Comparisons / WinStitch
WinStitch vs Cross-Stitch.com: Veteran Desktop Software vs Free Browser Editor
WinStitch
Windows desktop software (with a companion Mac version, MacStitch) from Ursa Software — a one-time purchase, around £46, with optional paid yearly upgrades. Decades of development behind it: converts photos or hand-drawn art, prints up to A2, calculates thread quantities, exports PDF, and even supports diamond painting and crochet chart output. A free demo is available before buying.
Cross-Stitch.com
A free browser-based photo-to-pattern converter and editor — cross-stitch only, no install, works on a phone or tablet as easily as a laptop. Nothing to buy: converting a photo and editing the result are free with no account, and even the PDF download is free right now (account required to save/download).
Feature comparison
| WinStitch | Cross-Stitch.com | |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Windows/Mac desktop app, install required | ✅ Browser-based — any device, nothing to install |
| Photo → pattern | ✅ | ✅ |
| DMC color-matching accuracy control | Not advertised as a feature | ✅ Choose Standard, Better, or Best Color Match before converting |
| Try before you buy | Free demo (limited) | ✅ Full converter and editor, free, no account |
| Price | One-time ~£46 (regional tax varies), optional paid yearly upgrades | ✅ Free right now, no paid tier live yet |
| Free pattern catalog to browse | ❌ | ✅ Thousands, free |
| Use on phone/tablet while stitching | ❌ Desktop only | ✅ Any device, plus Stitch Mode progress tracking |
| Max print size | ✅ Up to A2 | Standard letter/A4 PDF pages |
Where WinStitch wins
WinStitch has nearly three decades of refinement behind it — specialty stitch types, large-format A2 printing, and file compatibility going back to old PCStitch charts are the kind of depth a young browser tool can't match yet. If you already own a large existing library of charts in older formats, that compatibility alone may be worth the one-time price.
Where Cross-Stitch.com is different
I built this after years of squinting at paper charts under a lamp, my hands stiff with mild arthritis by evening — I wanted a chart I could pull up on a tablet propped against the kettle, zoom into without holding anything flat, and pick back up mid-row without losing my place. A one-time desktop purchase makes sense if you're settling in for the long haul with one machine; a free browser tool makes more sense if you want to try converting a photo right now, on whatever screen is in front of you, without installing anything or paying first.
Bottom line
If you want to see a real pattern from your own photo in the next two minutes, without installing anything or reaching for a card, try the free converter. If you're after specialty stitch types, A2-format printing, or you're already deep in the WinStitch ecosystem, its maturity is hard to argue with.
Try the free converter →Frequently asked questions
- Do I have to install anything to use Cross-Stitch.com?
- No — it runs entirely in your browser, on desktop, tablet, or phone. WinStitch is a Windows/Mac desktop application you install after purchase.
- Is there a free way to try WinStitch?
- Yes, Ursa Software offers a free demo, though the full version is a one-time purchase (around £46, regional tax may vary). Cross-Stitch.com's converter and editor are free to use with no purchase.
- Can I use Cross-Stitch.com on my phone while stitching?
- Yes — the editor works on any device, and Stitch Mode lets you mark stitched cells and pick up where you left off, even on a different device. WinStitch is desktop-only.
Other comparisons
Facts about WinStitch last verified 2026-07-30 against their own site. WinStitch pricing/features verified against ursasoftware.com on 2026-07-30. Pricing and features change — if something here looks out of date, let us know.