Embroidery Factory vs Embird — $39 once vs $149–$238
Evidence 2026-08-27. Any image → DST/PES/JEF + animated sew-out preview in seconds — unlimited on your PC. Not $15-50 per design.
→ Embroidery Factory detail — $39 once · Pair with vtracer exact palette $19 →
Honest price table — Aug 2026
| Tool | Price | Model | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embroidery Factory (ours) | $39 once | Unlimited, local, batch | data/ledger.json 2026-08-27 + products/embroidery-factory/README $39 |
| Embird Basic / Studio | $149 / $238 | Per license, digitizing add-ons extra | embird.com Aug 2026 — Basic $149, Studio $238, Embroidery Editor higher |
| Freelancer digitizing | $15–$50 per design | Wait 24-48h | Etsy/Fiverr Aug 2026 search — typical $15–50/design |
| Payback | $39 pays off after 3 designs vs $15 each — then unlimited | ||
Before / after — 17 blues vs clean auto-fill
| Input: logo with 3 real colors | 17-blue tracer | Embroidery Factory |
|---|---|---|
| Colors in output | 17 near-blues, speckles | Exactly 3 — your palette, every pixel mapped to nearest hex |
| Sew simulation | No preview — stitch and hope | Animated sew-out GIF + palette PNG preview side-by-side |
| Thread match | Manual chart look | Nearest stock thread name/hex auto — brand columns accepted |
| Honest limit | Dense fills can pucker without stabilizer — simulation warns, not miracle. Test-stitch. | |
Proof — not a promise
data/gates/embroidery-factory_gate.json — PASS 15/15 + products/embroidery-factory/RECEIPTS.md: DST header LA:, ST=1523, PES b'#PES', JEF header sane, design width 53.6mm, batch folder any image → DST/PES/JEF in seconds, animated GIF proof.
Source: data/gates/embroidery-factory_gate.json 2026-08-27T07:58Z + RECEIPTS.md. Maker detail →
FAQ
Is it really unlimited?
Yes. Local on your PC, any image → DST/PES/JEF, batch folder 10 logos → 10 sets in one drag. No per-design fee.
One-time?
$39 once via shop. Offline, no upload.
Will every logo stitch perfectly?
No. Dense fills need stabilizer or pucker — simulation shows density, you test-stitch. Honest, not magic.