Life & fun · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to Pocket NC

The first 5 axis CNC mill for your desktop.

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Pocket NC launched in 2015; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Othermill▲76

   Highly precise, compact, and easy-to-use desktop CNC mill

   2015 · othermachine.co · its alternatives →

2. 2
   Compass CNC – Open-source handheld CNC router▲176

   Hey HN, I am Cam, and for the past two years I have been working on Compass, an open-source handheld CNC router that brings computer precision to woodworking while keeping the user directly involved in the process. The idea started as my senior design project at UC Berkeley, with the goal of making a more approachable CNC machine—standard CNC machines are expensive, bulky, and remove you from the tactile “maker” experience. Compass solves that by combining a handheld router with real-time robotic assistance. You move the router roughly along a design path, and Compass uses four optical flow…

   2025 · compassrouter.com · its alternatives →

3. 3
   Piccolo▲85

   A tiny laser-cutting, CNC bot

   2014 · piccolo.cc · its alternatives →

4. 4
   Carbide▲164

   A new kind of programming environment

   2016 · alpha.trycarbide.com · its alternatives →

5. 5
   The Nomad 883 Pro▲74

   Ready-to-run CNC mill that's at home in any environment

   2017 · carbide3d.com · its alternatives →

6. 6
   PocketScan▲110

   Portable, smallest wireless scanner than fits in your pocket

   2016 · dacuda.com · its alternatives →

7. 7
   ZUtA Labs▲170

   Pocket robotic mobile printer

   2015 · zutalabs.com · its alternatives →

8. 8
   eGranary Pocket Library▲60

   A library on a chip: knowledge for those w/o internet access

   2015 · indiegogo.com · its alternatives →

9. 9
   SwissMak▲74

   The Mill Turn Center for your machine shop

   2018 · kickstarter.com · its alternatives →

10. 10
    Origin▲97

    Power tool w/ computer vision + real-time motor control

    2016 · shapertools.com · its alternatives →

11. 11
    Chipsetter ONE▲73

    A desktop pick-and-place machine

    2016 · kickstarter.com · its alternatives →

12. 12CM
    CNC Microscopy for Fun▲132

    2024 · anfractuosity.com · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Paperboy▲103

    Share and discover the best tools for startups

    2015 · trypaperboy.com · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Fraym▲67

    A new open-source CMS

    2014 · fraymm.wordpress.com · its alternatives →

15. 15
    3Dsimo Multipro▲71

    The most multifunctional tool that can fit in your pocket

    2019 · indiegogo.com · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Pocket Premium▲81

    The most powerful Pocket yet.

    2014 · getpocket.com · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Flinto▲52

    Super easy tool for prototyping

    2014 · flinto.com · its alternatives →

18. 18
    Pocket Square▲78

    The best looking place for developers to showcase their work

    2015 · its alternatives →

19. 19
    5iler▲81

    A notepad for the rhythm of your mind

    2014 · 5iler.com · its alternatives →

20. 20
    Proto Labs▲63

    Fast CNC and injection molding prototyping.

    2015 · protolabs.com · its alternatives →

21. 21
    CNC ONE MAX▲5

    It makes professional CNC milling accessible to everyone.

    2022 · kickstarter.com · its alternatives →

22. 22
    Code Mill▲85

    A marketplace for pull requests

    2016 · codemill.io · its alternatives →

23. 23
    PocketScan▲64

    World's smallest wireless scanner! Scan anything, any size.

    2014 · kickstarter.com · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Word.▲65

    Pocket notebooks with a cool (& useful!) bullet point system

    2014 · wordnotebooks.com · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →