Compare
Craft Studio vs WinStitch & MacStitch
Ursa Software's WinStitch and MacStitch are desktop veterans with deep specialty-stitch support and a new version every year. Craft Studio takes the opposite approach: one continuously updated studio in your browser, on every device, with updates included.
Side-by-side comparison
How Craft Studio stacks up against WinStitch & MacStitch 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.
Desktop apps: WinStitch for Windows 10/11, MacStitch for macOS 10.14+.
Updates and upgrades
New features ship continuously and are free. There's never a new version to buy.
A new version each year. Upgrading a 2021-or-later Premium license to the 2026 release costs £14.
Editor model
Real layers (stack fills, outlines, and text independently) plus a reusable motif, border, and alphabet library.
Deep specialty-stitch toolbox: full, half, and quarter stitches, beads, French knots, chain stitch, and backstitch.
Image import
Photo import with a Crisp edges option for flat graphics, quantized in real time or snapped to your palette.
Photo-to-chart conversion with manual refinement.
Thread support
Full DMC catalog, searchable by number or name, plus other brand palettes, with photo extraction and color-theory palette generation.
Over 30 thread types plus custom thread sets.
Exports and printing
PNG, SVG, and printable PDF with symbol keys.
PDF and PNG export, printing up to A2 with thread-quantity calculations. Premium adds one-click Pattern Keeper-compatible PDFs, valued by chart sellers.
Trying it out
It's free, with full access to save, export, and publish.
A free demo with most features, but it can't print, export charts, or save motifs.
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: Premium around £39/$45 plus tax, Standard around £30/$31. Annual upgrades are optional and paid.
WinStitch & MacStitch 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 Spotted something out of date?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 move between devices or platforms and want your patterns everywhere.
- You want layers, motifs, and community features alongside the editor.
- You'd rather never think about version upgrades.
Stick with WinStitch & MacStitch if…
- You sell charts and need Pattern Keeper-compatible PDF export.
- You chart French knots, beads, and fractional stitches in detail.
- You work offline and prefer desktop software.
Frequently asked
- Can I import my WinStitch or MacStitch patterns into Craft Studio?
- Export your chart as a PNG image from WinStitch or MacStitch. In Craft Studio, set your pattern to the chart's stitch count, turn on Crisp edges, then drop the PNG into image import. Each cell is matched to your chosen palette, so you can keep editing.
- Does Craft Studio export Pattern Keeper-compatible PDFs?
- Craft Studio exports clean, machine-generated PDFs with symbol keys. If Pattern Keeper compatibility is essential to your chart-selling workflow, WinStitch Premium's dedicated one-click export is the safer bet. That's an honest point in their favor.
- Is Craft Studio cheaper than WinStitch?
- Yes. Craft Studio is free, while WinStitch Premium is a one-time ~£39/$45 plus optional paid annual upgrades. Craft Studio also includes cloud sync, thirteen crafts, layers, and the community gallery.
Ready to try it?
Create a free account, import your existing patterns as images, and keep designing where you left off.
Start for free