Cut list software compared: web, desktop and CAD plugins

There are three main kinds of cut list software: web apps, desktop programs and CAD plugins. The right one depends on how you design and where you cut.

Updated 2026-10-29

Product details below were checked on the makers' websites in October 2026. Features and prices change, so check each site before you decide.

Web cut list optimizers

Run in a browser, so nothing to install, and they work on any computer or tablet.

Plywise (this site): free with no account for up to 20 parts per optimization. Handles kerf, edge trim, grain direction, edge banding, imperial and metric units, CSV import and a phone-friendly cutting diagram. Pro adds unlimited parts, PDF reports and labels, Fusion import, offcut inventory, step-by-step cut playback and cloud sync. Pricing.
CutList Optimizer (cutlistoptimizer.com): a long-running web optimizer with settings for blade thickness, grain orientation and edge banding, plus PDF export and panel labels. It has a free tier with limits and paid upgrades.

Desktop programs

MaxCut (maxcutsoftware.com): Windows software aimed at cabinet makers, with a free Community Edition and paid editions. Strong on costing, quotes, reusable cabinet libraries, supplier order lists and labels.

Desktop tools suit shops that quote jobs and reuse cabinet designs. They tie you to one computer and, for MaxCut, to Windows.

CAD plugins

OpenCutList for SketchUp: an extension that reads parts from your SketchUp model and produces cut lists, cutting diagrams, labels and SVG or DXF exports. It is funded by donations and needs desktop SketchUp; the web version doesn't run extensions.

Plugins are ideal when the model is the source of truth. If you design in Autodesk Fusion, Plywise can import body dimensions instead.

Spreadsheets and paper

Fine for a single shelf. Once a project has more than a few parts or more than one sheet, laying parts out by hand takes longer and usually wastes more than an optimizer. You can import a spreadsheet into Plywise as CSV.

Which should you choose?

Hobby and small-shop projects, on any device: a web optimizer like Plywise.
Quoting cabinet jobs on Windows: a desktop program like MaxCut.
Designing everything in SketchUp: OpenCutList.

Plan your cuts in Plywise