I use CamBam for all my design work. It is a 2D package which is fine for almost everything you may want to cut out with a 3-axis router. It is easy to learn and use, has a pay-once-get-free-updates-for-life license and there is an active community producing some very useful add-ons including v-carved text.
You can buy it as a package with MACH3 or, for a low-cost option, the resulting G-code works well on CNClinux software.

Kit