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 cross stitchers on 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 July 2026
Jump to iPhone & iPad
Jump to Android
Best iPhone cross stitch apps:
Markup R-XP ($18) – 9.6/10
Based on 2700 reviews
Does what it says on the tin; a mark up app that allows you to either upload digital cross stitch patterns or take a photo of physical ones and lets you track your stitching as you go along. Sadly, the price has been going up rapidly, and is now a yearly subscription, not a one off cost.
Stitchly ($75) – 9.6/10
Based on 2000 reviews
Yes, its a steep price. But for that cost, you get one of the best cross stitch apps on the market. Allowing you to create patterns, and track them on the fly. We still prefer other pattern software, but if you want something on your iPad or iPhone; this is it.
XStitch Plus ($10) – 9.6/10
Based on 31 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 directly in the app. This works super well with its journal feature, allowing you not only to track everything about a project but also to upload up to 5 images for each project.
Threadster ($3 per month) – 9.6/10
Based on 16 reviews
Initially coming out as a pretty, but high cost app, its been rebuilt from the ground up, and now features a everything you’d need from a thread inventory and project manager. Its still a high cost at 3 dollars a month, but it’s now worth it with color matching across brands, custom thread photos, cost tracking and palette creations.
Cross Stitch World (FREE) – 9.4/10
Based on 6200 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 from stitching, this is a great alternative!
X-Stitch ($3) – 9.0/10
Based on 1400 reviews
Similar to other trhead trackers this app not only tracks threads, but aida, needles, charts, and other tools. Its “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!
MagicNeedle (FREE) – 8.8/10
Based on 1100 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 advanced features that make it a little special. As the only true free cross stitch generator for iPad and iPhone is worth a shot, even if it isn’t as advanced as the likes of Cross Stitch Saga.
Fabric Calculator (FREE) – 8.8/10
Based on 8 reviews
There are many alternative cross stitch 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 the stitched area, border, and framing area.
StitchSketch ($8) – 8.2/10
Based on 403 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.
Cross Stitch Creator ($10) – 8.0/10
Based on 15 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, it’s not got many people trying it out just yet (it’s new) so its score isn’t too high.
Thready ($3) – 8.0/10
Based on 61 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.
Cross Stitch Saga ($15) – 10/10
Based on 12 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 Fabric Calculator (FREE) – 7.8/10
Based on 15 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.
Threadalog (Free/$10) – 7.0/10
Based on 13 reviews
A great app for thread tracking, and one of the few options out there with a useful shopping list too! Only receives a low score due to the low level of reviewers due to its young age.
Best Androids cross stitch apps:
Pattern Keeper ($10.50) – 10/10
Based on 100,000+ reviews
Now out of beta, this app is a must have for many cross stitchers across the world. 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 combine 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, that the trial ends after 2 weeks, and it costs just over $10.
Cross Stitch Saga ($15) – 10/10
Based on 3,841 reviews
Currently not available.
Cross Stitch Saga used to be on this list a long time ago, but it was pulled down from all the android store following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 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. But if you still wanted a copy, you can download from sources other than the Google Play Store (just be careful folks).
Cross Stitch Thread Organizer ($1) – 9.4/10
Based on 10,000+ reviews
Doing exactly what it says on the tin, Cross Stitch Thread Organizer orders your threads with to-buy lists, and 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 devoted developer who can be found on Reddit daily.
Cross Stitch World (FREE) – 9.4/10
Based on 63,000+ 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 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 from stitching, this is a great alternative!
Markup R-XP ($18) – 9.4/10
Based on 701 reviews
A massively popular markup up app which gained a lot of traction quickly thanks to its full suite of tools at a low cost. The pattern scanner is a great one in particular, that allows you to take a photo of a pattern and it converts it into a pattern you can mark up; meaning you don’t have to have digital patterns!
Stitchly ($75) – 94/10
Based on 5000 reviews
Despite being the same app as iOS, it rates lower on Android as there are more options out there for cheaper. For a very steep price, you get a great cross stitch pattern app that allows you to create, download and track patterns on the go.
Cross Stitch Paradise (FREE) – 8.8/10
Based on 100,000+ 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 make it a great purchase if you use .xsd files!
Thread Stash (FREE) – 8.5/10
Based on 184 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.
Must now be downloaded direct and is no longer available on the Google Play store.
Threadster ($3 per month) – 8.0/10
Based on 21 reviews
A beautiful little app with some great features. The only issue is the high cost of $3 per month, a hurdle that was just too big for all of our reviewers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cross Stitch Saga still available in 2026?
Yes. Cross Stitch Saga is back on the iOS App Store for $14.99 and is actively maintained. However, Google Play suspended new sales from Russian developers in December 2024, so it’s no longer purchasable on Android. Existing Android installs still work, but won’t receive further updates.
Is Threadalog available on Android?
No, Threadalog is iOS only. It’s also no longer listed on the Google Play store, so if you’re on Android, you won’t find it there even if you search directly.
Why has Markup R-XP’s price gone up?
Markup R-XP has moved from a one-time purchase to an annual subscription, currently around $17.99/year. We cover this in more detail in our cross stitch markup app guide, which focuses specifically on markup and PDF-based apps.
Is Stitchly available on Android?
No, Stitchly is currently iPhone and iPad only, with no Android version available.
Do you review Daily Cross Stitch?
No. Daily Cross Stitch is a pattern subscription website rather than an app, so it falls outside the scope of this list. This guide only covers apps for iPhone, iPad, and Android.
Happy stitching,
Lord Libidan
Are there any apps that you can take progress photos of your project?
I am curious if there is an app or program that will allow me to take a pic of my cover page of my pattern to catalog along with the name, maker etc. Kind of like stash cashe but with a photo?
There are a few that track patterns, but I’m not sure they work based on an image though I’m afraid.
Is there one that’s particularly good for drawing on linework? I want to use my ipad or tablet and just draw on lines, but nothing I’ve found lets me do that. StitchSketch is good for regular stitches, but awkward for lines
Sounds like you might want MobiStitch.
Its an iPad version of WinStitch/MacStitch that has been simplified, but it allows you to draw in backstitches.
You left out Markup R-XP which is a markup app that runs on both IOS and Android platforms. It’s a close competitor to PK but also tracks stitches. It’s technically still in Beta, but there are frequent releases with major features being added. There’s an active Facebook page with many people, including the developers, helping to answer questions and solve issues.
We left it out as it’s still marked as in beta. But I must admit, its a good app, and I hope to add it to the list as soon as its officially launched!
I’d like to create my own geometric designs on a cross stitch grid. Is there an app that would enable me to colour in squares one at a time?
Hey!
If you’re just looking to make some designs (but not make a cross stitch pattern from it) then I would suggest Cross Stitch World.
If you want to make actual cross stitch patterns then I would suggest StitchSketch.