Embroidery software for Mac
Embroidery digitizing software, native on your Mac.
Wilcom EmbroideryStudio and Hatch run only on Windows, so on a Mac they need Parallels and a copy of Windows. Qepe is a Mac app for Apple silicon, and it runs on Windows too.
Not released yet. From the first release: 7 days free, then €149 a year with every tool, beside what the others sell today.
Side by side
| Qepe | Chroma Luxe | Hatch Embroidery 4 Digitizer | Wilcom EmbroideryStudio Decorating 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On a Mac | Native, on Apple silicon | Native | Only inside Windows, through Parallels | Not compatible with macOS |
| On Windows | Windows 10 and 11 | Included | Windows 11 | Included |
| Price, first year | €149, or €99 for the first 100 shops | US$2,499 | US$1,199 | US$790 |
| Free trial | 7 days, export included | 14 days | 30 days, not on a Mac | 14 days |
Read on 21 October 2026; prices without tax, and they can change. AI credits: none of the three pages lists them. Names and trademarks belong to their owners and are used only to compare; Qepe is not affiliated with them. The full comparison, with its sources
Why shops choose Qepe
No Windows, no Parallels
Qepe installs like any Mac app and opens your designs from the Finder.
A trial on your Mac
7 days with everything on, export included. Hatch’s trial doesn’t run on a Mac.
The whole job in one app
Auto Digitizer, Quality, hand tools, lettering, patches and the machine file, for €149 a year.
The machine you have
DST, PES, EXP, JEF, VP3, U01, XXX, DSB, TAP and PEC for twelve makers, each file read back before it is saved.
Questions
- What is the best embroidery digitizing software for a Mac?
- For a shop on a Mac the choice is short. Wilcom EmbroideryStudio and Hatch run only on Windows, so a Mac needs Parallels and a copy of Windows for them. Chroma runs natively, with its full feature set in Luxe at US$2,499 for the first year. Qepe runs natively too, with the Auto Digitizer, the Quality check and every tool in one licence at €149 a year.
- Which Macs does Qepe run on?
- Macs with Apple silicon (M1 or later) and macOS 13 or later. Macs with Intel processors are not supported.
- Do I need Windows or Parallels?
- No. Qepe is a Mac app. On a PC it installs as a Windows app, with the same tools and files.
- Is there other embroidery software for Mac?
- Yes: Chroma also runs on a Mac, and all its features come with Luxe, US$2,499 for the first year. Qepe’s one licence is €149 a year, with everything in it.
- Can I open the machine files I already have?
- Yes. Qepe opens 40 machine-file formats, such as DST and PES, to recolour, move or add a name.
Your next logo, ready to embroider.
Turn the next logo your customer sends into a checked, machine-ready file, on your Mac or PC.
Not released yet. From the first release: 7 days free, then €149 a year