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 November 1, 2026
stixiva vs Magic Needle ?
Magic Needle is an iPhone, iPad and Android app that turns a photo into a chart and tracks your stitching. stixiva is an online cross stitch studio, made in France. Here’s what sets them apart, criterion by criterion.
- 13 more criteria with stixiva
- 1 more criterion with Magic Needle
- Official, dated sources
Magic Needle
Who is it for?
Turn a photo into a chart on your phone, then track your stitching in the same place.
Free to install; PDF export $1.99, patterns $0.99 to $2.99, Premium $6.99 to $41.99 (US App Store).
Side by side
stixiva and Magic Needle, criterion by criterion
| Criterion | stixiva | Magic Needle |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free during the public beta, with an account, no credit card | Free to install; PDF export $1.99, patterns $0.99 to $2.99, Premium $6.99 to $41.99 (US App Store) |
| Devices | Browser (computer, tablet, phone) and Windows 10 and 11 | iPhone, iPad, Android; Apple silicon Mac |
| 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, Anchor, Madeira, Aurifil and Sullivans |
| Maximum size | 512 × 512 stitches | Not stated |
| Free PDF patternPrint or download your pattern as a PDF without paying. | Yes: Free during the public beta. | No: PDF export is an in-app purchase ($1.99 on the US App Store). |
| 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. | Not stated |
| In the browserNothing to install: it opens in a browser. | Yes | No |
| 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. | Partly: The iPad app installs on Apple silicon Macs, without being verified for macOS. |
| iPhone, iPad or Android appAn app to install from an app store. | No: On tablets and phones, the studio opens in the browser. | Yes |
| French interfaceThe interface is available in French. | Yes | Yes: Interface in 13 languages, including French. |
| Photo to patternTurn a photo into a cross stitch chart. | Yes | Yes |
| Isolated stitch cleanupFind and merge isolated stitches (“confetti”). | Yes | Not stated |
| LayersWork on several layers. | Yes | Not stated |
| Fractionals and backstitchHalf, quarter and three-quarter stitches and backstitch. | Yes | Not stated |
| 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 | Not stated |
| Opens .pat, .xsd, .oxsOpen patterns from PCStitch, Pattern Maker or in OXS format. | Yes | Not stated |
| Paper or scanned patternDigitize a photo, scan or PDF of a symbol chart. | Yes | Not stated |
| Embroidery machine filesOpen machine embroidery files (PES, DST, JEF…). | Yes | Not stated |
| Switch thread brandsSwitch a whole project from one thread brand to another. | Yes | Not stated |
| Thread stashKeep track of the skeins you already own. | Yes | Yes: A thread catalog, from which checked stitches are deducted automatically. |
| Stitch trackingCheck off your stitches as you go. | Yes | Yes: You mark stitched areas to track progress. |
✓ yes½ partly✕ no? not stated on the official website
What stixiva adds
- Free PDF pattern. The PDF pattern (A4, Letter or A3, symbols and thread key) is free during the public beta, like the whole studio.
- In the browser. The studio opens in a recent browser, on a computer, tablet or phone.
- Windows software. There is also a Windows 10 and 11 app (64-bit).
- Isolated stitch cleanup. The studio finds isolated stitches; you choose which to merge and which shades to protect, with before and after side by side.
- Layers. Up to 32 layers per project.
- Fractionals and backstitch. 21 stitch types: cross, half, quarter and three-quarter stitch, petit point, satin, backstitch and French knots.
- Beads. Beads go on the chart, with their key.
- Symmetry. Radial symmetry draws a mandala in a single stroke.
- 3D or realistic preview. The preview shows your piece stitched in a hoop, in 3D, which you can rotate.
- 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.
- Switch thread brands. A whole project switches from one brand to another in one click, among 26 brands: 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).
What Magic Needle does well
- A photo becomes a chart on your phone, with your choice of size, thread brand and number of colors.
- Calculates the skeins to buy and keeps a thread catalog, from which stitched stitches are deducted.
- Well rated on the App Store (4.4 out of 5) and translated into French.
In the table, Magic Needle has one criterion that stixiva doesn’t: an iPhone, iPad or Android app.
Magic Needle details
- Free PDF pattern : PDF export is an in-app purchase ($1.99 on the US App Store).
- Mac software : The iPad app installs on Apple silicon Macs, without being verified for macOS.
- French interface : Interface in 13 languages, including French.
- Thread stash : A thread catalog, from which checked stitches are deducted automatically.
- Stitch tracking : You mark stitched areas to track progress.
Switching from Magic Needle to stixiva
stixiva opens .pat, .xsd, .oxs and .wxs files, and its assistant digitizes a symbol chart from a photo, scan or PDF: your existing patterns aren’t lost.
No sign-up
Try it before you leave Magic Needle
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 November 1, 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.
Other comparisons
Is stixiva a free alternative to Magic Needle?
During its public beta, the whole stixiva studio is free with an account, PDF pattern included. Magic Needle: Free to install; PDF export $1.99, patterns $0.99 to $2.99, Premium $6.99 to $41.99 (US App Store).
Can I bring my Magic Needle patterns into stixiva?
stixiva opens .pat, .xsd, .oxs and .wxs files, and its assistant digitizes a symbol chart from a photo, scan or PDF.
Is this comparison impartial?
It is published by stixiva: that’s why each cell comes from Magic Needle’s official website, cited at the bottom of the page and checked on November 1, 2026, and why the page also says what Magic Needle does that stixiva doesn’t.
Try stixiva alongside Magic Needle
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.