Makerfern vs Vectorizer.AI
Vectorizer.AI is one of the best-known vectorizers, with a strong reputation for trace quality on complex art. Here is how it compares for people making cut files, and what its terms say about the images you upload.
| Makerfern | Vectorizer.AI | |
|---|---|---|
| Where the image is processed | In your browser. Nothing is uploaded. | Uploaded to their service |
| Free use | Unlimited SVG downloads, no account | Upload and preview free; downloading results needs a subscription |
| Price | SVG free; Pro adds DXF, EPS, layers and batches (see our pricing page) | Web App $12.99/month (shown to us in Canadian dollars, checked 16 September 2026) |
| Refunds | See our terms | Their pricing page says subscription fees are non-refundable |
| Uploads used for model training | Not applicable: nothing is uploaded | Their terms include a "Company Model-Training License" covering user submissions and results |
| Upload retention | Not applicable | Their terms say submissions and results expire 2 weeks after upload |
| Cut-size cleanup, thin spots, stencil bridges | Yes | No equivalent found |
| Formats | SVG, PNG (free); DXF, EPS (Pro) | SVG, PDF, EPS, DXF, PNG, with format-compatibility options |
| Trace quality on complex art | Good on flat-color art; posterises photos | Excellent, including detailed and painterly images |
"No equivalent found" means we looked through their public site and settings and didn't find the feature. Products change; if something here is out of date, tell us and we'll fix it.
When Vectorizer.AI is the better choice
- Your art is complex: detailed illustrations, hand-drawn texture, many colors. Vectorizer.AI's tracing is very good on exactly that material.
- You need deep export control, like specific file-format versions and curve types, for older design or production software.
- You need an API to vectorize images from your own software.
When Makerfern is the better choice
- The file is going to a cutting machine, and you want it checked at the cut size rather than just traced.
- You'd rather not grant a license over your uploads. Nothing leaves your computer, so there's nothing to license.
- You only need SVG, which is free with no subscription.
Try both on the same image
Makerfern is free and needs no account, so the comparison costs nothing.
More converters, side by side on price, free limits and whether the file is ready to cut: the best free PNG to SVG converters for Cricut, compared.
Sources
- Vectorizer.AI pricing page: https://vectorizer.ai/pricing
- Vectorizer.AI Terms of Service (effective 23 October 2025): "Private User Submissions", "Retention of User Submissions and Associated Results", "Company Model-Training License": https://vectorizer.ai/policies/terms