Lapas compared with the alternatives

The best known free true-shape nester, and still maintained: the original stopped at v1.0.5 in 2021 but the deepnest-next fork shipped v1.5.6 in May 2025. Desktop install only, and modern CAD output can still trip its DXF import.

Closest free alternative. We benchmarked against it directly.

The project that proved browser-based true-shape nesting worked, by the same author who later built Deepnest. MIT licensed and self-hostable, but it reads SVG only and has not been touched since April 2019.

Choose it if your workflow is already SVG and cost is the constraint.

Hypertherm's entry-level CAM and nesting package. Strong on plasma process control and SureCut integration if you are running Hypertherm hardware, and Windows-only with no free tier.

Better than Lapas if you are a Hypertherm shop that needs the integration.

The other serious browser-based nester. Comparable on the paid tier, both $49 a month, and ahead of Lapas on parts libraries and team accounts. The difference is what happens before you pay: its trial wants a card, and there is no free plan.

Better than Lapas for repeat-part libraries and multi-user shops.

Not really the same category. Nesting plus CAM, scheduling, inventory and ERP integration, sold through a quote process. If nesting is one part of a plant-wide problem, this is the tool and Lapas is not.

Better than Lapas whenever you need post processors or ERP integration.