With every waking moment thinking about cross stitch, it’s no wonder you want an app or two to help you out. We round up the best apps for iPhone, iPad and Android. Ranked using iTunes store (for iPhone & iPad) and GooglePlay (for Android) reviews.
If you’re looking for cross stitch markup apps, we have a separate list for those too!
Updated February 2021
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Best iPhone cross stitch apps:
Cross Stitch World (FREE) – 9.5/10
Based on 2971 reviews
Unlike others on the list, this app isn’t a tool, but is actually a game. Effectively it’s a paint by numbers affair, made to look like cross stitch, with the ability to make new patterns with your own images. Due to the recent trend of adult coloring books, the app has really hit it off, but for most cross stitchers it might just be a distraction.
However, if you suffer from any arthritis or similar conditions stopping you stitching, this is a great alternative!
X-Stitch ($3) – 9.5/10
Based on 1911 reviews
Similar to Thread Tracker 117 this app not only tracks threads, but aida, needles, charts and other tools. It’s “need to buy” feature not only works well, but it reads your charts and patterns to give you lists of threads needed for each project too!
XStitch Plus ($10) – 9/10
Based on 26 reviews
A tracking app that frankly tracks everything, XStitch Plus has a massive following. Its best feature however is the ability to publish on social media from directly in the app. This works super well with its journal feature, allowing you not only to track everything about a project, but allows you to upload up to 5 images for each project.
StitchSketch ($8) – 9/10
Based on 799 reviews
StitchSketch is created by the maker of KG Chart. It’s a fantastic pattern creation program, which works almost as well as any desktop program. The app only allows you to import back into KG chart, however unlike apps like Cross Stitch Saga, the app has all of the advanced features the desktop version does.
MagicNeedle (FREE) – 9/10
Based on 799 reviews
A new entry to the world of cross stitch generators, Magic Needle is effectively a ‘point and click’ pattern generator, however also boasts more more advanced features that make it a little special. As the only true free cross stitch generator for iPad and iPhone is definately worth a shot, even if it isn’t as advanced as the likes of Cross Stitch Saga.
Cross Stitch Creator ($10) – 8/10
Based on 10 reviews
Cross Stitch Creator is a pattern making app, and whilst it works OK, the real greatness comes from its variety. It can convert an image, change it into a pattern, and then you can use the app for markup! Sadly, its not got many people trying it out just yet (its new) so its score isn’t too high.
Thready ($3) – 8/10
Based on 24 reviews
A simple thread-tracking app, but with a nice, clean interface. It has a whole bunch of ease-of-use additions, and we’re surprised it doesn’t rate higher.
Fabric Calculator (FREE) – 8/10
Based on 2 reviews
There are many cross stitch fabric calculators out there, but considering this free app can do it all from your phone, it’s a great place to start. Not only that, but it has a cute image showing stitched area, border, and framing area.
Cross Stitch Fabric Calculator (FREE) – 7/10
Based on 32 reviews
A fabric size calculator in your pocket. Sadly the app has many bugs and issues, leaving most to prefer alternative cross stitch calculators, such as our own.
Thread Tracker 117 ($1) – 5.5/10
Based on 30 reviews
For a dollar, it’s hard to say anything bad about this app, however in reality, it’s just a spreadsheet to track which DMC threads you have. The advantage and the thing that makes this app so successful is you can import a list of colors needed for your next project, and the app works out which ones you need. Next time you’re in a store, pull the app out and the list is there straight away. Of all the apps on the list, this is the one I personally use the most.
They also have an app called ThreadTracker 4635 for tracking Anchor Threads.
Cross Stitch Camera ($4) – 2/10
Based on 14 reviews
Cross Stitch Camera works, you guessed it, with your camera. It takes a photo (which can be from your phone’s memory) and makes a pattern based on the largest dimension you set.
Best Androids cross stitch apps:
Cross Stitch Saga ($18) – 10/10
Based on 2,341 reviews
Cross Stitch Saga used to be on this list a long time ago, but it was pulled down from all download sites. It turns out they were improving the app (and raising the price). However, that said, it’s still a great app. It allows you to import files from Cross Stitch Professional Platinum, Pattern Maker & PC Stitch (up to version 10) and allows you to mark them up. However, it doesn’t allow you to mark up pdf files, and frankly, there are many, much better mark up apps out there.
Cross Stitch Paradise (FREE) – 9.5/10
Based on 1,557 reviews
Essentially a mark-up app+, with added features like stitching session tracking make it just a little bit better than the rest.
It opens all xsd files and with fantastic tracking of full stitches, half stitches, quarter stitches and backstitch, its mark-up abilities are unrivaled!
Its added features and free price makes it a great purchase if you use .xsd files!
Cross Stitch Thread Organizer ($1) – 9.5/10
Based on 169 reviews
Doing exactly what it says on the tin, Cross Stitch Thread Organizer orders your threads with to-buy lists, current stock, and warns you if you’re running low on a thread and a future project needs it. There are a lot of other apps doing exactly this, however what makes this app fantastic is the constant upgrades, and a really devoted developer who can be found on reddit daily.
Cross Stitch World (FREE) – 9.5/10
Based on 53,222 reviews
Unlike others on the list, this app isn’t a tool, but is actually a game. Effectively it’s a paint by numbers affair, made to look like cross stitch, with the ability to make new patterns with your own images. Due to the recent trend of adult coloring books, the app has really hit it off, but for most cross stitchers it might just be a distraction.
However, if you suffer from any arthritis or similar conditions stopping you stitching, this is a great alternative!
