RowCounter › Guide
Is there a knitting row counter app for iPhone without a subscription?
Yes. Some row counters for iPhone are free or a one-time purchase, while others charge a subscription. RowCounter is free for one project with every counting feature, and a single $3.99 payment unlocks unlimited projects. The table below compares price models as listed on each app's own App Store page.
How to count rows and stitches without losing your place
- Split the project into sections. Body, sleeve, brim: count each on its own and add them up, rather than typing one big running number.
- Count stitches per row only if the pattern needs it. Reset the stitch count at the end of every row.
- Note repeats up front. "Decrease every 6th row" is easier to follow as a reminder on row 6, 12, 18 than as a sum in your head.
- Count at the same moment each row. For example at the end of the row, so an interrupted row is easy to spot.
- Keep the pattern and counter together. A highlighter on the current line of the pattern stops you re-reading from the top.
- Make undo easy. Everyone taps once too often sometimes.
How iPhone row counter apps compare on price
| RowCounter | My Row Counter | Loopsy | knitCompanion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, $3.99 one-time | Free + $2.99/mo or $9.99 to $14.99/yr | Free + $4.99 to $99.99 (tiers) | Free + $29.99 one-time |
| Subscription | No | Yes | Yes (tiered, $4.99 to $99.99) | No |
Facts from each app's own App Store listing and in-app purchase page, accessed 2026-09-25, US App Store, USD. Not compared: account requirements and other features, which were not independently verified.
About RowCounter
RowCounter counts rows and stitches in the same section and rolls every section into one project total automatically. You can add a count from the Lock Screen, Control Center or an Action Button without unlocking the phone. Free: one project, unlimited sections and every counting feature. One-time $3.99: unlimited projects, a PDF and photo pattern viewer with a line highlighter, and project time tracking. No subscription, no ads, no account; projects stay on your iPhone.
Coming soon to the App Store
Frequently asked questions
- Is there a free row counter for knitting on iPhone?
- Yes. RowCounter is free to download with one project, unlimited sections and all counting features, including the Lock Screen, Control Center and widget.
- Does a row counter need a subscription?
- Not always. Some apps charge subscriptions; RowCounter does not. A one-time $3.99 payment unlocks unlimited projects, the pattern viewer and time tracking.
- Can I count without unlocking my phone?
- Yes. RowCounter has a Lock Screen Live Activity with +1 and -1, a Control Center control and an Action Button shortcut.
- Can one counter track rows and stitches?
- Yes. Turn on stitch counting for a section and the stitch count resets when it reaches the row's stitch target.
- Does it work for crochet too?
- Yes. It counts rows, stitches and sections, which suits knitting and crochet.