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 WinStitch and MacStitch ?
WinStitch and MacStitch is full chart software for Windows and Mac. stixiva is an online cross stitch studio, made in France. Here’s what sets them apart, criterion by criterion.
- 7 more criteria with stixiva
- 1 more criterion with WinStitch and MacStitch
- Official, dated sources
WinStitch and MacStitch
Who is it for?
Demanding stitchers who want full software installed on Windows or Mac.
Premium: £46 or equivalent ($47 before tax), one-time purchase; free demo without printing or export.
Side by side
stixiva and WinStitch and MacStitch, criterion by criterion
| Criterion | stixiva | WinStitch and MacStitch |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free during the public beta, with an account, no credit card | Premium: £46 or equivalent ($47 before tax), one-time purchase; free demo without printing or export |
| Devices | Browser (computer, tablet, phone) and Windows 10 and 11 | Windows 10 and later, macOS 10.14 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, Madeira, Coats, Appleton and about 25 others |
| Maximum size | 512 × 512 stitches | 999 × 999 stitches |
| Free PDF patternPrint or download your pattern as a PDF without paying. | Yes: Free during the public beta. | No: The demo allows neither printing nor exporting; the advanced PDF is Premium only. |
| 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. | Yes |
| 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: Menus in French, help in English. |
| 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 | Yes |
| Fractionals and backstitchHalf, quarter and three-quarter stitches and backstitch. | Yes | Yes: Fractionals, backstitch, French knots and specialty stitches (Hardanger, chain stitch…). |
| BeadsPlace embroidery beads on the chart. | Yes | Yes: Beads, bugle beads, buttons and sequins. |
| SymmetryDraw in mirror or radial symmetry. | Yes | Yes |
| 3D or realistic previewSee the stitched piece before you start. | Yes | Partly: A framed view simulates the stitched piece, without 3D. |
| Opens .pat, .xsd, .oxsOpen patterns from PCStitch, Pattern Maker or in OXS format. | Yes | Partly: Opens PCStitch .pat files (versions 4 to 7); Ursa created the OXS 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 | Yes: A stash list of skeins owned and to buy. |
| 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.
- 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).
- 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 WinStitch and MacStitch do well
- Apps for Windows and Mac, with menus translated into French.
- Very complete software: layers, beads, specialty stitches, stash list.
- Ranked best software for PC and Mac by Lord Libidan (10/10).
In the table, WinStitch and MacStitch has one criterion that stixiva doesn’t: Mac software.
WinStitch and MacStitch details
- Free PDF pattern : The demo allows neither printing nor exporting; the advanced PDF is Premium only.
- French interface : Menus in French, help in English.
- Fractionals and backstitch : Fractionals, backstitch, French knots and specialty stitches (Hardanger, chain stitch…).
- Beads : Beads, bugle beads, buttons and sequins.
- 3D or realistic preview : A framed view simulates the stitched piece, without 3D.
- Opens .pat, .xsd, .oxs : Opens PCStitch .pat files (versions 4 to 7); Ursa created the OXS format.
- Thread stash : A stash list of skeins owned and to buy.
Switching from WinStitch and MacStitch to stixiva
WinStitch and MacStitch export to OXS format, which stixiva opens directly.
No sign-up
Try it before you leave WinStitch and MacStitch
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.
- ursasoftware.com, home page
- ursasoftware.com, MacStitch and WinStitch
- ursasoftware.com, Standard and Premium
- ursasoftware.com, buy
Other comparisons
FAQ
stixiva vs WinStitch and MacStitch: your questions.
Another question? Email us at contact@stixiva.com.
Is stixiva a free alternative to WinStitch and MacStitch?
During its public beta, the whole stixiva studio is free with an account, PDF pattern included. WinStitch and MacStitch: Premium: £46 or equivalent ($47 before tax), one-time purchase; free demo without printing or export.
Can I bring my WinStitch and MacStitch patterns into stixiva?
WinStitch and MacStitch export to OXS format, which stixiva opens directly.
Is this comparison impartial?
It is published by stixiva: that’s why each cell comes from the official WinStitch and MacStitch website, cited at the bottom of the page and checked on October 16, 2026, and why the page also says what WinStitch and MacStitch do that stixiva doesn’t.
Try stixiva alongside WinStitch and MacStitch
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.