Cross stitch pattern software compared: prices, platforms and who each one suits
There are two kinds of cross stitch software, and many people need both: a pattern maker to turn a photo or an idea into a chart, and a tracker to mark off stitches on the charts you stitch. Here's how the main options compare. We make Skeinshot, so we've tried to be fair and to say where others do better.
At a glance
| Program | Makes patterns | Tracks bought PDFs | Runs on | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skeinshot | Yes, from photos or drawn | Yes, incl. picture-only PDFs | Any browser, iPhone included | Free; Pro C$34.99 once |
| Stitch Fiddle | Yes, plus knitting and crochet | No | Any browser | Free; Premium from about US$2.75 a month |
| Stitchmate | Yes | Pattern files (OXS, PAT, XSD), not PDFs | Any browser; Mac and Windows app | Free to design; US$5.99 per PDF or US$99 lifetime |
| WinStitch / MacStitch | Yes, full desktop editor | No | Windows or Mac | About £46 / US$47 once |
| PCStitch 11 | Yes, many specialty stitches | No | Windows | US$49.95 once |
| Pattern Keeper | No | Yes | Android only | About US$9 once after a free month |
| Markup R-XP | No | Yes, plus photos of paper charts | iPhone, iPad, Android | £14.99 a year |
Prices and features from each maker's site or published comparisons, checked October 2026. They change, so check before you buy.
Which one fits you
- You stitch charts you buy and use an iPhone: Pattern Keeper isn't available on iPhone yet. Markup R-XP and Skeinshot both work; Markup is a yearly subscription and also reads photos of paper charts, Skeinshot is one payment and also makes patterns. More in Markup R-XP alternative and tracking patterns on iPhone.
- You stitch charts you buy and use Android: Pattern Keeper is cheap and well loved. Skeinshot is worth a look if you also want to make your own patterns or stitch from a laptop.
- You knit and crochet too: Stitch Fiddle covers all three crafts in one place.
- You design detailed charts on a computer all day: WinStitch, MacStitch and PCStitch have the deepest desktop editors, with many specialty stitches.
- You want a photo turned into a pattern on your phone, then to stitch it from the same app: that's what Skeinshot was built for.
If you sell your patterns
Check the licence before you pick a tool. Some charge extra for commercial use: Stitchmate's Seller Pass is US$24.99 for 30 days or US$149 for life, for example. With Skeinshot, patterns you create are yours to stitch, give away and sell, and Pro (C$34.99 once) adds a clean PDF with your logo and shop name and no watermark, plus four listing images sized for Etsy.
What Skeinshot does
- Turns any photo into a pattern with DMC thread numbers. Free up to 80 stitches wide; Pro goes to 300 stitches and 60 colours.
- Lets you draw your own chart with lettering, fractional stitches and backstitch.
- Imports PDF and OXS charts you bought, including picture-only PDFs, and tracks every stitch: tap or drag, mark an area, park threads, highlight one colour, see today's count and a finish estimate.
- Runs in the browser on phones, tablets and computers, with no account. Your patterns stay on your device.
What it doesn't do: knitting or crochet charts, reading photos of paper charts, or syncing between devices automatically (you move patterns with a backup file).
All product names are trademarks of their owners. Skeinshot isn't affiliated with any of them.