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A modern alternative to PCStitch
PCStitch has been a staple of counted cross stitch design for decades, and its one-time price still appeals. But it's Windows-only desktop software, and PCStitch 11 has been the current version for years. Craft Studio runs in any browser — Mac, iPad, Chromebook included — and keeps improving without upgrade fees.
Side-by-side comparison
How Craft Studio stacks up against PCStitch on the features that matter to makers.
Platforms
Runs in any modern browser — Windows, Mac, iPad, Chromebook, or your phone. Nothing to install, patterns sync through your account.
Windows desktop only. No Mac, tablet, or browser version.
Updates
A live web app with new features shipping continuously, included in the plan.
PCStitch 11 has been the current version for years; recent updates have focused on fixes rather than new features.
File formats
Standard exports: PNG, SVG, and printable PDF with symbol keys. Anyone can open what you share.
Proprietary .pat format — recipients need PCStitch or its viewer to open your files.
Image import
Edge-aware photo import with Faithful, Simplified, and Poster modes, quantized to your palette in real time.
Photo conversion to charts with manual refinement.
Built-in content
A community gallery of published patterns, community palettes, and a reusable motif, border, and alphabet library you build yourself.
Ships with 2,000+ built-in patterns, with add-on packs sold separately.
Projects and community
Project journal with progress photos, cloud save, maker profiles, and publishing to the gallery.
No cloud sync, journal, or community features.
Pricing
Everything for $9.99/month or $99/year after a 7-day free trial — every craft, export format, and feature included. Cancel anytime; your saved patterns are never deleted.
One-time purchase: $39.95 Standard, $49.95 Pro. Pattern packs $9.99 each.
PCStitch details and prices checked August 2026. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.
Which one is right for you?
Every tool has strengths. Here's our honest take.
Choose Craft Studio if…
- You're on a Mac, iPad, or Chromebook — or move between machines.
- You want standard file formats people can actually open.
- You want a tool that keeps improving without paying for new versions.
Stick with PCStitch if…
- You prefer a one-time purchase over a subscription.
- You work offline on a single Windows PC.
- You want a large built-in pattern library to start from.
Frequently asked
- Is there a PCStitch for Mac?
- No — PCStitch is Windows-only. Craft Studio runs in the browser, so it works on Mac, iPad, Chromebook, and Windows alike with the same account and synced patterns.
- Can I open my PCStitch .pat files in Craft Studio?
- Not directly — .pat is a proprietary format. Export or screenshot your chart as an image from PCStitch, then use Craft Studio's image import to rebuild it against your palette.
- Is a subscription really better than PCStitch's one-time price?
- It depends. If you design occasionally on one Windows PC, PCStitch's one-time $39.95–$49.95 is hard to beat. Craft Studio's $99/year buys continuous updates, cloud sync across devices, thirteen craft types, and the community — better value if designing is a regular part of your craft.
Ready to try it?
Start a 7-day free trial with full access — import your existing patterns as images and keep designing where you left off.
Start your free trial