A PCStitch Alternative for Mac, iPad and the Browser
PCStitch 11 is a Windows program for designing counted cross stitch, $39.95 Standard or $49.95 Pro. ArtPatt is the alternative when you are on a Mac, an iPad or a phone, when you mainly want a photo turned into a chart rather than a design studio, or when you stitch other crafts too: it runs in the browser, places backstitch for you and makes patterns for 16 crafts. The chart preview is free and the PDF is $2.99.
Updated
Why stitchers look past PCStitch
No Windows PC
PCStitch lists Windows 7 and higher as its supported platform. ArtPatt runs in Safari, Chrome or Edge on a Mac, iPad, Android phone or Chromebook, with nothing to install.
Photo first, not a design studio
PCStitch's image import is one tool among many in a full design program with libraries, fonts and specialty stitches. ArtPatt is built around the photo: it matches DMC colours, controls confetti, and draws backstitch along faces, text and edges automatically, then lets you edit stitches.
Pay per pattern instead of buying software
PCStitch is a one-time purchase that pays off if you design a lot. For a few patterns a year, ArtPatt is cheaper: the full chart preview is free and a printable PDF is $2.99.
Crochet, knitting and diamond painting from the same photo
PCStitch is for cross stitch. ArtPatt makes C2C, tapestry and mosaic crochet graphs, knitting charts, diamond painting drill charts, needlepoint, Perler beads and more — 16 crafts in all.
PCStitch and ArtPatt compared
- Price
- PCStitch: PCStitch Standard $39.95, PCStitch Pro $49.95, one-time
- ArtPatt: Free to make and preview one pattern a week, no sign-up. Printable PDF $2.99 per pattern, or Pro $6.99/month or $39.99/year
- Free version
- PCStitch: Full evaluation, no time limit; saving disabled until you buy
- ArtPatt: One new pattern a week, full chart preview free
- Runs on
- PCStitch: Windows 7 and higher
- ArtPatt: Any browser: Mac, Windows, iPad, Android, iPhone, Chromebook
- Photo to chart
- PCStitch: Import wizard: size, number of colours, floss brand
- ArtPatt: Photo to chart with DMC matching, confetti control and automatic backstitch
- Thread brands
- PCStitch: DMC, Anchor, Kreinik and Coats floss lists
- ArtPatt: DMC (489 colours); yarn and bead palettes for other crafts
- Stitches
- PCStitch: Full, half, 1/4, 3/4, backstitch, 60+ specialty stitches, Mill Hill beads
- ArtPatt: Full, three-quarter, half and quarter stitches, backstitch, French knots
- Design library
- PCStitch: 2,000+ library patterns, 100+ fonts, borders
- ArtPatt: Text and lettering tools, free pattern library
- Crafts
- PCStitch: Cross stitch
- ArtPatt: 16, including crochet, knitting, diamond painting, needlepoint and Perler beads
| Feature | PCStitch | ArtPatt |
|---|---|---|
| Price | PCStitch Standard $39.95, PCStitch Pro $49.95, one-time | Free to make and preview one pattern a week, no sign-up. Printable PDF $2.99 per pattern, or Pro $6.99/month or $39.99/year |
| Free version | Full evaluation, no time limit; saving disabled until you buy | One new pattern a week, full chart preview free |
| Runs on | Windows 7 and higher | Any browser: Mac, Windows, iPad, Android, iPhone, Chromebook |
| Photo to chart | Import wizard: size, number of colours, floss brand | Photo to chart with DMC matching, confetti control and automatic backstitch |
| Thread brands | DMC, Anchor, Kreinik and Coats floss lists | DMC (489 colours); yarn and bead palettes for other crafts |
| Stitches | Full, half, 1/4, 3/4, backstitch, 60+ specialty stitches, Mill Hill beads | Full, three-quarter, half and quarter stitches, backstitch, French knots |
| Design library | 2,000+ library patterns, 100+ fonts, borders | Text and lettering tools, free pattern library |
| Crafts | Cross stitch | 16, including crochet, knitting, diamond painting, needlepoint and Perler beads |
PCStitch details checked on pcstitch.com on 29 October 2026. See the ArtPatt pricing for what each plan includes.
Other PCStitch alternatives
FlossCross suits you when you design charts stitch by stitch, want everything free, and work with OXS files from WinStitch or MacStitch. It is a capable editor for designers who already know what they want to draw.
Stitchmate suits you when you stitch with Anchor, Cosmo, Madeira or hand-dyed floss, sell patterns and want your own branding on the PDF, or want a desktop app that works offline. Its FLOW score and confetti cleanup are well made.
Stitch Fiddle suits you when you design your own motifs stitch by stitch, want written row instructions for knitting or crochet, or like to share charts and work on them with friends. It also covers quilts, pixel macrame and latch hook as drawing grids.
WinStitch suits you when you design and sell original charts on a Mac or Windows computer and want layers, motifs, colourways, specialty stitches, a skein stock list and chart import from PCStitch .pat files.
Pic2Pat gives you a free photo to cross stitch PDF, with an optional floss and fabric kit.
PCStitch Alternative FAQ
What is a good alternative to PCStitch?
On a Mac, WinStitch's sister program MacStitch is the closest desktop match. If you want to turn photos into charts without installing anything, ArtPatt runs in any browser, places backstitch automatically and also makes crochet, knitting and diamond painting patterns; the preview is free and the PDF $2.99. FlossCross is a free browser editor for drawing charts by hand.
Does PCStitch work on a Mac or iPad?
PCStitch lists Windows 7 and higher as its supported platform; there is no Mac or iPad version on pcstitch.com. Mac users usually choose MacStitch or a browser tool such as ArtPatt, which also runs on iPad.
Is PCStitch free?
No. PCStitch Standard is $39.95 and PCStitch Pro $49.95 (pcstitch.com price list, October 2026). The free evaluation is the full program with no time limit, but saving is disabled until you buy an unlock key.
Can ArtPatt open PCStitch .pat files?
No. ArtPatt starts from a photo or a blank grid. MacStitch and WinStitch can open .pat files from PCStitch versions 4 to 7.