# Magic Needle vs pixel2stitch

Magic Needle and pixel2stitch both sit at 4.4 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of pixel2stitch's written reviews are positive against 55% of Magic Needle's. pixel2stitch also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10). Magic Needle's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (1.1K vs 6). On price, rating, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Magic Needle sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. pixel2stitch asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for Magic Needle against 4.5 for pixel2stitch. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Magic Needle has 1.1K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 55% of Magic Needle's written reviews are positive against 100% of pixel2stitch's.

Magic Needle ships an update monthly, pixel2stitch fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Magic Needle | pixel2stitch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magic-needle-cross-stitch/id1323730066/reviews) | **[4.5 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel2stitch/id6753175525/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.1K** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 54.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 40 MB | 96 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Artem Shal](https://appshunter.io/developer/1323730065) | [Pavel Grigorev](https://appshunter.io/developer/1801553182) |

## What reviewers say

### Magic Needle

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magic-needle-cross-stitch/id1323730066)

Transform your photos into unique cross-stitch patterns with this mobile converter. It offers tools for pattern creation, embroidery tracking, and project management, making it ideal for both beginners and experienced crafters. Create personalized gifts or enjoy your hobby with ease.

**Highlights:** Create cross-stitch patterns from photos, Adjust scheme size and color count, Select fabric and floss brands, Track embroidery progress, Export patterns to PDF, Organize and track floss inventory

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $6.99 | per month |
| Premium | $29.49 | per 6 months |
| Premium | $41.99 | per year |
| Simple pattern | $0.99 | one-time |
| Export to PDF | $1.99 | one-time |
| Medium pattern | $1.99 | one-time |
| 1 pattern | $2.99 | one-time |
| Advanced pattern | $2.99 | one-time |
| 3 patterns | $5.99 | one-time |
| 7 patterns | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Excellent for creating cross-stitch patterns
- 📐 Accurate grid and color matching
- 🎨 Customizable color palette
- 💻 Convenient digital tracking of stitches

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Limited free features, requires subscription
- 🎨 Restricted color selection
- 🔧 Lack of editing tools for patterns
- 💾 Issues with data/project loss after updates

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when trying to upload photos
- Stitching progress markers disappear unexpectedly
- Difficulty setting desired number of colors

**Requested features**

- Add ability to edit/modify generated patterns
- Implement a PDF export option
- Improve syncing across devices
- Introduce more advanced color management tools


### pixel2stitch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel2stitch/id6753175525)

Transform your photos into detailed cross-stitch or bead art patterns. Adjust complexity, color palettes, and export printable PDFs with material calculations. Automatically saves progress and syncs across devices.

**Highlights:** Photo to pattern conversion, Adjustable pattern size and color count, Supports DMC, Anchor, Gamma, and Perler palettes, Built-in editor for marking progress, Progress tracking per color, Exportable PDF patterns, Thread and bead material calculator

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Magic Needle free?

Magic Needle is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is pixel2stitch free?

pixel2stitch is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Magic Needle or pixel2stitch?

pixel2stitch is rated higher. Magic Needle averages 4.4 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while pixel2stitch averages 4.5 from 6 ratings.

### Do Magic Needle or pixel2stitch have ads?

pixel2stitch shows ads; Magic Needle does not.

### Which is updated more often, Magic Needle or pixel2stitch?

Magic Needle ships an update monthly, and pixel2stitch fortnightly. Most recently, Magic Needle was updated on October 26, 2026 and pixel2stitch on October 30, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*