Embroidery Software for Brother Machines

Q: Is there a PE-DESIGN for Mac?

We found none: the PE-DESIGN 11 trial lists Windows only. On a Mac, Embrilliance runs natively and saves PES, and Ink/Stitch runs on macOS 12 or later. See our Mac embroidery software guide.

Guide type: Best of
Last reviewed: 2026-11-10
Sources: 15 cited
Tested by us: No. How we research

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Short answer

Brother machines stitch PES files, so any program that saves PES works with them. Brother's own options are PE-DESIGN 11 for Windows (editing and digitizing), the free Artspira app for phones and tablets, and Design Database Transfer, a Windows tool to view and send designs to wireless machines.^1,2,3,4,5 Third-party programs that write PES include Embrilliance, Hatch and the free Ink/Stitch.^6,7,8

What a Brother machine needs: PES

Brother and Baby Lock machines use the PES format (and PEC).⁷ So the first question for any program is whether it saves PES. PE-DESIGN 11 also converts designs to other formats, but Brother notes that files “cannot be converted to the .phc, .phx, or .pen formats.”¹²

Programs for Brother, compared

Software that works with Brother embroidery machines
Program	Saves PES	Sends to the machine	Runs on
Brother PE-DESIGN 11	Yes (Brother’s format)¹²	Wireless with the Luminaire XP1, per Brother Canada¹	Windows^2,9
Brother Artspira	Designs stay in the cloud⁴	Wireless, to Brother wireless LAN machines³	iOS/iPadOS 15+, Android 8+¹³
Brother Design Database Transfer	Views and sends; no editing⁵	Wireless, to wireless LAN machines⁵	Windows 8.1, 10, 11⁵
Embrilliance Essentials	Yes⁶	Wireless to Brother and Baby Lock machines, per Embrilliance⁶	macOS and Windows⁶
Hatch Embroidery 4	Yes⁷	Wireless to the PR680W, PR1055X and PR1060W, per Hatch¹⁴	Windows 11¹⁴
Ink/Stitch	Yes⁸	Save a file, copy it to the machine	Windows, macOS, Linux

As each publisher states it. No prices: they change, and we don't publish them.

Brother’s own software

Editing and digitizing, Windows

Brother PE-DESIGN 11

Built in: over 1,000 designs, 130 fonts
Digitizing: PhotoStitch, Auto Punch, cross stitch
Exports: DST, HUS, EXP, PCS, VIP, SEW, JEF, CSD, XXX, SHV
System: Windows

Strengths

Brother's own digitizing tools
Listed by Brother Canada; sold through dealers in the US

Drawbacks

Windows only
Trial has limited functions, per Brother

Good fit: you own a Brother and want the maker's full program on a Windows PC.
Skip it if: you use a Mac.

Free app, paid Artspira+

Brother Artspira

Runs on: iOS/iPadOS 15+, Android 8+
Machines: Brother wireless LAN models
Photo digitizing: Artspira+ (paid plan)

Strengths

Free app
Artspira+ adds photo digitizing

Drawbacks

Cloud-based
Artspira+ is available only in some countries, per Brother

Good fit: you own a wireless Brother machine and like designing on a tablet.
Skip it if: you want design files you can keep: Brother says you can't download them.

View and send designs, Windows

Brother Design Database Transfer

Sends: PES, PHC, PHX, DST, PEN
Views: 14 formats including JEF, HUS, SEW, XXX
System: Windows 8.1, 10, 11

Strengths

Installer offered on Brother's support site
Wireless transfer

Drawbacks

No editing
Wireless LAN machines only

Good fit: you own a wireless Brother machine and want to send designs from a PC.
Skip it if: you want to edit designs.

Third-party programs that save PES

Native Mac and Windows, writes PES

Embrilliance Essentials

Systems: macOS and Windows
Brother: wireless sending to Brother and Baby Lock machines
Fonts: 21 built in

Strengths

Native on Mac
Wireless to Brother and Baby Lock, per Embrilliance

Drawbacks

No digitizing in Essentials

Good fit: you own a Brother and a Mac.
Skip it if: you want to digitize: that is StitchArtist.

