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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 on Windows, Mac, Chromebook or iPad. Nothing to install, patterns sync through your account. The editor is built for tablet and computer screens, so it's cramped on a phone.
Windows desktop only. No Mac, tablet, or browser version.
Updates
A live web app with new features shipping continuously, all free.
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
Photo import with a Crisp edges option for flat graphics, quantized in real time or snapped to your palette.
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 is free, with every craft, every editor tool, and PNG, PDF, SVG, EPS, and Excel export included. 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 Spotted something out of date?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 desktop software you buy once and own.
- 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 Craft Studio cheaper than PCStitch?
- Yes, Craft Studio is free. PCStitch is a one-time $39.95 to $49.95 and still makes sense if you design occasionally on one Windows PC. Craft Studio adds continuous updates, cloud sync across devices, thirteen craft types, and the community.
Ready to try it?
Create a free account, import your existing patterns as images, and keep designing where you left off.
Start for free