# Cross Stitch Journal vs Threadster

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cross Stitch Journal | Threadster |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cross-stitch-journal/id6443886471/reviews)** | [4.6 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/threadster/id6736578451/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **25** | 18 |
| Positive reviews | 83.3% of reviews | **88.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | Freemium |
| Size | 27 MB | 96 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **16.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Blitstitch Labs LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1650319200) | [Arden Csolkovits](https://appshunter.io/developer/1772496043) |

## What reviewers say

### Cross Stitch Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cross-stitch-journal/id6443886471)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Full Application | $5.99 | one-time |


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