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VCarve vs MakeraCAM: catalog facts
VCarve	MakeraCAM
Best for: Hobbyists and sign makers cutting carvings and signs on a CNC router	Best for: Owners of a Makera Carvera desktop CNC preparing jobs for it
Paid One-off purchase with a free trial and paid upgrades to higher tiers.	Free Free download from Makera for use with its CNC machines.
Windows	Windows, macOS
Design, toolpath and preview in one program 2.5D and V-carving toolpaths All 4 strengths for VCarve Design, toolpath and preview in one program 2.5D and V-carving toolpaths Imports and machines 3D models Upgrade path to Aspire by paying the difference	Free to download Combines CAD and CAM steps to produce G-code All 3 strengths for MakeraCAM Free to download Combines CAD and CAM steps to produce G-code Made to match Makera Carvera machines
Windows only; Mac users need Vectric Spark instead Full 3D modelling requires Aspire	Built around Makera's own CNC machines Little public documentation of features on the product page
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Not open source	Not open source
License: Proprietary	License not stated
Not stated if an account is needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for VCarve vectric.com Catalog checked October 2, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for MakeraCAM makera.com/pages/software Catalog checked October 2, 2026

“Not stated” means we have not confirmed it. Features can vary by device and plan.