# Cross Stitch vs Thread Stash

The clearest difference is rating: Cross Stitch at 3.7 against Thread Stash's 3.2. Cross Stitch also leads on ratings volume (95 vs 5). Thread Stash's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 11) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Cross Stitch sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Thread Stash asks for nothing beyond the download.

Cross Stitch holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cross Stitch has 95 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 17% of Cross Stitch's written reviews are positive against 50% of Thread Stash's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Cross Stitch ships an update every 5 weeks, Thread Stash monthly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cross Stitch | Thread Stash |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.7 (95 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cross-stitch-embroidery-maker/id1353303895/reviews)** | [3.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thread-stash/id6766696466/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **95** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 17.3% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 94 MB | 64 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.5** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Peaky Group](https://appshunter.io/developer/1715783196) | [VICTORIA VASEY JOY-WARREN](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896316337) |

## What reviewers say

### Cross Stitch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cross-stitch-embroidery-maker/id1353303895)

Transform any image into a cross stitch pattern, customize it with various settings, and track your progress. This app also includes tools to convert floss colors and calculate thread quantities, making your embroidery hobby more convenient.

**Highlights:** Create patterns from photos, Edit pattern colors and pixel size, Adjustable grid and color highlighting, Progress tracking highlighter, Floss color converter, Floss quantity calculator, Save patterns as PDF

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cross-stitch: Creative artwork | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| PREMIUM PACK - 1 Month Sale | $9.99 | per month |
| PREMIUM PACK - 6 Months | $17.99 | per 6 months |
| PREMIUM PACK - 2 Months | $19.99 | per 2 months |
| PREMIUM Pack - 1 Month | $19.99 | per month |
| 2 Month Subscription | $23.99 | per 2 months |
| Cross-Stitch: VIP subscription | $29.99 | per 6 months |
| Cross-stitch: Creative artwork | $29.99 | per 3 months |
| Embroidery: own patterns | $29.99 | per year |
| Mega Pack | $6.99 | one-time |
| Full Pack | $26.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Converts photos to cross stitch patterns easily
- 👍 User-friendly interface and intuitive design
- 🧵 Provides DMC thread color references and codes
- 📊 Allows customization of thread manufacturers and Aida sizes
- ✅ Helpful for tracking progress with stitch marking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Aggressive paywall with limited free functionality
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezing
- 📉 Progress data frequently lost or reset
- 🖨️ Print functionality broken - patterns misaligned and incomplete
- ⚠️ No clear trial period - requires payment upfront

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when loading or processing patterns
- Progress marks disappear when app reopens
- Print grid misaligned with pattern symbols
- Pattern symbols not visible on dark colored stitches
- App freezes during pattern generation

**Requested features**

- Ability to customize canvas/pattern size
- Support for additional thread manufacturers (Olympus, Cosmo)
- Higher Aida count options (26, 32)
- Pattern editing capabilities
- Ability to create multiple projects simultaneously


### Thread Stash

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thread-stash/id6766696466)

Manage your sewing thread collection effortlessly. Scan labels to add threads to your inventory and automatically create shopping lists for your projects.

**Highlights:** Scan thread labels for automatic entry, Manage thread inventory, Generate project shopping lists, Track project thread requirements

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cross Stitch free?

Cross Stitch is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Thread Stash free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Cross Stitch or Thread Stash?

Cross Stitch is rated higher. Cross Stitch averages 3.7 out of 5 from 95 ratings, while Thread Stash averages 3.2 from 5 ratings.

### Do Cross Stitch or Thread Stash have ads?

Cross Stitch shows ads; Thread Stash does not.

### Which is updated more often, Cross Stitch or Thread Stash?

Cross Stitch ships an update every 5 weeks, and Thread Stash monthly. Most recently, Cross Stitch was updated on October 24, 2026 and Thread Stash on October 24, 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.*