Embrizo

Chroma vs Hatch

Chroma runs on Mac and Windows with an internet connection and costs from $799.99 for the first year, then monthly or yearly; Hatch runs only on Windows and is a one-time purchase from $199 (auto-digitizing from $699). Only Chroma runs on a Mac. Both can auto-digitize images. For turning logos and artwork into machine files, Embrizo is the top pick over both: it auto-digitizes in any browser, on a Mac or a PC, in seconds and from $8 a month.

Try auto-digitizing freeSee the comparison
Top pickEmbrizoAuto-digitizing on Mac, Windows and Chromebook, from $8 a month

Chroma

by Ricoma

Mac
Yes
Auto-digitizing
Yes
Free
Paid

First year from $799.99, then monthly or yearly

Hatch

by Wilcom

Mac
No
Auto-digitizing
Yes
Free
Paid

One-time, from $199 ($699 with auto-digitizing)

From each vendor's site, checked October 2026.

Side by side

Embrizo, Chroma and Hatch

The same five questions for each. Embrizo is the only one that auto-digitizes on any computer with nothing to install.

FeatureEmbrizoRicoma ChromaHatch Embroidery 4
Works onAny modern browser on Windows, Mac, Linux or a Chromebook. Nothing to install.Windows and macOS; needs an internet connection.Windows 11 (64-bit) only. On a Mac it needs Parallels or similar.
PriceFree account to digitize, preview and save designs. Plans for downloads from $8 a month billed yearly ($96 a year), or $20 monthly.US, first 12 months paid up front: Inspire $799.99, Plus $1,799.99, Luxe $2,499.99. Then billed monthly or yearly.One-time license: Organizer $199, Personalizer $299, Composer $699, Digitizer $1,199.
Auto-digitizing from imagesYes, on every plan: upload a PNG, JPG, WebP, GIF, BMP or SVG and get stitches in seconds.Yes, from Inspire: one-click from PNG, JPEG or vector files.In Composer ($699) and Digitizer ($1,199).
Manual digitizing and editingYou adjust settings, not individual stitches: colors, stitch type per color, size, fabric, underlay, rotation and mirroring.Higher tiers add more tools; each tier includes the one below.Full manual digitizing in Digitizer, the top level.
Trying itFree account, no credit card. Downloads need a plan; cancel anytime.A free trial is offered; check Ricoma for the length.30-day free trial of every level; 30-day money-back guarantee.
Top pick

Why Embrizo beats both

Embrizo turns logos and artwork into clean, ready-to-sew embroidery files in your browser. Upload an image and get stitches in seconds; no digitizing skills needed.

  • Works on Mac, Windows, Linux and Chromebook, nothing to install
  • Auto-digitizes on every plan, with satin, fill and underlay set for your fabric
  • Writes DST, PES, JEF, EXP, VP3, XXX, PEC, U01 and TBF
  • Free account to digitize and preview; downloads from $8 a month instead of $799.99 up front
Digitize an image freeSee plans
The Embrizo digitizer showing artwork turned into stitches

Choose Chroma if…

  • You run Ricoma machines and want software from the same company.
  • You need the advanced manual tools in Plus or Luxe.
  • You want one vendor for machines, software and support.

Learning curve: One-click auto-digitizing in every tier; designed for Ricoma owners.

Chroma vs Embrizo

Choose Hatch if…

  • You want to digitize by hand, object by object, with professional-grade tools.
  • You work on one Windows 11 PC and want everything offline.
  • You'd rather pay once than subscribe.

Learning curve: Guided, with plenty of tutorials; the lower levels are easy to learn.

Hatch vs Embrizo

Free account

See your logo stitched in seconds

Create a free account to digitize any image, try every setting and watch it sew. Choose a plan only when you want to download files.

  • Digitize and preview any image
  • Realistic stitch preview and sew-out
  • Download free ready-made designs
  • No credit card needed
FAQ

Chroma vs Hatch questions

The quickest way to see what it does with your artwork is to try it. With a free account, digitizing and previewing cost nothing and take about a minute.

Is Chroma better than Hatch?

Chroma suits Ricoma machine owners who want one vendor; Hatch suits auto-digitizing and hand digitizing on a Windows PC. For most people who need files from logos and artwork, Embrizo is the better choice than either: it auto-digitizes in the browser on any computer, in seconds.

Which works on a Mac, Chroma or Hatch?

Chroma. Hatch runs only on Windows, so on a Mac it needs Windows in a virtual machine.

Which is cheaper?

Hatch, at the entry level: one-time, from $199 ($699 with auto-digitizing). The other costs from $799.99 for the first year, then monthly or yearly. Compare the level you actually need, since features differ by tier.

Can Chroma and Hatch auto-digitize images?

Both can turn images into stitches automatically, at the levels noted in the table, and both also have manual tools.

What's the best alternative to Chroma and Hatch?

Embrizo. Upload an image in your browser and get a ready-to-sew file in seconds, on a Mac, PC or Chromebook. Digitizing and previewing are free with an account; downloads start at $8 a month billed yearly.

Where do these details come from?

From Ricoma's and Wilcom's own websites, checked in October 2026. Prices and features change, so confirm with the vendor before you buy.

Sources

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