If you own a Liene PixCut S1, you already have an app: Liene Photo. It ships as the official companion, covers the basics, and works fine for casual use. StixCut is a different kind of tool - one built around a different set of priorities. This article lays out where the two diverge and where each one has a genuine edge.
Neither app is right for everyone. The goal here is to be accurate, not promotional.
The full comparison
| Feature | Liene Photo | StixCut |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | iPhone, iPad, Android, macOS, Windows | macOS - Windows in development, iPad under consideration |
| Connectivity | Mobile (iOS/Android): Bluetooth only. Desktop (macOS/Windows): USB only. | Bluetooth and USB on macOS. Both available simultaneously. |
| Sticker library | Cloud-based. 1,000 item limit. | Local folder on your machine. No item limit, no cloud, no slowdown. Supports saving custom libraries as files for per-project use. |
| Background removal | Basic or advanced AI removal (advanced may have additional cost in the future). | Fast on-device removal using native macOS Vision APIs. Included, no extra cost, no image sent anywhere. |
| Cut paths | Single auto-generated cut path. Margin adjustable across the full sheet. | Auto-generated path that can be fully edited, scaled, reshaped, or replaced. SVG cut path import supported. |
| Multiple cut paths | Only on Liene-provided templates (phone skins, card skins). | Add as many cut paths as needed, any shape. Build custom templates for phones, cards, or any format. |
| Perf-cut | Not supported. Kiss-cut sticker sheets only. | Fully supported with customizable dash length and spacing. Make tear-out sticker formats instead of peel sheets. |
| Peel tabs | Not supported. | Automatic peel-here tabs on perf-cut stickers. Adjustable radius and position. Arrow indicator prints on sheet. |
| Multiple printers | Can see multiple devices, but prints to one at a time. | Connect as many printers as needed. Queue jobs across them. Auto-selects the next free printer for back-to-back production runs. |
| Material support | Liene sticker paper and Liene photo paper only. | Custom material profiles with per-profile blade pressure. Ships with Oracal 651 (white and clear vinyl) presets. |
| File formats | No sharable cut-line format. | .Stix format for sharing stickers with custom cut lines. .StixCut format for saving and reloading full sheet sessions. |
| Auto-pack | Not supported. | Fills a sheet from your library automatically. Set a max sticker size and re-pack until all are printed. Shuffle Pack for randomized sheets. |
| Sheet backgrounds | Background color and background images supported. | Background color, background images, full background library, and per-sheet default background setting. |
| Included content | Many built-in templates and starter images. | No included images. StixCut is for making custom stickers from your own artwork. |
| Text and shape editing | Basic text, shape, and image editing built in. | No text or shape editor. StixCut focuses on cut-path work. Image editing belongs in your design app before import. |
| AI features | AI background removal and AI image generation/stylization (some features may have additional cost). | No AI features. Runs fully locally. You can import AI-generated images from any other app. |
| Account required | Liene account required. | No account. No login. Use any PixCut S1 over Bluetooth or USB. |
| Internet required | Required for core functionality. Many features fail without a connection. | Not required. Connects occasionally to validate license key and check for app updates. |
Where Liene Photo wins
Broader platform coverage. Liene Photo runs on iPhone, iPad, and Android in addition to macOS and Windows. If your workflow is mobile - printing stickers from a phone at a market or event - StixCut isn't an option. StixCut is a desktop app.
Built-in content. Liene Photo ships with templates and starter images. If you want to jump in without preparing your own artwork, that's a real advantage. StixCut has no included images - it assumes you're bringing your own designs.
Text and shape tools. Liene Photo includes a basic editor for adding text, shapes, and compositing images. StixCut has none of that. If you want to assemble a sticker design inside the printing app, Liene Photo lets you do that. StixCut expects you to finish the artwork in Illustrator, Affinity Designer, Procreate, or whatever you already use.
AI image generation. Liene Photo includes AI image generation and stylization. StixCut has no AI features at all. If generating sticker art directly in the printer app is useful to you, that's a capability StixCut doesn't offer.
Where StixCut wins
Cut path control. The gap is significant. Liene Photo gives you a single auto-traced cut path with a global margin adjustment. StixCut gives you a fully editable cut path per sticker - node editing, Bezier handles, SVG import, multiple cut paths on one sticker, and per-sticker margin offsets. For anyone whose sticker designs have complex shapes or need precise die-cut alignment, this is the difference between a workable result and a great one.
Perf-cut and peel tabs. Liene Photo does not support perf-cut at all. StixCut's perf-cut mode with peel tabs opens up sticker formats that simply aren't possible in the official app: tear-out shapes, sticker books, perforated sheets. If you want stickers that tear out cleanly rather than peel, StixCut is the only desktop option for the PixCut S1.
Connectivity. On macOS, Liene Photo only supports USB. StixCut supports both USB and Bluetooth. Small difference for most users, significant for anyone who works in a setup where running a cable is inconvenient.
Local library, no limits. Liene Photo's cloud library caps at 1,000 items and requires an internet connection to browse and load stickers. StixCut's library is a local folder - as large as your disk, browsable offline, and as fast as your file system.
Multiple printer support. StixCut can queue jobs across multiple PixCut S1 units and auto-route to the next free printer. For production environments running more than one machine, this is a meaningful workflow improvement that Liene Photo doesn't offer.
Material profiles. Liene Photo only supports Liene's own paper. StixCut lets you define custom materials with custom blade pressure settings, and ships with an Oracal 651 vinyl preset. If you're cutting materials other than Liene sticker sheets, StixCut is the practical choice.
Auto-pack. StixCut fills a sheet from your library automatically using a bin-packing algorithm. Liene Photo has no equivalent. For bulk printing sessions - running through a library of 50+ sticker designs - auto-pack saves meaningful time.
No account, no internet dependency. Liene Photo requires a Liene account and an internet connection for core functionality. StixCut requires neither. For production environments with strict network policies, offline workflows, or users who simply don't want another app-linked account, this matters.
Which one is right for you
Use Liene Photo if you want to print from your phone or tablet, you're starting out and want built-in templates to work from, you want text and shape editing tools inside the printing app, or AI-assisted image creation is part of your workflow.
Use StixCut if you work on macOS with your own artwork, you need precise cut path control or SVG cut paths, you want perf-cut or peel tab support, you're cutting materials other than Liene paper, you're running a higher-volume operation and want auto-pack and multi-printer support, or you want an app that works completely offline without an account.