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 PCStitch ?
PCStitch is chart software for Windows. stixiva is an online cross stitch studio, made in France. Here’s what sets them apart, criterion by criterion.
- 9 more criteria with stixiva
- Official, dated sources
PCStitch
Who is it for?
Draw charts on a Windows PC, with lots of specialty stitches, offline.
$49.95 one-time purchase; free evaluation with no time limit, no registration.
Side by side
stixiva and PCStitch, criterion by criterion
| Criterion | stixiva | PCStitch |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free during the public beta, with an account, no credit card | $49.95 one-time purchase; free evaluation with no time limit, no registration |
| Devices | Browser (computer, tablet, phone) and Windows 10 and 11 | Windows 7 and later |
| 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, Kreinik and Coats, and Mill Hill beads |
| 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: Saving is disabled during the evaluation; the license key unlocks saving and printing. |
| 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 | No |
| Windows softwareSoftware to install on Windows. | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | Not stated |
| 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 | Partly: “Objects” float above the background stitches. |
| Fractionals and backstitchHalf, quarter and three-quarter stitches and backstitch. | Yes | Yes: Half, quarter, three-quarter, petit point, backstitch, French knots and over 60 specialty stitches. |
| BeadsPlace embroidery beads on the chart. | Yes | Yes |
| SymmetryDraw in mirror or radial symmetry. | Yes | Yes: Mirror mode. |
| 3D or realistic previewSee the stitched piece before you start. | Yes | Partly: A “virtual stitches” view, without 3D. |
| Opens .pat, .xsd, .oxsOpen patterns from PCStitch, Pattern Maker or in OXS format. | Yes | Partly: Its own .pat format. |
| 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 | Not stated |
| Stitch trackingCheck off your stitches as you go. | Yes | Not stated |
✓ 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.
- In French. The site, the studio and its guides are written in French.
- 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.
- 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).
- Thread stash. Note the skeins you already own, and build the list of the ones you’re missing.
- Stitch tracking. Stitching mode checks off your stitches on a tablet or phone, and picks up where you left off from one device to another.
What PCStitch does well
- Long-established installed software, with a large library of motifs, alphabets and fonts.
- Lots of stitches: fractionals, petit point, French knots, beads and over 60 specialty stitches.
- A free evaluation with no time limit.
PCStitch details
- Free PDF pattern : Saving is disabled during the evaluation; the license key unlocks saving and printing.
- Layers : “Objects” float above the background stitches.
- Fractionals and backstitch : Half, quarter, three-quarter, petit point, backstitch, French knots and over 60 specialty stitches.
- Symmetry : Mirror mode.
- 3D or realistic preview : A “virtual stitches” view, without 3D.
- Opens .pat, .xsd, .oxs : Its own .pat format.
Switching from PCStitch to stixiva
stixiva opens PCStitch .pat files from versions 5 to 7 directly; a newer file should first be saved in one of those versions.
No sign-up
Try it before you leave PCStitch
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.
- pcstitch.com, home page
- pcstitch.com, features
- pcstitch.com, system requirements
- pcstitch.com, download
Other comparisons
Is stixiva a free alternative to PCStitch?
During its public beta, the whole stixiva studio is free with an account, PDF pattern included. PCStitch: $49.95 one-time purchase; free evaluation with no time limit, no registration.
Can I bring my PCStitch patterns into stixiva?
stixiva opens PCStitch .pat files from versions 5 to 7 directly; a newer file should first be saved in one of those versions.
Is this comparison impartial?
It is published by stixiva: that’s why each cell comes from PCStitch’s official website, cited at the bottom of the page and checked on October 16, 2026, and why the page also says what PCStitch does that stixiva doesn’t.
Try stixiva alongside PCStitch
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.