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 Pattern Keeper ?
Pattern Keeper is an Android app that opens PDF patterns and tracks stitched stitches. stixiva is an online cross stitch studio, made in France. Here’s what sets them apart, criterion by criterion.
- 15 more criteria with stixiva
- 1 more criterion with Pattern Keeper
- Official, dated sources
Pattern Keeper
Who is it for?
Track a PDF pattern bought from a supported designer on Android.
One-month full trial, then about $9 one-time purchase.
Side by side
stixiva and Pattern Keeper, criterion by criterion
| Criterion | stixiva | Pattern Keeper |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free during the public beta, with an account, no credit card | One-month full trial, then about $9 one-time purchase |
| Devices | Browser (computer, tablet, phone) and Windows 10 and 11 | Android |
| 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) | Not applicable: it reads the threads from the PDF pattern |
| 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: Doesn’t create patterns: it opens PDFs from many designers and compatible programs. |
| 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. | No |
| iPhone, iPad or Android appAn app to install from an app store. | No: On tablets and phones, the studio opens in the browser. | Yes: Android only; an iPhone version is planned. |
| French interfaceThe interface is available in French. | Yes | Not stated |
| Photo to patternTurn a photo into a cross stitch chart. | Yes | No |
| Isolated stitch cleanupFind and merge isolated stitches (“confetti”). | Yes | No |
| LayersWork on several layers. | Yes | No |
| 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 | No |
| 3D or realistic previewSee the stitched piece before you start. | Yes | No |
| Opens .pat, .xsd, .oxsOpen patterns from PCStitch, Pattern Maker or in OXS format. | Yes | No |
| Paper or scanned patternDigitize a photo, scan or PDF of a symbol chart. | Yes | Partly: A photo of a paper chart opens with limited features (no search or floss numbers). |
| Embroidery machine filesOpen machine embroidery files (PES, DST, JEF…). | Yes | No |
| Switch thread brandsSwitch a whole project from one thread brand to another. | Yes | No |
| Thread stashKeep track of the skeins you already own. | Yes | Not stated |
| Stitch trackingCheck off your stitches as you go. | Yes | Yes: Mark stitches with a finger, highlighted symbols, counters by color. |
✓ 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).
- In French. The site, the studio and its guides are written in French.
- Photo to pattern. A photo becomes an editable chart with 2 to 64 colors, computed on the device.
- 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.
- 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).
- Thread stash. Note the skeins you already own, and build the list of the ones you’re missing.
What Pattern Keeper does well
- Shows a multi-page PDF as a single chart, with the key alongside.
- Highlights a symbol, marks stitches with a finger and counts the ones left by color.
- A small price, paid once, after a full one-month trial.
In the table, Pattern Keeper has one criterion that stixiva doesn’t: an iPhone, iPad or Android app.
Pattern Keeper details
- Free PDF pattern : Doesn’t create patterns: it opens PDFs from many designers and compatible programs.
- iPhone, iPad or Android app : Android only; an iPhone version is planned.
- Paper or scanned pattern : A photo of a paper chart opens with limited features (no search or floss numbers).
- Stitch tracking : Mark stitches with a finger, highlighted symbols, counters by color.
Switching from Pattern Keeper to stixiva
Pattern Keeper and stixiva complement each other: stixiva’s stitching mode tracks the studio’s charts, and its assistant digitizes a PDF pattern so you can edit it.
No sign-up
Try it before you leave Pattern Keeper
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.
- patternkeeper.app, home page
- patternkeeper.app, supported designers
- patternkeeper.app, pricing
- patternkeeper.app, importing a chart
Other comparisons
Is stixiva a free alternative to Pattern Keeper?
During its public beta, the whole stixiva studio is free with an account, PDF pattern included. Pattern Keeper: One-month full trial, then about $9 one-time purchase.
Can I bring my Pattern Keeper patterns into stixiva?
Pattern Keeper and stixiva complement each other: stixiva’s stitching mode tracks the studio’s charts, and its assistant digitizes a PDF pattern so you can edit it.
Is this comparison impartial?
It is published by stixiva: that’s why each cell comes from Pattern Keeper’s official website, cited at the bottom of the page and checked on October 16, 2026, and why the page also says what Pattern Keeper does that stixiva doesn’t.
Try stixiva alongside Pattern Keeper
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.