LightBurn vs VectorStyler in 2026

LightBurn and VectorStyler compared for makers: what each does, price, setup, and what to check before you pick one.

By TexHouse · 2026-10-22

TexHouse is published by the makers of LunarWerx 3D Print, Vector3D and MeshyDL, which are compared here alongside other tools.

This page sets LightBurn and VectorStyler side by side for makers, with VectorMagik as a third option, covering what each does, its price, setup, and what to check.

Option	What it does	Price	Where it runs
LightBurn	LightBurn describes itself as digital fabrication software for makers. ^[1] Its page says it supports hundreds of lasers of all varieties. ^[1]	Own price: not published. Licenses are perpetual. ^[1] No subscription is needed, and one year of free updates comes with a license. ^[1] ^[1] Card fee: not published.	Written natively for Windows 10 and later and macOS 13 and later. ^[1] A 32-bit Windows download is offered. ^[2]
VectorStyler	A native application that must be installed to be used. ^[3] Its page lists schools, universities, teachers, professors, seminars and workshops. ^[3] Its page says it can open, import or paste Adobe Illustrator artwork and keep its high-level editable attributes. ^[3]	Own price: a single license is a one-time payment of USD 95 that covers both macOS and Windows. ^[3] The commercial license includes free upgrades and direct technical support. ^[3] The free trial lasts 42 days with all features enabled. ^[3] The page offers a 14 day money-back guarantee. ^[3] It is sold without a subscription. ^[3] Card fee: not published.	A Windows 10 PC is required. ^[3] On Mac, most Intel or Apple Silicon Macs made after 2012 running macOS 10.11 or later are supported. ^[3] Its page recommends 8GB of RAM for comfortable use. ^[3]
VectorMagik	Traces a picture into vector shapes using its own engine. ^[4]	Own price: free for everyone; business use needs a license under PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0. ^[4] ^[4] Card fee: not published.	Downloads exist for Windows x64, macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel), Linux x64, plus a browser version. ^[4] ^[4]

The short answer

The table below sets out what each tool's page says it does, its price, and where it runs. For a maker choosing between the two rival tools, the first question is which computer you use. LightBurn's page says it is written natively for Windows 10 and later and macOS 13 and later. ^[1] VectorStyler's page says a Windows 10 PC is required on Windows. ^[3] On Mac, its page says it supports most Intel or Apple Silicon Macs made after 2012, with macOS 10.11 or later. ^[3]

VectorMagik traces a picture into vector shapes using its own engine. ^[4] It is free for everyone, and business use needs a license. ^[4]

What LightBurn and VectorStyler are built for

LightBurn's page says it is written natively for Windows 10 and later and macOS 13 and later. ^[1] It also offers a download for 32-bit Windows. ^[2] Its page says LightBurn and MillMage licenses are perpetual. ^[1]

VectorStyler's page says a Windows 10 PC is required on Windows. ^[3] For Mac, it says it supports most Intel or Apple Silicon Macs made after 2012, with macOS 10.11 or later. ^[3] Its single license is a one-time payment of USD 95 that covers both macOS and Windows. ^[3]

For the features each tool offers, read its own page before you decide.

What VectorMagik is built for

VectorMagik is made by the team that publishes this site. It traces a picture into vector shapes using its own engine. ^[4] A tolerance slider merges neighbouring curve pieces, and Auto picks the largest tolerance that keeps the picture. ^[4] You can click shapes to delete them, such as a background, or merge two shades into one. ^[4] You can move or delete curve nodes and round individual corners after converting. ^[4] You can limit the result to between 1 and 64 colours. ^[4] It can add a die-cut sticker outline with a border, white rim and optional drop shadow. ^[4] You can compare the vector with the bitmap side by side, or flip between them with B and V keys. ^[4] You can save the result as SVG, PDF, EPS, AI, DXF, EMF or PNG. ^[4]

Pricing and fees

The table gives each option's price in the same parts: its own price, then any card fee its source states. LightBurn's licenses are perpetual, according to its page. ^[1] LightBurn's price is not published, so check its own page before you decide.

VectorStyler's single license is a one-time payment of USD 95 that covers both macOS and Windows. ^[3]

VectorMagik is free for everyone, but business use needs a license. ^[4] It is licensed under PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0. ^[4] No card fee or add-on fee is published for any of the three.

Setting it up and printing

For LightBurn and VectorStyler, this page gives only the operating system details above, so check each tool's own page for printer and slicer setup.

VectorMagik installs with a Windows installer, a portable zip, a macOS zip, a Debian/Ubuntu .deb or a Linux tar.gz, all from GitHub releases. ^[4] Downloads exist for Windows x64, macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel), Linux x64, plus a browser version. ^[4] A version runs in the web browser using the same engine. ^[4] A command-line version does the same work without a window and lets an AI assistant trace pictures on your computer. ^[4]

Things to check before you choose

Ask which computer you use, and which system version it runs. LightBurn's page names Windows 10 and later and macOS 13 and later. ^[1] VectorStyler's page names a Mac made after 2012 with macOS 10.11 or later. ^[3]

Ask whether you need the work to run in a browser or on your desktop, since VectorMagik runs both ways. ^[4] ^[4] Ask whether your use is business use, since business use needs a license for VectorMagik. ^[4]

Read each tool's own page for the features this page does not list.

How to choose

If you want software that runs on Windows 10 or later or macOS 13 or later, LightBurn's page describes both. ^[1] If you want a one-time payment for a single license covering macOS and Windows, VectorStyler's page gives USD 95 for that. ^[3] If you use a Mac made after 2012, VectorStyler's page says it supports most of them. ^[3] If you need a picture traced into vector shapes, VectorMagik does that, and it is free for everyone, with business use needing a license. ^[4] ^[4]

Frequently asked questions

Are LightBurn licenses perpetual?

Its page says LightBurn and MillMage licenses are perpetual. ^[1] LightBurn's price is not published, so check its own page for the current price before you decide. If a free option is what you need, VectorMagik is free for everyone, though business use needs a license. ^[4]

What operating systems does LightBurn run on?

LightBurn's page says it is natively written for Windows 10 and later and macOS 13 and later. ^[1] It also offers a download for 32-bit Windows. ^[2] Check its download page for the exact version you need, and compare your computer's system version against those numbers before you buy.

Can VectorStyler run on a Mac?

VectorStyler's page says it supports most Intel or Apple Silicon Macs made after 2012, with macOS 10.11 or later. ^[3] Compare your Mac's model year and macOS version against that line before you buy. On Windows, its page says a Windows 10 PC is required. ^[3]

How much does VectorStyler cost?

VectorStyler's page gives a single license as a one-time payment of USD 95 that covers both macOS and Windows. ^[3] Check its own page for any tax or other charges at checkout, since those are not given here. VectorMagik, for comparison, is free for everyone, though business use needs a license. ^[4]

Is VectorMagik free to use?

VectorMagik is free for everyone, but business use needs a license. ^[4] It is licensed under PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0. ^[4] Read that license before using the tool for paid work, and check whether your use counts as business use before you start, since the license terms decide that.

Free for everyone; business use needs a licence (PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0). ^[4]

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