Cross Stitch Journal vs Purl
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
Purl
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Finally, a pattern tracker that doesn't lose your work. Just your patterns, always where you left them. Purl is the cozy companion for cross-stitch, knitting, and crochet makers who are tired of losing their place or losing their data. Mark your progress, organize your threads, and keep every project safely backed up — all in one calm, beautiful app. NEVER LOSE YOUR PLACE Purl scans your PDF pattern and lets you mark stitches directly on the chart. Row by row, stitch by stitch — your progress is saved automatically. Come back a week later and pick up exactly where you stopped. ONE APP, THREE CRAFTS Cross-stitch. Knitting. Crochet. Track all your projects in one place, with craft-specific tools for each. No more switching between apps. YOUR THREAD STASH, ORGANIZED Log your DMC and Anchor threads, track stock levels, and scan barcodes to add new colors instantly. Know exactly what you have — and what you need — before you start a project. REAL BACKUP, REAL PEACE OF MIND Your projects sync automatically across iPhone and iPad via iCloud. Everything is backed up to the cloud — only you can access it. Even if you lose your phone, your patterns are safe. PROGRESS PHOTOS Photograph your work as you go. Purl saves each photo with its date and completion percentage, so you can watch your project grow from first stitch to finished piece. WORKS IN 12 LANGUAGES English, Turkish, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Swedish, Polish, Russian, and Japanese. WHAT YOU GET - Unlimited pattern imports (PDF) - Cross-stitch chart viewer with stitch marking - Knitting row tracker - Crochet round counter - DMC & Anchor thread inventory with barcode scanner - Progress photo timeline - iCloud sync across all your Apple devices - Full backup & restore - 12 languages Purl. Your patterns, your progress, your peace of mind. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://qubillc.com/purl/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Purl at every 2 days against Cross Stitch Journal's every 3 weeks. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
Both are free to download. Cross Stitch Journal sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Purl sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Cross Stitch Journal ships an update every 3 weeks, Purl every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Cross Stitch Journal | Purl |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (25 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 83.3% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 25 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 27 MB | 119 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Blitstitch Labs LLC | KADIR KARAKAS |
In-app purchases
Cross Stitch Journal
- Unlock Full Application$5.99
Purl
- Purl Lifetime$9.99
Questions
Is Cross Stitch Journal free?
Is Purl free?
Do Cross Stitch Journal or Purl have ads?
Which is updated more often, Cross Stitch Journal or Purl?
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