95%
5% 5

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Cutlist Evolution and cutlistlab.

What makes your product unique?

cutlistlab's answer:

cutlistlab is free with no signup and no limit on parts or optimizations, and it runs entirely in the browser (also on your phone at the workbench). Beyond the optimizer it has a cabinet designer that turns a cabinet size into a parts list, sheet libraries with the actual sheet sizes sold by hardware stores in the US, NL, DE, AT and CH, and an offcut inventory that keeps leftovers as stock for your next project. The cutting diagram is numbered and printable, made for taking to the panel saw at the store.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

cutlistlab's answer:

Most cut list optimizers either cap the number of parts in the free plan, require an account, or need a desktop install. cutlistlab has none of those: it is free without limits, needs no signup and runs in any browser, including on a phone. It also goes further than nesting: a cabinet designer generates the parts list from cabinet dimensions, real hardware store sheet sizes are built in, offcuts are tracked as stock, and you can adjust the layout by hand and recalculate. If you want it, a free account syncs your projects across devices.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

cutlistlab's answer:

DIY woodworkers and hobbyists building furniture, cabinets, shelves and wardrobes from plywood, MDF, particleboard or melamine, who cut with a track saw or have their sheets cut to size at the hardware store. Small joinery and cabinet shops use it too for quick sheet counts and cutting diagrams.

What's the story behind your product?

cutlistlab's answer:

cutlistlab started in the Netherlands as Zaaglab (zaaglab.nl), built by a DIYer who kept running into the same problem: planning a garage cabinet meant juggling sheet sizes, saw kerf and the order form of the hardware store's cutting service, and the existing tools were either limited in their free tier or too complex. The goal was a tool that is powerful under the hood (near-optimal nesting, multiple strategies, manual adjustments) but simple on the outside, and that understands how people actually buy and cut sheet goods. After the Dutch version took off in mid 2026, it was translated into 40 languages with sheet libraries for the US, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

cutlistlab's answer:

Plain HTML, CSS and JavaScript (ES modules, no framework). The optimizer and the SVG cutting diagram run entirely client-side in the browser; projects and offcut stock are stored locally in IndexedDB, with an optional PHP/MySQL backend for account sync. It is installable as a Progressive Web App and works offline.

Who are some of the biggest customers of your product?

cutlistlab's answer:

  • DIY woodworkers and hobbyists building cabinets, wardrobes and shelving from sheet goods (the largest group; the tool is free and needs no account)
  • Customers of hardware store cutting services who bring a printed cutting diagram and parts list to the panel saw
  • Small joinery and cabinet shops that need a quick sheet count and cutting layout for a quote
  • Makerspaces and community workshops that share a panel saw

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Cutlist Evolution and cutlistlab

Cutlist Evolution Reviews

Cutlist Optimizer Review — What are the Best Options This 2023?
Since Cutlist Evolution runs on a web-based program, woodworkers don’t need to install the application on their devices. This specification allows users to save and load cutlist files on different devices.

cutlistlab Reviews

We have no reviews of cutlistlab yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Cutlist Evolution seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 2 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Cutlist Evolution mentions (2)

  • Online / AI assisting tools for cut list and dimensions ?
    Https://cutlistevo.com/ to my knowledge is the most efficient and feature rich online optimiser. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Need help laying out pieces on one MDF board
    Https://cutlistevo.com also worth a look - more professional features. Source: over 3 years ago

cutlistlab mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of cutlistlab yet. Tracking of cutlistlab recommendations started around Sep 2026.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Cutlist Evolution and cutlistlab, you can also consider the following products

CutList Optimizer - A free cutlist optimizer

MaxCut - The Complete Cut List Optimization & Costing Solution for Woodworkers, Joiners and Cabinetry Professionals.

Cutlist Plus - Cutlist Plus is an excellent layout management platform that allows to create highly optimized shape-based content for websites or applications with cutting diagrams like rectangular, triangular, square, or multiple dimensional interfaces.

optiCutter - Online length cutting optimization software, designed to cut 1D linear material with maximal material yield and minimal waste.

SmartCut Optimizer - Cutlist Optimizer App for iOS, iPhone & Android

OPTIMIK - Carpenters, glassmakers, furniture manufacturers - save money, material and time and use the OPTIMIK program to calculate optimized cutlist. Plus lot of additional functions and possibilities - warehouse, catalog, offers, documents ...