Pattern Keeper is the undisputed king of pattern tracking. If you already have a library of PDF patterns and simply want the best possible stitching experience, Pattern Keeper remains one of the easiest recommendations in the hobby.
However, Pattern Keeper was built around consuming patterns, not creating them. StitchThis expands beyond tracking to support the entire creative journey: designing new patterns from photos, managing your floss stash, organizing projects, and connecting with a community of fellow stitchers.
StitchThis also introduces StitchSense, an intelligent pattern-generation system designed to solve one of cross-stitch's oldest frustrations: preserving the details that matter while minimizing distracting confetti in less important areas. While Pattern Keeper helps you stitch patterns beautifully, StitchThis helps you create better patterns to begin with.
And for designers selling their work, StitchThis adds FORGE — a batch-generation workflow that produces dozens of pattern variations in one run, automatically scored so the keeper rises to the top. For hobbyists who want more than just a PDF reader, StitchThis becomes the natural next step.
Twelve features compared honestly. StitchThis covers 11 of 12; Pattern Keeper is best at what it specializes in.
| Feature | StitchThis | Pattern Keeper |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | ✓ | ✗ |
| Photo-to-pattern | ✓ | ✗ |
| Freehand designer | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pattern import | ✓ | ✓ |
| Smart detail preservation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Floss stash tracker | ✓ | ✓ |
| In-app stitch tracker | ✓ | ✓ |
| Advanced image tools | ✓ | ✗ |
| Batch generation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Commercial use | ✓ | ✓ |
| Community forum | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile-native app | ✗ | ✓ |
StitchThis wins at
Pattern creation, StitchSense quality preservation, floss stash, in-browser stitch tracker, advanced image tools, FORGE batch generation for designers, and community forum — all accessible from any browser, free to start.
Pattern Keeper wins at
Pattern Keeper is the dedicated tracker that has defined the mobile category on iOS and Android. Best for stitchers who already have a PDF library and want a pure tracking experience, with no creation, stash, or community features.
No credit card. 2 AI-generated patterns per month, full pattern viewer + stitch tracker, floss stash management, and community access on every account.
Start with the free tier