Thread Stash (FREE) – 8.5/10
Based on 54 reviews
One of the best cross stitch thread inventories we’ve seen outside of our own, this is a dream to use. With a shopping list feature, and support for DMC, J&P Coats, Anchor, Sullivans and Weeks Dye Works you won’t be looking across multiple apps either. It also allows you to make an account, saving you the effort when you swap phones (and will soon have web support in case you don’t have your phone on you)! With a great design and coding team behind it, there are more and more features to come.
Pattern Keeper ($10.50) – 8/10
Based on 10,000+ reviews
This app is still in beta, but don’t let that fool you. Even in this state, it’s a fantastic app that deserves to be in the hands of every cross stitcher. It’s a markup app that works with any pdf. Its real abilities shine once you’ve added the pdf though. It tracks stitched and unstitched threads, you can track the use of the parking method (the only app to do so), count how many threads are left, and it combines pages of patterns into one large pattern for you. I cannot recommend this app enough.
It initially looks like a free app, but be aware, the trial ends after 2 weeks, and it costs just over $10.
Cross Stitch Fabric Calculator (FREE) – 8/10
Based on 124 reviews
A fabric size calculator in your pocket. Sadly the app has many bugs and issues, leaving most to prefer alternative cross stitch calculators, such as our own.
eCanvas for cross-stitch PRO ($3) – 8/10
Based on 238 reviews
A simplistic pattern creation software, eCanvas makes patterns up for you to export and stitch. Its lacking in advanced stitches and sometimes assumes you’re using a stylus instead of a finger, however it’s a well-balanced app. There is also a free version, however adverts obstruct the working area and it makes pattern creation VERY hard.
StachCache (FREE) – 8/10
Based on 112 reviews
Put simply, this app is a tracker. It tracks threads, fabric, embellishments, it tracks when you started projects, finished them, what fabric they were on, what thread changes you made, what threads you still need, etc. It tracks everything. The best bit however is how easy to use it is. They’ve even added in an export feature meaning you can take the data with you whenever you want, in a nice easy-to-read text file.
eCanvas for cross-stitch (FREE & $2.99) – 8/10
Based on 915 reviews
A set of features for those who design their own patterns, eCanvas calculates the best size fabric for your project, it displays great color palettes, and the paid version can even allow you to make small edits to pdf patterns.
Is there an app that you can take a pattern ex. an LDS pattern and pick colors you like. Then it would input those colors throughout the pattern so you could see the overall effect.
Not that I’m aware of I’m afraid. Whilst many pattern-making apps will let you do changes on colors like this on the fly and switch back unless you’re actually making the pattern yourself, there isn’t currently a solution.
Cross Stitch Creator has a function in the pattern editor where you can make a pattern “conform to a palette”. If you create a palette containing only those LSD colors, then you can make your pattern conform to that palette (option in the effects tab) and it’ll recolorize the pattern with only those colors. However, it’ll colorize the pattern based on colors in the palette are closest to the original colors, not randomly.
Is there an app that uploads your thread using a scanning option? I would love to be able to point my camera at the thread number and have it instantly inventoried!
There isn’t one I’m aware of I’m afraid. Although that doesn’t seem that crazy! DMC threads each have their own unique barcodes…
Hmmm…..I am not sure if there’s another supported app on the market for both Android and iOS right now that deals with .xsd files apart from Cross Stitch Saga. I am not going to list all the benefits here as I am not working for them lol. So when you say there are more much better apps out there, as a stitcher I am intrigued, I want to know what they are. If I follow the link provided – it gives me a bunch of average or useless apps. Not good for what I need to do when stitching 🙂
I think you might be right, the only app I know of that can work with .xsd files on both iOS and Android is Cross Stitch Saga (it should be noted we’ve removed the iOS version from the list due to a few questions from our reviewers). However as .xsd files are becoming rarer and rarer following the popularity of fantastic applications like PCstitch and WinStitch this is only likely to get worse.
When it comes to better apps though, this is just on the markup ability; there are many better options out there for markups, but this isn’t the only reason why you would want to get Cross Stitch Saga.
Personally, we would get multiple apps depending on what you want to do.
I bought Thread Tracker 117 based on your review here but was quite disappointed in it — it does not, as you say, let you “import list of colors needed for your next project, and the app works out which ones you need.” I’m not sure if it used to do that and doesn’t any longer, or if that was written about a different app? I found it very primitive and clunky to use, there is no import function, and it doesn’t have the new colors.
Sorry to hear that! We haven’t updated this list in about a year, and we’re aware some apps, including Thread Tracker 117 have had some changes.
We’re about to start gathering responses from our testers and we’ll include your comments in the update!
You should add Thready to this list! I know it’s available for Apple ($2.99USD) but am unsure about Android. Thready is a super handy app for keeping track of what DMC threads you have and those you need. Etoile, Variations, Coloris and Light Effects are all there, and the developer is always updating to add the newest colors and even have some of the discontinued colors listed.
Thanks for the shout out, I’ll have a look for it!
Hi Ashley. There is a Thready listed I believe the 8th one down on the list. I don’t know if it was added after your comment or not. The only thing is it says it is free? Hmmm. So, are you still happy with this app and would you recommend it? Even if it was free, I don’t want to waste my time learning and using it if you are not still happy with it? Please let me know if you get the chance. Thank you, Sue
If you’re looking for an app to track DMC threads, then it’s great! We personally prefer to track threads using spreadsheets, like our DMC thread inventory spreadsheet, so we don’t use it ourselves.
Our biggest concern with apps is they might not be updated, they might be removed from the app store, they might end up in the hands of nefarious owners, etc, so whilst the app is good now, we can’t comment on where it will end up. A good example of this is Thread Tracker 117; it stored a 10/10 last year, but this year has dropped to 5.5/10.