# Markup R vs Threadster

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Markup R at 3K against Threadster's 18. Threadster's advantage is review sentiment (89% vs 68%). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Markup R sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per year and Threadster sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Markup R against 4.6 for Threadster. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Markup R has 3K ratings behind it against 18, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 68% of Markup R's written reviews are positive against 89% of Threadster's.

Markup R ships an update monthly, Threadster every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Markup R | Threadster |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/markup-r-xp/id1559524491/reviews)** | [4.6 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/threadster/id6736578451/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3K** | 18 |
| Positive reviews | 67.8% of reviews | **88.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 317 MB | 96 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kewin Lawson Smith Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1503192202) | [Arden Csolkovits](https://appshunter.io/developer/1772496043) |

## What reviewers say

### Markup R

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/markup-r-xp/id1559524491)

This app allows users to mark up any stitch chart from any designer. It can automatically detect grids, symbols, and colors from PDFs or photos, and even stitch together multi-page charts. Users can track progress, identify stitch counts, and utilize built-in shade cards for thread colors.

**Highlights:** Load any chart from any designer, Automatic grid, symbol, and color detection, Stitch multi-page charts together, Automatic symbol and thread color detection, Built-in shade cards (DMC, Anchor, Madeira), Track progress and statistics, Customizable markup tools

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Yearly Access | $19.99 | per year |
| Markup R-XP Full | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive
- 🚀 Speeds up stitching process
- 💡 Helpful features like highlighting symbols and tracking progress
- 🤝 Excellent customer support and responsiveness
- 🎨 Customizable to user preferences

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Issues with grid alignment and symbol recognition
- 💰 Yearly subscription cost may be high for some users
- 🔍 Steep learning curve for some features
- 🔌 Battery drain concerns with extended use

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes and freezes when marking up certain patterns
- Inconsistent symbol highlighting and placement
- Difficulty loading and aligning some scanned patterns

**Requested features**

- Ability to track floss stash and needed supplies
- Syncing across multiple devices
- Improved support for password-protected PDFs
- Font size controls for rulers and labels
- Rotation/flipping options for patterns


### Threadster

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/threadster/id6736578451)

Manage your thread inventory, projects, and color palettes with this comprehensive tracking app. It offers features for color matching, cost logging, pattern management, and creating custom palettes. Basic features are free, with advanced options available through a subscription.

**Highlights:** Inventory management for 3000+ threads, Color matching with real photos, Project cost and status tracking, Create reusable color palettes, Upload and manage PDF patterns, Custom thread and craft creation

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Threadster Pro | $2.99 | per month |
| Threadster Pro | $14.99 | per 6 months |
| Threadster Pro | $24.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Markup R free?

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

### Is Threadster free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Markup R or Threadster?

Markup R is rated higher. Markup R averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3K ratings, while Threadster averages 4.6 from 18 ratings.

### Do Markup R or Threadster have ads?

Neither Markup R nor Threadster shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Markup R or Threadster?

Markup R ships an update monthly, and Threadster every 4 weeks. Most recently, Markup R was updated on October 15, 2026 and Threadster on October 3, 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.*