APP GUIDE
The best knitting apps in 2026, compared
There are lots of knitting apps, and most of them can count rows. The difference is how they feel at row 147 of a sleeve, with needles in both hands and a pattern that says “decrease every 6th row 8 times.”
Full disclosure: we make CozyKnit, so we’re not neutral. We’ve kept what we say about other apps to the facts they publish about themselves, checked in November 2026, and said where we think another app is the better choice.
The short answer
| App | Best for | Platforms | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| CozyKnit | A counter that guides you through each project, plus patterns and stash | iPhone, iPad | Free, no ads. Optional Pro subscription |
| knitCompanion | Complex charts and large PDF pattern collections | iPhone, iPad, Android | Free Basics, paid upgrades in the app |
| Ribblr | Interactive patterns, especially crochet | iPhone, iPad, Android, web | Free app, patterns free or paid |
| YarnBuddy | Simple project tracking on Apple devices | iPhone, iPad | Free up to 10 projects, Pro by subscription or one-time purchase |
| BeeCount | A free, no-frills counter on Android | Android | Free, open source, no ads |
Prices and features change. Check each app’s store listing for what’s current in your country.
What to watch for in a knitting app
Most knitting apps started as something else, like a pattern reader, a Ravelry companion or a project database, and added a row counter later. That shapes how they feel to use. Here’s what we hear from knitters most often, and what to check before you commit a project to an app.
Does it take a week to learn?
Some apps put a lot of power behind a lot of menus. That’s great once you know your way around, but it can mean watching tutorials before your first row. If you’re new to knitting, or you just want to count, look for an app you can start using in a minute: make a project, add a counter, tap.
“I like that it’s not a steep learning curve to get started like others are. Just a really simple, straightforward counter with a relaxing look to it.”
A CozyKnit review on the App Store
Can you hit the button without looking?
You tap a row counter mid-project, often with a needle in your hand, the phone propped on your knee or the arm of the couch. A small plus button tucked beside a pattern is easy to miss, and a missed tap means a recount. Look for big, forgiving buttons, ideally a full-screen mode, and a way to lock the counter so a bump doesn’t add a row.
Is the counter a tally, or a guide?
A basic counter only knows a number. But patterns don’t think in one number: they think in repeats, shaping, right-side and wrong-side rows, and “work 4 rows even.” If the counter doesn’t understand that, you’re doing the math in your head and the app is just a clicker. A good counter should tell you where you are:
- which row of the repeat you’re on, and how many repeats are done
- when the next increase or decrease is due, and how many stitches you should have
- whether you’re on a right-side or wrong-side row
- the instruction for the row you’re about to knit
See how to keep track of pattern repeats and how to space sleeve decreases for why this matters.
Will it remember everything?
You’ll put a project down for a month. When you come back, you want your count, your pattern, your yarn and your notes right where you left them, and synced to your other devices.
The apps, one by one
CozyKnit
Best for: knitters and crocheters who want a counter that guides them through each project, with patterns, yarn and notes in the same place.
We built CozyKnit around the counter, not the other way around. Repeat counters track your row in the repeat and repeats done. With Pro, shaping counters tell you when to increase or decrease and keep your stitch count, and row-by-row instructions show on the counter. Focus sessions turn the screen into one big button, and Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets let you count without opening the app. Projects, pattern PDFs and your yarn stash sync with iCloud.
Good to know: iPhone and iPad only, with no Android app. Free with no ads; CozyKnit Pro is a monthly or yearly subscription with a free trial for eligible new subscribers.
knitCompanion
Best for: working from complex charts and large PDF pattern collections.
knitCompanion is built around your pattern: you set up a PDF so you can follow charts and written instructions line by line, with counters alongside. It has been on the App Store since 2015.
Good to know: available on iPhone, iPad and Android. Free to download with a Basics tier, with paid upgrades in the app.
Ribblr
Best for: following interactive patterns, especially crochet.
Ribblr is a pattern marketplace with its own interactive pattern format, which can include row tracking, notes, video and sizing, depending on the designer. Your progress syncs across devices.
Good to know: the app is free on iPhone, iPad and Android, and works in a web browser. Patterns are free or paid, and the interactive features come with patterns in Ribblr’s own format.
YarnBuddy
Best for: simple project tracking on Apple devices.
YarnBuddy keeps projects, patterns, counters and yarn together in a clean, Apple-style app, made by an independent developer.
Good to know: iPhone and iPad. The free version allows up to 10 projects; YarnBuddy Pro removes the limit and is offered as a yearly subscription or a one-time purchase.
BeeCount
Best for: a free, simple row counter on Android.
BeeCount is a free, open-source counting app for Android, made with knitters in mind.
Good to know: Android only. Free with no ads.
What about Ravelry?
Ravelry doesn’t have an official app. Its website works in your phone’s browser, and several apps connect to it. If your whole knitting life lives in Ravelry, look for an app that syncs with your Ravelry account. CozyKnit can look up yarn on Ravelry to fill in your stash, but it doesn’t sync projects or download patterns.
When another app might suit you better
- You knit on Android. CozyKnit is Apple-only. Try BeeCount for counting, or knitCompanion or Ribblr for patterns.
- Your patterns are mostly big charts. knitCompanion’s chart tools are built for that.
- You mostly buy and follow crochet patterns. Ribblr’s interactive patterns are made for following along.
- You want a one-time purchase instead of a subscription. YarnBuddy offers one.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free knitting app?
For iPhone and iPad, CozyKnit’s row counter, repeat counter, widgets, focus sessions, pattern upload and yarn stash are free, with no ads. On Android, BeeCount is a free, ad-free counter.
What is the best knitting app for beginners?
Pick one you can start using right away, with big buttons and a counter that tells you which row you’re on. New to counting rows? Read how to use a row counter.
Is there a knitting app that also works for crochet?
Yes. CozyKnit, Ribblr and YarnBuddy all support crochet projects. CozyKnit adds crochet hook sizes and stitch presets like single, half double and double crochet.
Can I count rows without opening the app?
With CozyKnit you can count from Home Screen widgets and a Lock Screen card on iPhone.