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 Pic2Pat ?
Pic2Pat is a free photo-to-pattern converter. stixiva is an online cross stitch studio, made in France. Here’s what sets them apart, criterion by criterion.
- 13 more criteria with stixiva
- Official, dated sources
Pic2Pat
Who is it for?
Get a chart from a photo quickly and for free, without editing it.
Free, PDF included (floss and fabric kits sold separately).
Side by side
stixiva and Pic2Pat, criterion by criterion
| Criterion | stixiva | Pic2Pat |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free during the public beta, with an account, no credit card | Free, PDF included (floss and fabric kits sold separately) |
| 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) | 7: DMC, Anchor, Madeira, Venus, Cosmo, Sullivans and Ministeck |
| 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. | Yes |
| 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: The site doesn’t ask for an account to convert a photo. |
| 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 | Not stated |
| LayersWork on several layers. | Yes | No |
| Fractionals and backstitchHalf, quarter and three-quarter stitches and backstitch. | Yes | No: Full cross stitches only. |
| BeadsPlace embroidery beads on the chart. | Yes | No |
| SymmetryDraw in mirror or radial symmetry. | Yes | No |
| 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 | No |
| 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 | Not stated |
| Thread stashKeep track of the skeins you already own. | Yes | No |
| Stitch trackingCheck off your stitches as you go. | Yes | No |
✓ 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).
- 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).
- 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 Pic2Pat does well
- Completely free, PDF included, with PDFs certified for Pattern Keeper.
- The photo stays on your device; the interface is available in 20 languages.
- Seven thread brands, up to 1,000 × 1,000 stitches, and ready-to-stitch kits.
Pic2Pat details
- No account to get started : The site doesn’t ask for an account to convert a photo.
- Fractionals and backstitch : Full cross stitches only.
Switching from Pic2Pat to stixiva
Pic2Pat’s symbol PDF can be digitized by stixiva’s assistant, so you can then edit the chart.
No sign-up
Try it before you leave Pic2Pat
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.
Other comparisons
Is stixiva a free alternative to Pic2Pat?
During its public beta, the whole stixiva studio is free with an account, PDF pattern included. Pic2Pat: Free, PDF included (floss and fabric kits sold separately).
Can I bring my Pic2Pat patterns into stixiva?
Pic2Pat’s symbol PDF can be digitized by stixiva’s assistant, so you can then edit the chart.
Is this comparison impartial?
It is published by stixiva: that’s why each cell comes from Pic2Pat’s official website, cited at the bottom of the page and checked on October 16, 2026, and why the page also says what Pic2Pat does that stixiva doesn’t.
Try stixiva alongside Pic2Pat
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.