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 Stitchly ?
Stitchly is a design and tracking app for iPhone, iPad and Android. stixiva is an online cross stitch studio, made in France. Here’s what sets them apart, criterion by criterion.
- 13 more criteria with stixiva
- 2 more criteria with Stitchly
- Official, dated sources
Stitchly
Who is it for?
Draw and track your charts on an iPad or phone, with a stylus.
Free trial; full version as a one-time purchase, $75 on the US App Store (often $39.99).
Side by side
stixiva and Stitchly, criterion by criterion
| Criterion | stixiva | Stitchly |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free during the public beta, with an account, no credit card | Free trial; full version as a one-time purchase, $75 on the US App Store (often $39.99) |
| Devices | Browser (computer, tablet, phone) and Windows 10 and 11 | iPhone, iPad, Android and 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 and other ranges |
| Maximum size | 512 × 512 stitches | 500 × 500 stitches by default, adjustable |
| Free PDF patternPrint or download your pattern as a PDF without paying. | Yes: Free during the public beta. | Not stated: PDF export exists; the site doesn’t say whether it’s part of the free trial. |
| 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. | Yes: The iPad app runs on Apple silicon Macs. |
| 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 |
| 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 | Yes: Half, quarter, three-quarter, backstitch and French knots. |
| 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 | No: Opens its own files and images. |
| 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 | Yes |
✓ 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.
- 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.
What Stitchly does well
- An app designed for fingers and Apple Pencil, which creates and tracks your stitching in one place.
- A one-time purchase, no subscription, and an interface translated into many languages.
- Very well rated on the App Store (4.8 out of 5).
In the table, Stitchly has 2 criteria that stixiva doesn’t: Mac software, an iPhone, iPad or Android app.
Stitchly details
- Free PDF pattern : PDF export exists; the site doesn’t say whether it’s part of the free trial.
- Mac software : The iPad app runs on Apple silicon Macs.
- Fractionals and backstitch : Half, quarter, three-quarter, backstitch and French knots.
- Opens .pat, .xsd, .oxs : Opens its own files and images.
Switching from Stitchly 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 Stitchly
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 Stitchly?
During its public beta, the whole stixiva studio is free with an account, PDF pattern included. Stitchly: Free trial; full version as a one-time purchase, $75 on the US App Store (often $39.99).
Can I bring my Stitchly 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 Stitchly’s official website, cited at the bottom of the page and checked on October 16, 2026, and why the page also says what Stitchly does that stixiva doesn’t.
Try stixiva alongside Stitchly
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.