What is Design Swiftly?

Design Swiftly (cnc.jugaaadi.com) is a free, professional browser-based CAD/CAM platform for CNC routing, laser cutting, neon sign design, 3D extrusion, and architectural floor plan visualization. It loads in 0.37 seconds, requires no installation, and runs on any device — including mobile and tablet.

How fast does Design Swiftly load?

Design Swiftly achieves a verified Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) of 0.37 seconds. This is accomplished through a Smart Prefetch architecture that renders the canvas immediately on first byte, then loads heavy modules (3D simulator, fonts) in the background while the browser is idle.

Is Design Swiftly free?

Yes. Design Swiftly is completely free — no subscription, no premium tier, no paywalls, no usage limits, and no account required. All features including AI design, 3D simulation, and GRBL machine control are available to every user at no cost.

Does Design Swiftly work offline?

Yes. Design Swiftly is a Progressive Web App (PWA). After the first load, the full application is cached and available offline. You can design, generate G-code, and work with your files without an internet connection.

What CNC file formats does Design Swiftly support?

Design Swiftly supports SVG, DXF, PNG, JPG, WebP, and GIF imports. It exports to SVG, G-Code (.gcode / .nc), PNG, PDF, and the native .swiftly project format. G-Code uses the GRBL dialect with standardized safety headers (G17 G21 G90 G40 G80).

What CAM toolpath strategies are available?

Design Swiftly offers six CAM strategies: Inside Cut (offset inward by tool radius), Outside Cut (offset outward), On-Path (cut on centerline), Pocket (full material removal), V-Carve (angled engraving), and Drill (point drilling). All support multi-pass depth control, tab generation, and lead-in/out arcs.

Can I design neon signs with Design Swiftly?

Yes. Design Swiftly includes a dedicated Neon Sign Maker that uses Hershey single-line fonts — fonts specifically optimized for CNC and laser engraving that produce a single cutting pass per stroke (no 'cutting air' inside closed letters). The tool auto-generates G-code for neon sign bending guides and LED channel backplates.

Does Design Swiftly support 3D design?

Yes. Design Swiftly has a full 3D stack: (1) Extrude Tool — select any 2D shape and drag interactive handles to define 3D volumes. (2) 3D Align Tool — snap extruded shapes together face-to-face with sub-millimeter accuracy. (3) Arch-Viz Viewer — a high-fidelity Three.js viewport with dynamic lighting presets (Day, Noon, Night), shadow rendering, and orbit/pan/zoom navigation.

Which CNC machines does Design Swiftly support?

Design Swiftly supports any GRBL-based or Marlin-based CNC controller via the Web Serial API — directly from your browser, with no extra software. Compatible machines include X-Carve, Shapeoko, Longmill, OpenBuilds Lead/WorkBee, 3018 Mini CNC, K40 laser with GRBL upgrade, Sculpfun, xTool, Atomstack laser engravers, and any custom GRBL Arduino build.

Software Comparison

Design Swiftly vs LightBurn

By Mateen Ahmad khan & Hamid kamal

Last Updated: April 7, 2026

The universal laser and CNC design suite. An AI-enhanced alternative to LightBurn for web-savvy makers.

Launch AI Designer

View Breakdown

Why choose Design Swiftly over LightBurn?

0.37s Load Time

No install, no updates, just work.

Gemini 2.0 AI

Generate designs from text prompts.

Auto Image-to-SVG

Convert photos to CNC paths instantly.

What makes Design Swiftly stand out?

Feature Matrix	Design Swiftly	LightBurn
Laser Focus Design Swiftly is a versatile CAD/CAM tool, while LightBurn is laser-only.	SVG / G-Code	Specialized Laser
Hardware Support Design Swiftly works with any GRBL-based CNC or Laser machine.	GRBL / Universal	Broad Laser DSP
AI Design Tools Generate laser cut patterns using Gemini 2.0 prompts.
Price LightBurn is paid software with an annual renewal for updates.	Free	$60 - $120
Platform Setup your machine right from your tablet in the workshop.	Web / Tablet / Mobile	Desktop Only

Common Questions

Q.Is Design Swiftly better than LightBurn for CNC design?

Design Swiftly offers AI-powered generation via Gemini 2.0 and instant browser-side image tracing, making it significantly faster and more modern than LightBurn for many workflows.

Q.Is Design Swiftly really free?

Yes, Design Swiftly is currently free to use directly in your browser with no account or installation required.

Q.What AI features does Design Swiftly have?

It features Gemini 2.0 integration for text-to-design commands and an advanced AI tracing engine for photo-to-SVG conversion.

Is it time to switch to an AI-first editor?

Speed Index

0.37s Live

"LightBurn is powerful but tied to your desktop. Design Swiftly brings that power to the browser, allowing you to design on your iPad or phone at the machine, trace images with AI, and export clean G-code in seconds."

Start Designing Free

Compatible with GRBL & Major CNCs • No installation required

Free Browser-Based CAD/CAM for CNC & Laser Cutting — Design Swiftly