Windows, writes PES

Hatch Embroidery 4

System: Windows 11 (64-bit)
Brother: exports PES and PEC; wireless to PR680W, PR1055X, PR1060W
Trial: 30 days

Strengths

Wireless transfer to three Brother PR machines, per Hatch
Four levels, up to full digitizing

Drawbacks

Windows only

Good fit: you run a Brother PR multi-needle and want wireless sending from a PC.
Skip it if: you use a Mac.

Ink/Stitch, the free open-source option, writes PES and PEC too.⁸

Buying in Canada and the US

Brother Canada lists PE-DESIGN 11 on its site.¹ In the US, Brother’s PE-DESIGN 11 page sends buyers to a dealer (“Locate a Dealer”).¹⁵ Brother Canada offers Artspira as a download for iOS and Android devices, and Brother notes that Artspira+ “is available only in certain countries/regions.”^3,13

Questions

What is the best embroidery software for Brother?

We don't rank them. If you want Brother's own program on Windows, it is PE-DESIGN 11; on a Mac, Embrilliance runs natively and saves PES; for free, Artspira (on a tablet) and Ink/Stitch (on a computer).^1,4,6,8

Is there free embroidery software for Brother?

Yes, three options: the Artspira app is free, with a paid Artspira+ plan for photo digitizing; Brother offers the Design Database Transfer installer on its support site, to view and send designs; and Ink/Stitch is free and writes PES.^4,5,8 PE-DESIGN 11 has a trial version, which Brother says has limited functions.²

Does PE-DESIGN 10 still work?

Brother's Windows 11 support statement lists PE-DESIGN 11, PE-DESIGN 10 and PE-DESIGN PLUS2 as "Available", and PE-DESIGN NEXT and PE-DESIGN Lite as "Not supported".⁹

Is there a PE-DESIGN for Mac?

We found none: the PE-DESIGN 11 trial lists Windows only.² On a Mac, Embrilliance runs natively and saves PES, and Ink/Stitch runs on macOS 12 or later.^6,10 See our Mac embroidery software guide.

Is there a limit to PES files?

Ink/Stitch notes one: "The brother file formats pec and pes are not able to save files with more than 255 color changes".¹¹

Bottom line

For a Brother machine, check two things: the program saves PES, and it fits how you transfer designs (USB stick or wireless). Brother's PE-DESIGN 11 is the full Windows option; Embrilliance is the native Mac option; Artspira and Ink/Stitch cost nothing to try.

Related guides

What we checked, and what we didn't

Checked

Formats, systems, transfer methods and free options on Brother's support pages, PE-DESIGN 11 manual and Canadian product pages
PES support in the Embrilliance, Hatch and Ink/Stitch documentation

Not checked

How each program digitizes in real use: we have not tested them
Whether a PE-DESIGN version newer than 11 exists: we found none on Brother's pages

Sources

Brother PE-DESIGN 11 · Brother Canada
PE-DESIGN 11 Trial Version · Brother
Artspira app · Brother Canada
Artspira+ FAQs · Brother USA
Introducing Design Database Transfer · Brother
Embrilliance Essentials · Embrilliance
What file formats does Hatch Embroidery read and write? · Hatch Embroidery help
File Formats · Ink/Stitch
Windows 11 Support Statement (Home Sewing Machine) · Brother
Install Ink/Stitch on macOS · Ink/Stitch
Help / FAQ · Ink/Stitch
PE-DESIGN 11 online manual: Saving, Converting, Importing · Brother
Artspira app: Supporting information · Brother
FAQ · Hatch Embroidery
PE-DESIGN 11 Personal Embroidery and Sewing Digitizing Software · Brother USA

Revision history

2026-11-10

First version.