Best Cross Stitch Design App

With every wake 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 seperate list for those too!
Updated February 2021

Jump to iPhone & iPad
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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 cross stitch app icon

MagicNeedle (FREE) – 9/10

Based on 799 reviews
A new entry to the world of cross stitch generators, Magic Needle is effectively a 'poiint 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 world app icon

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 cross stitch app icon

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, its 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

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 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, its 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!
It's added features and free price makes it a great purchase if you use .xsd files!

Cross Stitch Thread Organizer app icon

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's 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

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.

cross stitch fabric calculator app icon

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.