The best crochet app keeps your place in a pattern, counts rows for you and helps you organise projects and yarn. Choose by what you need most: a simple row counter, a pattern companion for PDFs, beginner lessons, a pattern community or a chart maker. Nine apps follow in no particular order.
Losing count halfway through a row is a rite of passage for every crocheter, and so is losing your place in a pattern. A crochet app solves both, and the best ones help you learn new stitches and keep your growing yarn stash under control too.
The nine apps below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, from simple row counters to pattern companions, communities and chart makers. Each description comes from the app's own App Store listing, re-checked this week. If you enjoy creative prompts for your next make, my art prompts might spark an idea, and my research and free tools has more guides.
Crochet apps compared
In the free plan column, Yes means the app's own listing describes free use or a free download, Trial only means a time-limited trial and No means neither is stated on the pages we read. Most crochet apps keep extra patterns or features in a premium plan.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy Knitty | Row counter | A big, simple counter | Yes |
| knitCompanion | Pattern companion | Working complex patterns | Yes |
| LoopCraft | Beginner patterns | Learning first stitches | Yes |
| Loopsy | Project tracker | Tracking yarn stash | Yes |
| My Row Counter | Row counter | Counting rows on a PDF | Yes |
| Ribblr | Pattern community | Patterns from real makers | Yes |
| Stitch Fiddle | Chart maker | Turning photos into charts | Yes |
| YarnPal | Project tracker | Projects and stitches | Yes |
| Yarnzy | Pattern app | Pattern ideas | Yes |
Nine crochet apps
Easy Knitty
Best for: Makers who just want a big, easy row counter they can tap without looking.
knitCompanion
Best for: Experienced makers following complex patterns across knitting, crochet and cross stitch, all kept in one app.
LoopCraft
Best for: Complete beginners who want simple patterns and clear stitch guides to get their first project started.
Loopsy
Best for: Makers with a growing yarn stash who want counters, patterns and stash in one app.
My Row Counter
Best for: People who work from PDF patterns and want a counter next to the pattern itself.
Ribblr
Best for: Crocheters who want patterns and a community built around real makers rather than machine-made designs.
Stitch Fiddle
Best for: Designers who want to turn a photo or idea into a colour chart for crochet or cross stitch.
YarnPal
Best for: Hobby crocheters who want to learn new stitches and keep projects and yarn stash organised in one place.
Yarnzy
Best for: Pattern hunters looking for fresh crochet and knitting ideas, plus a few embroidery projects to try.
Two things to check before you start a pattern
The Craft Yarn Council's Standard Yarn Weight System groups yarns into numbered categories, from fine threads and fingering yarns up to super bulky and jumbo yarns, and the Council also publishes guidance on crochet term differences between the US, the UK and Canada.
What that means for you: check that your yarn's weight symbol matches the pattern, and check whether the pattern uses US or UK terms. The same stitch name means different things on each side of the Atlantic, and mixing them up changes the whole fabric.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Counter, pattern companion or community?
Row counter apps do one job brilliantly: tap to count rows and repeats without losing track. Pattern companions open PDF patterns with highlighters and counters alongside, which helps with complex designs. Learning apps teach stitches and simple projects for beginners. Community apps bring patterns from designers and makers, and chart makers turn photos or ideas into colour charts.
Many crocheters use a counter every day and a pattern app when starting something new. If you're new to crochet, don't worry about having the perfect app on day one. A basic counter and one beginner pattern will teach you more than a dozen apps you've barely opened. Once you've finished a few projects, you'll know whether you need help reading patterns, tracking yarn or designing your own, and you can choose an app that fits.
Starting a new project smoothly
- Check the yarn weight and hook size the pattern asks for.
- Check whether the pattern uses US or UK terms.
- Make a small gauge swatch and compare it with the pattern.
- Load the pattern into your app and mark your size.
- Set up counters for rows and repeats.
- Note any changes you make so you can repeat them.
Mistakes that slow crocheters down
- Skipping the swatch. Your project can end up the wrong size.
- Mixing up terms. Check US or UK before the first stitch.
- Not marking repeats. Counters for repeats save frogging later.
- Buying yarn without checking weight. Match the symbol to the pattern.
Keeping your yarn stash under control
Yarn has a way of multiplying. Logging your stash in an app, with weight, colour, fibre and amount, makes it easy to find the right yarn for a pattern and stops you buying more of what you already have. Add a photo of each skein and you'll be able to plan projects from your sofa.
Do you make a crochet app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a crochet app
If you're a beginner, choose an app that teaches stitches with simple patterns, plus a basic row counter. If you work from PDF patterns, a pattern companion that keeps your place will save you hours of frustration.
And always check terms and yarn weight before you start. Most crochet disasters come from a UK pattern read with US terms, or the wrong weight of yarn, not from a lack of skill. A good app helps you keep track, but those two checks keep the project right from the first row.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best crochet app?
A row counter for everyday use, a pattern companion for PDFs or a learning app if you're a beginner.
Are crochet apps free?
All nine here are free to download, with extra patterns or features in some premium plans.
What is the difference between US and UK crochet terms?
The same stitch names mean different stitches. The Craft Yarn Council publishes guidance on the differences.
What do yarn weight numbers mean?
The Craft Yarn Council's system groups yarns into numbered categories from fine threads up to jumbo yarns.
Can an app read PDF patterns?
Some pattern companion apps open PDFs and add counters and highlighters alongside.
Do I need a gauge swatch?
For fitted items, yes. A swatch shows whether your stitches match the pattern's size.
