I have Brother PE design as I was not aware of other softwear at the time. If I were buying again I would very probably buy Embird. Why Embird you ask , well there are many here who have a excellent knowledge of the softwear and produce some great stuff. PLUS there is no card reader to go with it so if I have my laptop with my when away (I don't often take the card reader) I cant access my work. Upgrading PE design costs but Embird users don't have this costly problem. One of the Embird users will be along with their comments soon knowing Cute

I wouldn't dare confuse myself by using two different sets of software. I chose Embird because it was not tied to a particular make of machine and because it was not necessary to buy it all at once. I do have it all now, and I use it all. However I think I have only scratched the surface of what is possible.

Ask your self what you want to due?
Cut, paste, resize and add lettering then Embird Basic is a great program,
very user friendly to use. It's all I use and love it.
Someone I know purchased a expensive program, with all the bells and whistles , she found the learning curve was way over her head, never uses it.
So decide what you want to due, you may just say yourself a lot of money.

Well, my two cents...I love Janome MBX software, but the upgrades are pricey. Can't really compare to Embird as I only have the Basic Embird for editing and the Iconizer...which I love...I also have Palette 9 (Next) which I hate..wish I had never purchased it...I do really like Floriani TCU from what I have seen...it is closer to the Janome MBX software than any other I have seen as far as it's capabilities...it is very tempting to jump in and get it, because upgrades are free and it does not require a dongle...I know that the new Janome MBX 5 coming out now is wonderful...I have seen the new features and they are AWESOME...and it will no longer require a dongle...a plus for me since my dongle is never at the computer I am using...although I prefer the dongle to the Reader Box that the Palette 9 software must have...it's like carrying around a brick...I think you can download a trial version of the Embird Studio digitizing software for a 30 day trial right from the Embird website...I have not done this yet, but I probably should before I upgrade my Janome MBX this year...food for thought....keep us posted as to what you find out and decide...If I had to do it all over today, now, I would go with Floriani TCU...perhaps that is because it functions so similarly to the Janome that I use...as a note...the cost for new Floriani TCU versus the upgrades for Janome...It would probably take me 15 to 20 years to break even...I think I just answered my own question...Also I have a wonderful webinar teacher that teaches both Janome and Floriani software classes...two each month...about two hours each...the cost is minimal and the classes, well, I think they are fabulous! He provides a download for each class and a DVD of each 6 class series if you want it... Educational support is a must if you want the most from your software...any software!!! If you are interested in checking out the webinar...PM me...I can get you in touch to get the link to watch one of them live if you would like...you can take a look at at his website too....Sunset Stitches...

Embird updates are indeed free, upgrades come at a very reasonable price. I've been using it since 2007 and paid $20 since.
I upgraded my Husqvarna software regularly and had to fork out well over $2000 during that same periode and the latest update that came out in September is not even available in Europe yet. Problem is HV changes the interface and renames the tools each time which can be quite confusing. As a member of a 6D Yahoo group I have been getting at least 20 emails daily since August with questions for help about different aspects of that new upgrade.

I do use both Embird and 6D (and the older 5D as a useful feature of 5D is no longer available in the newer version). I love Embird and if I could have only one I think I would choose it.
Most things can be done in whatever software you use, although it might be more complicated in one than in the other. À few things are unique to a brand, like that ripple fill in the Bernina software which I'd love to use - but given the price I won't even think about buying that as well :)

Switching between different brands asks for a bit more concentration, like speaking more than one language at a party - the more fluent you are in all of them the easier it is.

I do not know your software or the Floriani, so I can't comment on those.