# Stitchly vs ThreadABead Pattern Reader

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Stitchly at 2.3K against ThreadABead Pattern Reader's 2. Stitchly also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). ThreadABead Pattern Reader's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and monetization model (freemium vs paid). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Stitchly sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and ThreadABead Pattern Reader sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $12.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ThreadABead Pattern Reader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Stitchly has 2.3K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Stitchly ships an update fortnightly, ThreadABead Pattern Reader every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Stitchly | ThreadABead Pattern Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (2.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stitchly-cross-stitch/id1467867656/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/threadabead-pattern-reader/id6757329216/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.3K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 79.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | Paid | **Freemium** |
| Size | 40 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Subtlabs](https://appshunter.io/developer/1124491603) | [ThreadABead Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1888947035) |

## What reviewers say

### Stitchly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stitchly-cross-stitch/id1467867656)

Easily create custom cross-stitch patterns from photos or by drawing your own designs. Supports various stitch types and thread colors, with options to export as printable PDFs and track your progress. Perfect for both beginners and experienced crafters.

**Highlights:** Create patterns from photos, Draw custom designs, Supports DMC and Anchor threads, Includes advanced stitches, Export as printable PDF, Track stitching progress

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Special Offer | $39.99 | one-time |
| Full Version | $75.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💻 Great for designing patterns
- 🎨 Easy to use and intuitive
- 👍 Versatile tools and features
- 💰 One-time purchase, no subscription
- 🤝 Responsive and helpful customer support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Limited free trial features
- 🔢 Restricted canvas size
- 🎨 Color accuracy issues
- 🔀 Difficulty rearranging/moving pattern elements
- 🔖 Lack of advanced stitch types (half, diagonal, etc.)

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when importing certain patterns
- Issues with grid and stitch alignment
- Inconsistent behavior when using undo/redo

**Requested features**

- Add support for more thread brands and colors
- Implement layering and grouping functionality
- Allow resizing and repositioning of the entire pattern
- Improve PDF export options and customization
- Add progress tracking and marking completed stitches


### ThreadABead Pattern Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/threadabead-pattern-reader/id6757329216)

This app is a secure PDF reader designed for bead patterns. It offers tools to easily follow designs, including adjustable markers and navigation aids. A subscription allows importing and reading your own PDF patterns.

**Highlights:** Secure PDF viewing, Adjustable reading markers, Focus Mode, Per-pattern notes, Page thumbnails, Import personal PDF patterns

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Personal PDF Library | $12.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Stitchly free?

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

### Is ThreadABead Pattern Reader free?

ThreadABead Pattern Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Stitchly or ThreadABead Pattern Reader?

ThreadABead Pattern Reader is rated higher. Stitchly averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.3K ratings, while ThreadABead Pattern Reader averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Stitchly or ThreadABead Pattern Reader have ads?

Neither Stitchly nor ThreadABead Pattern Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Stitchly or ThreadABead Pattern Reader?

Stitchly ships an update fortnightly, and ThreadABead Pattern Reader every 4 weeks. Most recently, Stitchly was updated on October 12, 2026 and ThreadABead Pattern Reader on October 1, 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.*