I got the "go" with the crank way back several years ago and gradually have built up my die collection. I have most of the strip cutters of which I use the 2, and especially the 2.5-inch ones the most. I also got the 2.5 ones, the multiple squares, half square triangles. And also, multiple squares, 2-, 2.5-, 3.5-, & 5-inch ones. I also have gotten most of the sizes of other dies that Bonnie uses frequently in her quilts. These are the basic ones that I use a lot. In addition, I have two sizes of tumbler blocks and drunkard's path, Triangle in a square, 3 sizes of quarter sqaure dies, and just a couple of "shape" dies, (circles and a flower and leave one), These will give my numerous options of quilts to make. I did not get the larger cut dies as I figure I can do those myself and you usually can't get that many pieces anyway out of a pass through the cutter.

There seems to be some confusion, since she was asking about software and making her own designs, she is referencing a "cutter", not a die cutter, there is a big difference.
Accuquilt is a die cutter, no software or making your own designs unless you want to pay a big price for accuquilt to make your design into a die.
the cutters do work with software and computers. Those machines cut different materials and use a 1/4" or less of a blade. You are limited on the layers (1) versus accuquiltt at 10 at a time.
The Brother scan n cut is a great machine, but there are others on the market. Stay away from Janome Edge, many dealers are not,carrying them due to alot of problems. The parts and blades are not available due to supply chain. Don't be tempted by their lowering the price right now. You cannot get the blades or mats for fabric cutting...you just have to wear out the ones you get with the machine. Ask me how I know. My next cutter will be the Brother.

Her question was: What is the best die cutting machine to cut fabric?

She probably does not know about the Accuquilt or Sizzix cutting systems, only knows about the ones that uses software.

I free hand cut the fabric to fit the die but I buy precuts to fit as much as possible. For scrap pieces I cover whatever shapes on the die that fit. Doesn't have to be all the same fabric. I cut all the blocks for a large Drunkard Path quilt in 20 min this morning. I used left over layer cake squares I had from other projects. The scrap fabric I have left from cutting is rarely big enough to get a hexie out of.

I also find I do not have a lot of waste with my Go. I have marked with a sharpen, a 1/4 inch from the cutting line of the die in all directions and I usually cut my fabric 1/2 inch bigger then the die shape and as I usually use my multiple cutters, I find there is usually about the same and sometimes less waste than when I cut with a ruler as my ruler sometimes slip and I have to trim again to get a straight cut. The other plus is the accuracy of my cuts with the die. I do take care to place all fabrics, even the scrap ones with direction of less stretch going through the roller, it took me a while to figure out I don't need the selvage edges to figure this out, just need to give the fabric a little tug in all directions to see which way has the least give. Wow, that was a light bulb moment for me along with a "well, duhhh!"

You caught me…sorry…yes I meant a cutter not a die cutting machine. I have the accuquilt system, but am looking for something else so I can design my own art, etc. That cut’s fabric well. I had a Cricut years ago but then they changed so you had to buy their patterns And they weren’t cheap. There are a few free software programs where you can design and make svg files and other sights where you can find free svg files.

I use the Accuquilt system and like it for the consistency of the cuts and the time saving. I am frugal in choosing dies. I did read that you can now design your own die. No idea of the cost.

Since we have determined that you are looking for a cutting machine and not a die cutting machine, I would definitely take a look at the Brother Scan N Cut. Do check out the sharing of the SVG files concerning any of the machines that you look at. Call your local sewing machine store, most of them them carry some sort of a cutter. At the very least perhaps one of their employees could tell you where to look for a cutting machine that shares software and SVG files, and has the capability of cutting fabric well and creating your own designs. Also compare your software, there are some that are very expensive and some that are not. Becky Thompson with Power Tools with Thread knows all the INS and outs of the brother scan and cut and also Simply Applique software. I'm sure if you contacted her via email or Facebook she would answer your questions.

As I mentioned earlier I love my Accuquilt. I got the electric Go Big! for a Christmas present and I love it because of the ease of cutting with the dies. I am also doing blocks that I would never imagine I could ever do. So I am expanding my skills at every turn.

As a new quilter I bought the AccuQuilt Go! And a bunch of dies. The dies I liked the best were the strip cutting dies.

However.

I have not touched any of them in years!! It is just as easy to cut your own, unless the specialty shapes are a big part of your quilting. As Linda Schipper said, you have to cut the fabric to fit the cutter, and once I got used to cutting with mat, ruler and rotary cutter, that just made for more work.

I've got the Brother scan n cut. I upgraded a year ago to get the one with the autosetting of the knife. I really struggled with that in the past. Now to find more time to use it.