Comparison

Pixie Stitch vs Stitchlines

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

Head to head
About

Pixie Stitch

Features
Read full description

Pixie Stitch: Your Personal Cross-Stitch Pattern Maker Bring your favorite memories to life with needle and thread. Pixie Stitch is a dedicated crafting companion designed to help you transform any photograph or image into a custom, ready-to-use cross-stitch pattern. Whether you are looking to stitch a portrait of a beloved pet, a beautiful landscape, or a fun piece of pixel art, Pixie Stitch does the heavy lifting of calculating colors and grids so you can focus on the crafting. Built for both beginners and experienced stitchers, the app combines an intuitive pattern generator with a built-in thread inventory tracker, keeping everything you need for your hobby organized in one place. Key Features and Functionality: Photo to Pattern Conversion: Easily import any image from your Photo Library and turn it into a cross-stitch grid. The app natively processes your image and pixelates it into a stitchable design. Before converting, you can use the built-in cropping tool to frame the exact portion of the image you want to stitch. Total Creative Control: Every project is different, which is why Pixie Stitch lets you customize the complexity of your patterns. Use the simple slider controls to adjust: 1. Pattern Size: Define the exact width of your project (in stitches). The app will automatically calculate the proportional height and the total number of stitches required. 2. Color Count: Limit the maximum number of colors used in your pattern. Keep it simple with a 15-color palette, or push it up for a highly detailed, photorealistic project. Automatic DMC Color Matching: No more guessing which thread to buy. Pixie Stitch uses advanced color-matching algorithms to automatically map the colors in your photograph to the official DMC thread palette. Detailed Project Breakdowns: Once your pattern is generated, you get a comprehensive breakdown of the project. The app provides a detailed list of every specific DMC thread color you need, along with the exact number of stitches required for each color, helping you plan your thread purchases perfectly. Thread Inventory Tracker: Never accidentally buy the same skein of thread twice. Pixie Stitch features a built-in Inventory tab where you can track exactly which DMC threads you currently have in your stash. Easily scroll through the DMC catalog and check off the threads you own. Personal Pattern Gallery: All of your created patterns are automatically saved to your personal Gallery. You can safely store your ongoing and future projects directly on your device. The app uses Apple's native frameworks to ensure your data is saved quickly and efficiently. Clean, Ad-Free Design: Crafting is supposed to be relaxing, and your tools should be too. Pixie Stitch features a premium, beautifully crafted user interface that gets out of your way. No intrusive ads, no cluttered screens—just a clean, colorful workspace for your next big idea. Start Stitching Today: Whether you are making a personalized gift for a loved one or just looking for a new way to express your creativity, Pixie Stitch gives you the tools to design beautiful, custom cross-stitch patterns right from your pocket. Download today and start your next

About

Stitchlines

Transform photos into cross stitch patterns with accurate DMC thread colors and tracking. Import existing PDF patterns, mark stitches as you go, and even design your own creations. Syncs progress across devices.

Highlights
  • Photo to cross stitch pattern conversion
  • DMC thread color matching
  • PDF pattern import and tracking
  • Full stitch editor
  • Progress tracking and syncing
  • Print-ready PDF export
  • Thread shopping list
Features
Read full description

Turn any photo into a cross stitch pattern, or open the PDF patterns you bought, then track every stitch to the last one. Pick a photo you love and Stitchlines turns it into a real, stitchable chart in genuine DMC thread colors, with symbols, gridlines and a full thread list. Or bring a pattern you bought: Stitchlines reads the chart and its thread key. Then stitch straight from your iPhone or iPad, tapping off each stitch as you go. Create your first pattern during setup and see it in action before choosing a plan. --- PHOTO TO PATTERN Any photo becomes a chart A pet, a portrait or a favorite place. Crop it, remove the background, choose the size and number of colors, and watch the pattern build. Real DMC threads, not filters Every color is matched to an actual DMC shade and code, so you buy exactly what your pattern needs. Up to 500 × 500 stitches From a small gift to a full-size sampler. --- PATTERNS YOU BOUGHT Open PDF patterns from Files, Mail or Safari. Stitchlines reads the chart and thread key, including half, quarter and three-quarter stitches, backstitch and French knots, and keeps your pattern's thread numbers: DMC, Anchor and other brands. Compare the result with your PDF, fix a thread number with a tap, and start tracking. Charts that are scans or pictures can't be converted yet, but they open too: mark your progress page by page. Your PDFs stay on your device. --- NEVER LOSE YOUR PLACE Tap a stitch to mark it done Or swipe across a whole row. Stitchlines remembers exactly where you stopped, even if you put the project down for a month. Backstitch and French knots can be marked too. Highlight one thread Dim every other color and see exactly where one thread goes. What's left of every thread See how many stitches remain for each thread, and which threads are finished. Park your threads Leave each thread parked where you'll pick it up next. --- DESIGN YOUR OWN Full editor Draw full, half, quarter and three-quarter stitches, backstitch and French knots. Fill an area or replace a color everywhere, or begin with a blank canvas. 454 DMC colors Search the complete palette by code or name. --- PRINT AND STITCH Print-ready PDF Large charts are divided across numbered sheets with an overview map. Print straight from the app. Thread key with skein estimates Every color includes its DMC code, symbol, stitch count and how many skeins you need. Shopping list See which threads to buy, minus the ones you already own. See it stitched Preview how your pattern will look in thread before you start. Finished size, calculated for you In centimeters and inches, for 11 to 18-count Aida, 28-count evenweave and 32-count linen. --- ON ALL YOUR DEVICES Patterns and progress sync between iPhone and iPad: mark a stitch on your phone, carry on from the same place on your iPad. --- BUILT FOR STITCHERS Whether you've stitched for thirty years or are starting your first hoop this weekend, Stitchlines is built around how the craft works: counting, losing your place, running out of thread and finally finishing. --- PRICING Start free: one pattern, one PDF and your first 1,000 tracked stitches. Stitchlines Pro unlocks unlimited patterns, PDFs and tracking, editing, parking, export, printing and sync. Every Pro plan unlocks every feature. Yearly and lifetime options are available. The exact localized price is shown in the app before purchase and may vary by region. --- SUBSCRIPTION TERMS Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account when the purchase is confirmed. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours before the current period ends. You can manage or cancel subscriptions in your App Store account settings after purchase. The lifetime option is a one-time purchase and does not renew. Terms of Service: https://stitchlines.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://stitchlines.app/privacy

Screenshots

Pixie Stitch4 screens
Stitchlines4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pixie Stitch at none against Stitchlines's 6. Pixie Stitch also leads on ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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. Stitchlines sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Pixie Stitch asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Pixie Stitch versus Stitchlines: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPixie StitchStitchlines
PriceFreeFree
Rating—3.0 (3 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequency—Every 10 days
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB31 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRameri SalamaJulian Putz

In-app purchases

None

Pixie Stitch

No in-app purchases

6 purchases

Stitchlines

Subscriptions3
  • Stitchlines Pro$9.991 Month
  • Stitchlines Pro$24.991 Year
  • Stitchlines Pro$39.991 Year
One-time3
  • Stitchlines Pro Lifetime$49.99
  • Stitchlines Pro Lifetime$79.99
  • Stitchlines Pro Lifetime$99.99

Questions

Is Pixie Stitch free?
Pixie Stitch is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Stitchlines free?
Stitchlines is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Pixie Stitch or Stitchlines have ads?
Stitchlines shows ads; Pixie Stitch does not.

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