stixiva
Who is it for?
Make, edit and reuse charts, from photo to PDF pattern.
Free during the public beta, with an account, no credit card.
Comparison · checked on October 16, 2026
stixiva vs Knytstudio ?
Knytstudio is an online studio for cross stitch and other crafts, with a community. stixiva is an online cross stitch studio, made in France. Here’s what sets them apart, criterion by criterion.
- 8 more criteria with stixiva
- Official, dated sources
Knytstudio
Who is it for?
Make and share patterns within a community, and track your stitching on the same site.
Free to design; first pattern free, then €2.99 per pattern (3 for €6.99, 10 for €19.99) or Pro at €4 a month.
Side by side
stixiva and Knytstudio, criterion by criterion
| Criterion | stixiva | Knytstudio |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free during the public beta, with an account, no credit card | Free to design; first pattern free, then €2.99 per pattern (3 for €6.99, 10 for €19.99) or Pro at €4 a month |
| Devices | Browser (computer, tablet, phone) and Windows 10 and 11 | Browser (computer, tablet, phone) |
| Thread and bead brands | 26: 8 floss brands (DMC, Anchor, Madeira, Sullivans, Gamma, PNK Kirov, Splendor and Mandarin Floss), 15 fuse bead brands (Perler, Hama, Artkal S, Hama Mini, Hama Maxi, Perler Mini, Perler Caps, Nabbi, Artkal A, Artkal C, Artkal M, Artkal R, Yant, Mard and Mill Hill), 2 diamond painting brands (Diamond Dotz and Diamond Painting) and one yarn brand (Red Heart) | DMC, with Anchor, Sullivans, J&P Coats and Maxi codes |
| Maximum size | 512 × 512 stitches | 1,000 × 1,000 stitches |
| Free PDF patternPrint or download your pattern as a PDF without paying. | Yes: Free during the public beta. | Partly: The first pattern is free; the next ones are paid per pattern or with the Pro plan. |
| No account to get startedTry it without creating an account. | Partly: The site’s 44 free tools work without an account; the studio needs a free account. | Yes |
| In the browserNothing to install: it opens in a browser. | Yes | Yes |
| Windows softwareSoftware to install on Windows. | Yes | No |
| Mac softwareSoftware to install on a Mac. | No: On a Mac, the studio opens in the browser. | No |
| iPhone, iPad or Android appAn app to install from an app store. | No: On tablets and phones, the studio opens in the browser. | No |
| French interfaceThe interface is available in French. | Yes | Yes |
| Photo to patternTurn a photo into a cross stitch chart. | Yes | Yes |
| Isolated stitch cleanupFind and merge isolated stitches (“confetti”). | Yes | Yes |
| LayersWork on several layers. | Yes | Not stated |
| Fractionals and backstitchHalf, quarter and three-quarter stitches and backstitch. | Yes | Partly: Cross stitch and backstitch; no documented fractionals. |
| BeadsPlace embroidery beads on the chart. | Yes | Not stated |
| SymmetryDraw in mirror or radial symmetry. | Yes | Not stated |
| 3D or realistic previewSee the stitched piece before you start. | Yes | Yes: Realistic preview of the stitched piece. |
| Opens .pat, .xsd, .oxsOpen patterns from PCStitch, Pattern Maker or in OXS format. | Yes | No: Doesn’t open OXS files yet, according to its website; it exports them. |
| Paper or scanned patternDigitize a photo, scan or PDF of a symbol chart. | Yes | No |
| Embroidery machine filesOpen machine embroidery files (PES, DST, JEF…). | Yes | No |
| Switch thread brandsSwitch a whole project from one thread brand to another. | Yes | Partly: A separate DMC, Anchor and J&P Coats converter in its tools. |
| Thread stashKeep track of the skeins you already own. | Yes | Not stated |
| Stitch trackingCheck off your stitches as you go. | Yes | Yes: Stitch tracking across devices, with an account. |
✓ yes½ partly✕ no? not stated on the official website
What stixiva adds
- Windows software. There is also a Windows 10 and 11 app (64-bit).
- Layers. Up to 32 layers per project.
- Beads. Beads go on the chart, with their key.
- Symmetry. Radial symmetry draws a mandala in a single stroke.
- Opens .pat, .xsd, .oxs. stixiva opens PCStitch (.pat), Pattern Maker (.xsd), OXS and Super Point de Croix Deluxe (.wxs) patterns.
- Paper or scanned pattern. The assistant reads a photo, scan or PDF page of a symbol chart, square by square, and turns it into an editable project.
- Embroidery machine files. stixiva opens PES, DST, JEF, EXP, VP3, HUS and XXX machine embroidery files.
- Thread stash. Note the skeins you already own, and build the list of the ones you’re missing.
What Knytstudio does well
- A generous free version, cheap pay-per-pattern or a Pro subscription at €4 a month.
- Built-in stitch tracking, across devices.
- A community of patterns to reuse and remix, and a text-to-motif generator.
Knytstudio details
- Free PDF pattern : The first pattern is free; the next ones are paid per pattern or with the Pro plan.
- Fractionals and backstitch : Cross stitch and backstitch; no documented fractionals.
- 3D or realistic preview : Realistic preview of the stitched piece.
- Opens .pat, .xsd, .oxs : Doesn’t open OXS files yet, according to its website; it exports them.
- Switch thread brands : A separate DMC, Anchor and J&P Coats converter in its tools.
- Stitch tracking : Stitch tracking across devices, with an account.
Switching from Knytstudio to stixiva
Knytstudio exports to OXS format, which stixiva opens directly.
No sign-up
Try it before you leave Knytstudio
stixiva’s free tools run in your browser, no account needed: enough to judge for yourself.
Photo to pattern
A preview of your photo as a cross stitch chart, threads included.
Cross stitch name generator
Type a name, get its chart to stitch.
Small free motifs
Hearts, flowers, animals, borders: ready-to-stitch charts, with their threads.
Floss converter
DMC, Anchor, Madeira, Sullivans: the official and the closest equivalent.
Skein calculator
How many skeins to buy, for your fabric and strand count.
DMC color chart
All 482 Mouliné Spécial colors, by number or name.
Sources
This comparison is published by stixiva, one of the programs compared. The other programs’ listings are taken from their official websites, linked below, on October 16, 2026. The names mentioned are trademarks of their respective owners; stixiva is not affiliated with any of them. Has something changed? Email contact@stixiva.com and we’ll correct the listing.
- knytstudio.com, home page
- knytstudio.com, pricing
- knytstudio.com, comparisons
- knytstudio.com, progress tracking
Other comparisons
Is stixiva a free alternative to Knytstudio?
During its public beta, the whole stixiva studio is free with an account, PDF pattern included. Knytstudio: Free to design; first pattern free, then €2.99 per pattern (3 for €6.99, 10 for €19.99) or Pro at €4 a month.
Can I bring my Knytstudio patterns into stixiva?
Knytstudio exports to OXS format, which stixiva opens directly.
Is this comparison impartial?
It is published by stixiva: that’s why each cell comes from Knytstudio’s official website, cited at the bottom of the page and checked on October 16, 2026, and why the page also says what Knytstudio does that stixiva doesn’t.
Try stixiva alongside Knytstudio
Open one of your patterns or drop in a photo: the whole studio is free during the public beta.
Create my free accountFree during the beta, no credit card.