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 June 2025
Jump to iPhone & iPad
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Best iPhone cross stitch apps:
Cross Stitch World (FREE) – 9.5/10
Based on 5700 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) – 9.5/10
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!
Markup R-XP ($18) – 9/10
Based on 1900 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.
XStitch Plus ($10) – 9/10
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.
MagicNeedle (FREE) – 9/10
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.
StitchSketch ($8) – 8/10
Based on 388 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) – 8/10
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) – 8/10
Based on 59 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.
Threadster ($3 per month) – 8/10
Based on 13 reviews
A new app to the scene, it’s got some great reviews from the public and our reviewers, for both its features and its design. However, its cost was the biggest issue for most. At 3 dollars a month, it’s just a little steep for most.
Fabric Calculator (FREE) – 8/10
Based on 7 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 the 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.
Threadalog (Free/$10) – 7/10
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 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 6,500 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!
Cross Stitch Thread Organizer ($1) – 9.5/10
Based on 248 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) – 9.5/10
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) – 9/10
Based on 510 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!
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.
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.
Threadster ($3 per month) – 8/10
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.
Do you know of an app that let’s you scan the skeins so you don’t have to enter them manually? Like at the store?
To my knowledge, no. But someone really should make this; it would be AWESOME!
I’m looking for an app that allows for text entry and converts to x-stitch pattern with the ability to change fonts. Importing graphics would be icing on the cake.
I’m afraid I’m not aware of any apps that will do this. There are programs for a computer, such as WinStitch or PCstitch that can convert text into a pattern, but not an app I’m afraid!
just looking for an app that I can add patterns to and can highlight done stitches. I am 77 and don’t need all the other stuff like percentages, number of stitches stitched. I highlight paper copies and uncovering and covering pen takes time. I saw mark up RX something I think but the cost for all the other stuff I won’t use is excessive. I have an Ipad and a kindle fire so I’m sure you need to know that.
Sounds like you want Cross Stitch Markup for your iPad. It’s free and is quite simple.
If you wanted alternatives or one for your Android device (Kindle Fire) we have a whole blog post on the best mark up apps for cross stitch.
Which app would you recommend for Apple that includes back-stitch? It appears that a back-stitch feature is a hard thing to find haha
Sounds like you want StitchSketch, but it only works with KGchart compatible files.
Which app do you recommend to use for creating cross stitch patterns on android? One that includes backstitch.
Hey,
We’d suggest Cross Stitch Saga. You can find more of our reviewed cross stitch pattern programs for Android here.