CutListCalc is a free cut list optimizer: no cooldown timers between runs, no part caps, no card, and nothing locked behind a paid tier - because there is no paid tier.
Open the Free Optimizer →CutListOptimizer.com has been the default free cut list calculator since roughly 2015. The algorithm works. But the free tier puts a cooldown timer between optimizations, projects live in browser cookies (clear them and your saved jobs are gone), the interface is a dense 2015-era Angular app that fights you on a phone, and the premium tier has a consistent trail of billing complaints across Reddit and Facebook woodworking groups.
None of that is fatal if you have a working routine there. But if you searched "cutlist optimizer free" because the cooldown or the part juggling got old, this page is the head-to-head.
| Feature | CutListOptimizer | CutListCalc |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Yes, with cooldown timer | Yes - everything, no cooldowns |
| Paid tier | ~$10/year, recurring billing complaints | None - free, no paid tier |
| Interface | 2015-era Angular | Modern, single-screen |
| Mobile | Cramped | Fully responsive |
| Data storage | Browser cookies | Free account + cloud sync |
| 1D linear stock (lumber, trim) | No dedicated mode | Built-in 1D mode |
| Project templates | None | Kitchen cabinet, bookshelf, garage shelves, workbench, more |
| PDF export | Basic | Color-coded by part, kerf shown |
| Algorithm | 2D bin-packing with rotation | First Fit Decreasing with rotation, guillotine-aware |
No cooldown timer. Run the optimizer as many times in a row as you want while you tweak the parts list. CutListOptimizer's free tier makes you wait between runs.
No part caps. A full kitchen with 80 parts optimizes the same as a 6-part bookshelf. Nothing nags you to upgrade, because there is nothing to upgrade to.
No card, optional account. The first optimization needs no signup at all. A free account only enters the picture when you want to save a project to the cloud and reopen it on another device - something CutListOptimizer's cookie storage cannot do at any price.
No bait. There is no paid tier and none is promised on any timeline. If one ever appears, it will only cover advanced extras, and existing users keep their free access.
CutListCalc is months old, not a decade. There is no grain-direction locking yet (it is on the roadmap - rotate-sensitive parts need their dimensions swapped by hand for now) and no native phone app, just a responsive site. If grain matching or edgebanding is a hard requirement today, a Windows desktop tool like MaxCut is the honest answer - see our MaxCut comparison.
OptiCutter - the most natural sideways move: another web optimizer with a tidier interface, but the free tier caps parts per job (~30) and real cabinet work pushes you to $19-49/year plans. Full breakdown in the OptiCutter comparison.
MaxCut - Windows desktop, free Lite version with real capability, grain direction and edgebanding in Pro (~$50-150 one-time). The upgrade path for cabinet shops running volume. See the MaxCut comparison.
CutList Plus - the old-guard Windows desktop tool, one-time purchase ($99-320), fully offline, cabinet-aware top tier. Right for a US hobbyist who prefers desktop software; wrong for anyone on Mac or mobile.
There is no automatic import - CutListOptimizer keeps jobs in browser cookies nothing external can read. Practical migration: open a project template close to your job or start blank, re-enter stock sheets and parts, and save once to a free account. A typical cabinet job is a 5-10 minute re-entry, once.
Is CutListCalc really free?
Yes - optimizer, color-coded PDF export, saved projects, templates, and the 1D linear-cut mode all carry no charge and no card. There is no paid tier.
Is there a free version of CutList Optimizer?
CutListOptimizer.com has a free tier with a cooldown timer between runs. CutListCalc is free without the cooldown, the part caps, or the cookie-only storage.
Can I import my CutListOptimizer projects?
No - its cookie storage cannot be read by anything external. Stock and parts are re-entered by hand, roughly ten minutes for a typical cabinet job.
Does it handle lumber and trim, not just sheets?
Yes - the 1D linear mode optimizes boards, trim, pipe and bar stock in the same tool.
Does it work on a phone?
The site is fully responsive and tested on iOS Safari and Android Chrome. No native app yet; most people open the PDF at the saw.