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 Stitchmate ?
Stitchmate is an online chart studio, with stitch tracking. stixiva is an online cross stitch studio, made in France. Here’s what sets them apart, criterion by criterion.
- 5 more criteria with stixiva
- 1 more criterion with Stitchmate
- Official, dated sources
Stitchmate
Who is it for?
Convert a photo into a chart with less confetti, and only pay for printed patterns.
Free to design; printable PDF from $7.99 per pattern (5 for $12, 10 for $20), or a $99 pass ($149 to sell).
Side by side
stixiva and Stitchmate, criterion by criterion
| Criterion | stixiva | Stitchmate |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free during the public beta, with an account, no credit card | Free to design; printable PDF from $7.99 per pattern (5 for $12, 10 for $20), or a $99 pass ($149 to sell) |
| Devices | Browser (computer, tablet, phone) and Windows 10 and 11 | Browser; Mac and Windows app with a pass |
| 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) | Over 60 brands |
| Maximum size | 512 × 512 stitches | 2,000 × 2,000 stitches |
| Free PDF patternPrint or download your pattern as a PDF without paying. | Yes: Free during the public beta. | No: The PDF preview and PNG export are free; the printable PDF is paid. |
| 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 | Yes |
| Windows softwareSoftware to install on Windows. | Yes | Yes: Desktop app included with a pass. |
| Mac softwareSoftware to install on a Mac. | No: On a Mac, the studio opens in the browser. | Yes: Desktop app included with a pass. |
| iPhone, iPad or Android appAn app to install from an app store. | No: On tablets and phones, the studio opens in the browser. | No: On tablets and phones, it opens in the browser. |
| French interfaceThe interface is available in French. | Yes | Yes: Interface in 14 languages, including French. |
| Photo to patternTurn a photo into a cross stitch chart. | Yes | Yes |
| Isolated stitch cleanupFind and merge isolated stitches (“confetti”). | Yes | Yes: One-click cleanup and a “FLOW Score” that rates how easy it is to stitch. |
| LayersWork on several layers. | Yes | Yes |
| Fractionals and backstitchHalf, quarter and three-quarter stitches and backstitch. | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | Partly: Raised rendering of French knots in the preview. |
| Opens .pat, .xsd, .oxsOpen patterns from PCStitch, Pattern Maker or in OXS format. | Yes | Yes |
| Paper or scanned patternDigitize a photo, scan or PDF of a symbol chart. | Yes | No: Opens symbol PDFs (early access), not scanned pages yet. |
| 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 | Yes |
| Thread stashKeep track of the skeins you already own. | Yes | Partly: A palette can be built from the threads you own. |
| 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.
- Beads. Beads go on the chart, with their key.
- Symmetry. Radial symmetry draws a mandala in a single stroke.
- 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.
What Stitchmate does well
- Photo conversion computed on the device, with one-click confetti cleanup.
- Opens .xsd, .oxs and .pat files, and produces PDFs it says work with Pattern Keeper.
- One-time payment, no subscription, and an interface in 14 languages.
In the table, Stitchmate has one criterion that stixiva doesn’t: Mac software.
Stitchmate details
- Free PDF pattern : The PDF preview and PNG export are free; the printable PDF is paid.
- Windows software : Desktop app included with a pass.
- Mac software : Desktop app included with a pass.
- iPhone, iPad or Android app : On tablets and phones, it opens in the browser.
- French interface : Interface in 14 languages, including French.
- Isolated stitch cleanup : One-click cleanup and a “FLOW Score” that rates how easy it is to stitch.
- 3D or realistic preview : Raised rendering of French knots in the preview.
- Paper or scanned pattern : Opens symbol PDFs (early access), not scanned pages yet.
- Thread stash : A palette can be built from the threads you own.
Switching from Stitchmate to stixiva
stixiva opens .oxs, .pat and .xsd files, and its assistant digitizes a symbol PDF pattern: a chart started elsewhere can be picked up in the studio.
No sign-up
Try it before you leave Stitchmate
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 Stitchmate?
During its public beta, the whole stixiva studio is free with an account, PDF pattern included. Stitchmate: Free to design; printable PDF from $7.99 per pattern (5 for $12, 10 for $20), or a $99 pass ($149 to sell).
Can I bring my Stitchmate patterns into stixiva?
stixiva opens .oxs, .pat and .xsd files, and its assistant digitizes a symbol PDF pattern: a chart started elsewhere can be picked up in the studio.
Is this comparison impartial?
It is published by stixiva: that’s why each cell comes from Stitchmate’s official website, cited at the bottom of the page and checked on October 16, 2026, and why the page also says what Stitchmate does that stixiva doesn’t.
Try stixiva alongside Stitchmate
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.