Comparison

Cross Stitch Journal vs Threadster

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Cross Stitch Journal

This app helps you manage your cross stitch projects from initial idea to finished piece. Track progress, record stitching details, and visualize your accomplishments with various charts and summaries. It also includes a fabric calculator and data import functionality.

Highlights
  • Track projects from start to finish
  • Record date, time, and stitches
  • Built-in stitching timer
  • Project progress and status charts
  • Fabric size calculator
  • Data import from spreadsheet
Features
Read full description

Cross Stitch Journal is the best app for tracking your cross stitch projects from start to finish. When you find a design that you would like to stitch, create a project in the Wishlist. From there the project can be moved from the Wishlist through the Have Chart, Ready to Start, Started, and Finished stages as you collect supplies and stitch your project. The list of Finished projects can be used to documents all your stitching accomplishments. Features - Track projects from start to finish - Record date, time and stitches every time that you stitch a project - Use the built-in timer to record times when you start and stop stitching - Started project summary shows completed stitches, percentage complete, and number of remaining stitching days to completion - Project charts show project progress over time - Project status charts show percentage complete for each started project - Summary charts show projects stitched over a certain time period. - Dashboard view shows the number of projects in each stage - List projects in each stage (I think this belongs at the top of the list along with other general uses like track projects and record stitching days) - Project logs show when a project was stitched - Fabric calculator can be used to easily calculate fabric size for any fabric count - Pause projects to remove them from project lists. - Archived projects are permanently removed from project lists. - Deleted projects also remove logs for that project. - Previous data tracked using the Cross Stitch Journal spreadsheet can be imported into the app. Cross Stitch Journal can be used for free to track up to three projects. Unlocking the app will allow you to track an unlimited number of projects. Unlocking will also allow you to import data from the Cross Stitch Journal spreadsheet. Download Cross Stitch Journal and start tracking your cross stitching today.

About

Threadster

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
Read full description

PLEASE NOTE: We now offer Basic and Pro subscription options to help manage your inventory, projects, and color palettes. Our Basic version is completely FREE, while our Threadster Pro subscription unlocks additional areas and features. Threadster also offers a 7-day free trial for new users. The free trial automatically converts to a 1-month Pro subscription, but this can be easily changed before the trial runs out if you decide that you’d prefer the 6 month or 12 month plan. You can find a full list of all the features below! **THREADSTER BASIC FREE FEATURES: • View & manage inventory for 3000+ DMC threads • Track inventory in whole & partial quantities • Customizable thread tracking • View similar threads for color matching • Auto add threads to Shopping List • Add custom notes for threads • Customizable inventory search & sorting • Export & print shopping lists • Light, Dark, & Monochromatic display • Data backup/restore options • Thread CSV Import (DMC only) **THREADSTER PRO SUBSCRIPTION FEATURES: • Create custom threads, crafts, & fabric • Create projects & reusable color palettes • Manage project status, priority, costs, & dimensions • Customizable project & palette search • Project start/stop timer & hourly rate calculator • Allocate inventory items to projects • View which projects items are assigned to • Create palettes from images with color picker • Find closest matching threads using hex codes • Assign matching threads to color palettes • Label threads & crafts for areas used in palettes • Create searchable tag library • Upload, view, mark, & print PDF patterns • Mass maintenance for inventory & shopping list • Thread CSV Import (Other brands, custom, & discontinued) After collaborating with the community, we're proud to offer a simple interface with the solutions you need to help manage thread inventories and projects of all kinds. Tired of not being able to easily track inventory, or need to color match with real photos of thread? Want to log costs for a project, save patterns, or create reusable color palettes? ..Threadster has you covered! Don't see a feature you need? We're always open to suggestions to help make Threadster the best it can be. If you have an idea you'd like to see implemented, simply contact us and we'll see if we can make it happen! Terms of Use: https://www.zeebam.com/threadstertermsofuse

Screenshots

Cross Stitch Journal4 screens
Threadster4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Cross Stitch Journal at 4.8 against Threadster's 4.6. On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Cross Stitch Journal sells 1 one-off in-app purchase 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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Cross Stitch Journal holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 25 and 18 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 83% of Cross Stitch Journal's written reviews are positive against 89% of Threadster's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cross Stitch Journal ships an update every 3 weeks, Threadster every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Cross Stitch Journal versus Threadster: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCross Stitch JournalThreadster
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (25 ratings) — better4.6 (18 ratings)
Positive reviews83.3% of reviews88.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings25 — better18
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 4 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.616.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size27 MB96 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBlitstitch Labs LLCArden Csolkovits

Customer experience

Cross Stitch Journal

All ratings25 ratings
Positive96.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative4.0%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral8.3%
Negative8.3%

Threadster

All ratings18 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive88.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative11.1%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Cross Stitch Journal

One-time1
  • Unlock Full Application$5.99
3 purchases

Threadster

Subscriptions3
  • Threadster Pro7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Threadster Pro$14.996 Months
  • Threadster Pro$24.991 Year

Questions

Is Cross Stitch Journal free?
Cross Stitch Journal 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, Cross Stitch Journal or Threadster?
Cross Stitch Journal is rated higher. Cross Stitch Journal averages 4.8 out of 5 from 25 ratings, while Threadster averages 4.6 from 18 ratings.
Do Cross Stitch Journal or Threadster have ads?
Neither Cross Stitch Journal nor Threadster shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cross Stitch Journal or Threadster?
Cross Stitch Journal ships an update every 3 weeks, and Threadster every 4 weeks. Most recently, Cross Stitch Journal was updated on September 15, 2026 and Threadster on September 16, 2026.

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