Purl vs Stitch Reader
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ with what reviewers say about each.
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 โ 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 โ 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 โ and what you need โ 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 โ 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
Stitch Reader
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Stitch Reader turns a supported cross-stitch pattern into a clear interactive chart and keeps your progress on your device. Import a PDF, scan, or clear photo. Review the detected grid and thread legend before confirming anything. Once confirmed, choose a symbol, see remaining stitches, pan and zoom, mark progress, and undo mistakes without a network connection. What it supports: - Full-cross stitches - Clear PDF, JPEG, and PNG patterns - Validated multipage charts - Charts up to 100 x 100 cells Built for careful review: - Uncertain cells and page joins are blocked until checked - Source-page coordinates help you compare the chart with the original - Your confirmed library works offline - Portable backup and restore keep your charts and progress under your control Plan terms: Your first successfully processed pattern is free. Stitch Reader offers one auto-renewing yearly plan for processing additional patterns. The localized price is shown before purchase. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation. The plan renews unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Manage or cancel in App Store account settings. Saved local patterns remain available after expiry. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://omshejul.com/app/stitch-reader/privacy/ Try the included practice chart and process one pattern free. Additional processing requires the yearly plan shown in the app. Saved patterns, progress, backup, export, and deletion remain available if the plan ends. No account, ads, or tracking. Only process patterns you are allowed to use. Partial stitches, backstitch, beads, knots, blends, cropped grids, and unreadable legends are not supported in this release.
Screenshots
Verdict
Purl and Stitch Reader are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters โ price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them โ neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Purl sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Stitch Reader sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
| Parameter | Purl | Stitch Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 2 days | โ |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 โ better | 16.4 |
| Further details โ not scored | ||
| Size | 119 MB | 64 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | KADIR KARAKAS | Om Shejul |
In-app purchases
Purl
- Purl Lifetime$9.99
Stitch Reader
- Stitch Reader Pro$9.991 Year







