The short answer
Want patterns, a row counter, notes and your stash in one app? Choose Knit&Note. Have a big collection of PDF patterns and love complex charts? knitCompanion is built around charts and PDFs. Want to buy interactive patterns one at a time, especially crochet? Look at Ribblr. Live in Ravelry? Stash2Go connects to your account. And if all you need is a counter, a simple row counter app will do.
Knit&Note
Best for: Patterns, tools and stash in one place
Patterns: Library included with Premium, plus your own PDFs
Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Android
knitCompanion
Best for: Complex charts and big PDF collections
Patterns: Your own PDFs, with Ravelry and Dropbox import
Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android
Ribblr
Best for: Interactive patterns, strong on crochet
Patterns: Patterns bought in its store
Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Android
YarnBuddy
Best for: Simple tracking on Apple devices
Patterns: Your own PDFs from iCloud, Photos, Ravelry or the web
Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Stash2Go
Best for: Knitters who live in Ravelry
Patterns: Your Ravelry library
Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android (separate app)
Row counter apps
Best for: Counting and nothing else
Patterns: Varies, some import PDFs
Platforms: iPhone and Android
The apps, one by one
Knit&Note
Knit&Note puts the whole project in one place: a library of modern Scandinavian patterns, a reader that shows only your size, a row counter and highlighter inside the pattern, notes on the row, and your yarn and needle stash. You can add your own PDFs too, and there’s an in-app yarn shop. Free to download, with Premium as a subscription that includes the pattern library. Best for knitters who want less admin and more knitting.
knitCompanion
A tracker for patterns you already own. It’s known for chart tools, counters and markers, and it can import from Ravelry and Dropbox. Free to try, with paid upgrades in the app. Best for experienced knitters with large PDF collections and lots of charts.
Ribblr
A pattern store and community built around interactive patterns, with sizes, videos and progress tracking inside each pattern. It’s especially popular with crocheters and also covers knitting and sewing. The app is free and you buy patterns in its store. Best if you enjoy picking patterns one at a time.
YarnBuddy
A tidy row counter and stash tracker for Apple devices. It imports patterns from iCloud, Photos, Ravelry and the web, and has highlighter bars and Apple Watch support. Free, with a Pro upgrade as a subscription or a one-time lifetime purchase. Not available on Android.
Stash2Go
A companion app for Ravelry. It connects to your Ravelry account so you can see your stash, projects and library on the go, with counters and PDF viewing. Free with ads, with paid upgrades. Best for knitters who already keep everything in Ravelry.
Row counter apps
Apps like My Row Counter do one thing well: counting. Many add PDF import, voice control and several counters per project, usually with a subscription for the extras. Best if you already have your patterns sorted and just want the count.
How to choose the right knitting app
Start with where your patterns come from. If you already own a big library of PDFs and rarely buy new ones, pick an app that’s great at reading your own files. If you’re always looking for the next project, an app with patterns included will save you money and time.
Then think about how you knit. Complex lace or colorwork charts call for strong chart tools. Sweaters and cardigans in several sizes are much easier when the app shows only your size. And if you knit several projects at once, make sure every project keeps its own count and notes.
Finally, check your phone. Some trackers are Apple only, so Android knitters have fewer options.
When another app might suit you better
If you knit mostly from complex charts and want advanced chart tools, knitCompanion is built for that. If you mainly crochet and want a big store of crochet patterns, Ribblr has more of them today. And if you’d rather pay once than subscribe, look for an app with a lifetime option.
Where Knit&Note shines is the everyday project: finding a pattern you love, knitting it in your size, and opening it again next week without hunting for your place.
FAQ
What is the best free knitting app?
Most knitting apps are free to download and charge for extras. If you only need a counter, a free row counter app is enough. Knit&Note is free to download, and Premium adds the full pattern library.
What is the best knitting app for beginners?
Look for beginner patterns and video help. Knit&Note has beginner-friendly patterns, video tutorials and a reader that shows only your size, which takes a lot of the confusion out of a first sweater.
What is the best knitting app for iPhone and iPad?
For patterns, a row counter and your stash in one app, Knit&Note. For complex charts, knitCompanion. For a tracker that also runs on Apple Watch, YarnBuddy.
What is the best knitting app for Android?
Knit&Note, knitCompanion and Ribblr are good picks on Android, and Stash2Go has a separate Android app. YarnBuddy is Apple only.
Is there an official Ravelry app?
No. Ravelry is a website, and it says there is no official app. You can download your Ravelry PDFs and open them in a knitting app like Knit&Note, or use a Ravelry companion app.
Which knitting apps also work for crochet?
Knit&Note, knitCompanion and Ribblr all support crochet, and Ribblr is the most crochet-focused of the three. Check the store listing for the others.
Keep exploring
Checked in October 2026 against each app’s App Store and Google Play listing. Features and prices change, so check the store before you decide. Ravelry is a trademark of Ravelry, LLC, and the other app names belong to their owners.