How we compare them
A cut list optimizer does one core job: it takes a list of parts and packs them onto full sheets (and your offcuts) so you waste as little material as possible, while respecting the saw blade kerf and, where it matters, the grain direction. Beyond that core, the tools differ in price, platform, and the extra features that matter on a real project. We looked at six of the most relevant tools for hobbyists and small makers, and we tried to be fair: every one of them is good at something.
| Tool | Platform | Free tier | Stands out for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CutList Optimizer | Web + Android + iOS | Yes, with limits | The de-facto standard. Fast, trusted, and an excellent, hugely popular mobile app. Starts with no account. | Free tier caps calculations per day and saved cut lists. No cabinet module. |
| cutlistlab | Web (mobile-first) | Yes, no daily limit | Free with no sign-up and no daily cap, a built-in cabinet helper, offcut stock, a numbered cutting order for the store's saw service, a choice of goals (least waste, fewest cuts or lowest cost) and optional sign-in to sync. | Newer and less well known. No native desktop app. |
| OptiCutter | Web (server-side) | Yes, with limits | Does 1D linear and 2D panel cutting, many languages, exports to PDF, XLS, CSV and DXF, plus an API. | Free tier limits parts and stock. No cabinet module or offcut library. |
| OpenCutList | SketchUp extension | Free, open source | Generates the cut list straight from your 3D SketchUp model, with labels and cost and weight estimates. | Needs SketchUp. Not a standalone tool if you do not model in 3D. |
| MaxCut | Windows desktop | Free Community edition | Built for small cabinet shops: from cut list to quote, with labels, barcodes and material pricing. | Windows only, no web or mobile. Business edition is a paid subscription. |
| CutList Plus fx | Windows desktop | Trial only | Mature, serious software with material buying and cost reports, sold as a one-time license rather than a subscription. | Paid and Windows only. Less suited to the quick free online job. |
Pricing and free-tier limits change; check each tool's own site for the current details. This table reflects the general picture in 2026.
Feature by feature
This matrix lines up the three most complete tools feature by feature. ✓ = yes, ✗ = no, partial = limited. MaxCut, OpenCutList and CutList Plus are not in this grid; see the table above for those.
| Feature | cutlistlab | CutList Optimizer | OptiCutter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2D panel cutting | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 1D linear cutting (beams, battens) | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Saw kerf accounted for | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wood grain direction | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Optimize for lowest cost | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Choice of goals (waste / cuts / cost) | ✓ | partial | partial |
| Numbered cutting order | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Offcut stock kept across projects | ✓ | partial | ✗ |
| Parametric cabinet designer | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| 3D exploded view | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Library of real store sheets + prices | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| DXF export (for CAD) | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| API | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Multilingual | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Metric and imperial | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free with no daily limit | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Start without an account | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Own mobile app (Android / iOS) | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
Based on each tool's own site and apps in 2026. CutList Optimizer and OptiCutter have a free tier with limits and paid plans; cutlistlab is free with no daily limit. Details can change, so verify if in doubt.
The tools, one by one
CutList Optimizer, the established standard
If you have searched for a cut list optimizer before, this is probably the name you found. It is fast, it works well, and its Android app is one of the most installed woodworking apps out there, with a strong rating. You can start without an account. The catch is the free tier: it limits how many calculations you can run per day and how many cut lists you can save, and the paid tiers exist to remove those limits. There is no cabinet designer, it expects a parts list. Best for: the most trusted name and the best mobile experience.
cutlistlab, free with no limit plus a cabinet helper
This is our tool, so take it as you like, but here is the honest version. cutlistlab is free, runs in the browser, and you can use the whole thing without an account, with no daily cap on calculations. It adds the things hobbyists tend to want: a parametric cabinet helper that turns a few dimensions into a parts list, an offcut and remnant library so leftover panels get used first, a numbered cutting order for when the store cuts your sheets, a choice between least waste, fewest cuts or lowest cost, printable labels, and metric or imperial. An account is optional and only used to save and sync your projects. It is newer and less known than the names above, and there is no native desktop app. Best for: free, no-sign-up use without a daily limit, and cabinet projects.
OptiCutter, 1D and 2D in one
OptiCutter is a polished web tool that handles both linear (1D) cutting, think lengths of timber or profile, and 2D panel cutting, with a generous set of export formats and an API for heavier users. It is available in many languages. The free tier limits the number of parts and stock items, and it has no cabinet module or offcut library. Best for: mixing linear and panel cutting, multilingual use, and exporting to other software.
OpenCutList, if you live in SketchUp
OpenCutList is a free, open-source extension for SketchUp. If you already model your projects in 3D, it reads the model and produces a parts list, cutting diagrams, labels, and even cost and weight estimates, all without leaving SketchUp. The flip side is obvious: it only helps if you use SketchUp. Best for: woodworkers who design in SketchUp and want the cut list to come straight from the model.
MaxCut and CutList Plus, for small cabinet shops
Both are mature Windows desktop programs aimed more at the small professional than the weekend builder. MaxCut goes from cut list to customer quote, with labels, barcodes and pricing, and has a free Community edition. CutList Plus fx adds material buying and cost reporting and is sold as a one-time license instead of a subscription, which some people prefer. Neither is a quick free online tool, and both are Windows only. Best for: small cabinet and joinery businesses that want quoting and labelling alongside the optimizer.
So which should you pick?
- You want the most trusted name and a great phone app: CutList Optimizer.
- You want free with no daily limit, no sign-up, and a cabinet helper: cutlistlab.
- You also cut linear stock or need exports and an API: OptiCutter.
- You design in SketchUp: OpenCutList.
- You run a small cabinet shop and want quotes and labels: MaxCut or CutList Plus.
Try cutlistlab on a real project. Open the free optimizer, enter your parts, and compare the result with whatever you use now. No sign-up, nothing to install.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free cut list optimizer in 2026?
There is no single best for everyone. CutList Optimizer is the most established free name with an excellent mobile app; cutlistlab is a strong free, no-sign-up choice with no daily limit and a cabinet helper; OptiCutter is best if you also need 1D linear cutting; OpenCutList is ideal if you design in SketchUp.
Is CutList Optimizer really free?
It has a free tier, but it is limited, for example a small number of calculations per day and a limited number of saved cut lists. Paid tiers remove those limits. It is fast, trusted and has a very popular mobile app.
Which cut list optimizer is best for cabinets?
cutlistlab has a built-in cabinet helper that builds the parts list for you, and MaxCut is strong for small cabinet shops that also want quotes and labels. Pure optimizers like CutList Optimizer and OptiCutter expect you to enter the parts yourself.
Do any work without an account?
Yes. cutlistlab and CutList Optimizer both let you start and get a result without signing up. With cutlistlab an account is optional, only to save and sync your projects across devices.