Comparison

AcuSketch vs dot Customizer

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

AcuSketch

Easily create embroidery designs by tracing on your iPad. Transform freehand drawings into stitches for handmade-looking crafts. Compatible with select sewing machines or export designs as jef+ files.

Highlights
  • Trace drawings to create stitch patterns
  • Freehand drawing for unique designs
  • Export designs as jef+ files
  • Connect to Wireless LAN sewing machines
  • Insert images for tracing
  • Stitch simulator
Read full description

The AcuSketch app allows you to create an embroidery design by tracing on the canvas displayed on the iPad screen with your finger or a stylus. You can send the embroidery design that you have created to Wireless LAN capable JANOME sewing machines or export the design to other applications as a jef+ file. AcuSketch Features: * Make handmade-looking work using stitches created from lines drawn freehand. * Make free-motion-quilting-like patterns and enjoy machine quilting. * As the lines drawn with your finger or a stylus become stitches, even people who are not good with computers or digitizing software can create designs and make embroidery data. * Simple to use and fun. Stitches: * Various stitch types. Basic stitch Single run stitches Line stitch pack (In-App Purchase) Triple stitch Zigzag stitch Stem stitch * Choose whether to add Locking stitches. * Adjust the length of the stitches. * Set the width of the stitches (only stitches with adjustable width). * Flip the stitches over (only stitches with adjustable width). * The stitches are sewn in order of drawing. Other Features: * Additional functionality when drawing lines. By starting to draw from the end of an existing line, you can extend lines. When you finish drawing a line, you can connect the end of the line with another one. * A function to insert images for tracing. * Save function for drawings. * Export function for embroidery designs. * Stitch simulator. Send embroidery design: * AcuSketch is compatible with the following sewing machine models: Please check the following web page: https://www7.janome.co.jp/global/softupdate/acusketch/ * Conditions: The iPad is connected to Wi-Fi. The sewing machine is connected to the same Wireless LAN access point as the iPad. * For iOS 14 or above, please allow the app access to find and connect to devices on your local network.

About

dot Customizer

Create and edit custom embroidery designs with a library of built-in patterns and fonts. Send designs wirelessly to compatible machines for stitching. Suitable for all skill levels, from beginners to experts.

Highlights
  • Create and edit embroidery designs
  • Wireless design transfer to machines
  • Combine designs with letters/words
  • 260 built-in embroidery designs
  • 13 different fonts
  • Beginner and advanced modes
  • Embroidery simulation and trace functions
Read full description

dot Customizer is a free application for using with compatible embroidery machines. With this app, you can create and edit embroidery designs and send them directly to the machine for embroidering. Great embroidery fun for everyone from beginners to experts!   What you can do: · Simply choose any of the built-in designs and send wirelessly to the embroidery machine for stitching out (no need for cords or USB sticks to transfer designs). · Combine embroidery designs with letters/words to create original designs. · Add embroidery to other projects. · Create original lettering designs with your favorite fonts. Main features: · 260 built-in embroidery designs from a range of categories · 12 different English fonts plus one Japanese font (incl. Kanji) · 2 different modes including easy-to-use "Beginner level" · A variety of editing functions: copy/paste/resize/stitch density adjustment/color selection/positioning etc. · Embroidery simulation and trace functions to check the position on the fabric before stitching out   Supported OS: iOS 12.0 or later   Supported screen size: 4.7 inches or larger

Screenshots

dot Customizer2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: dot Customizer at 3.1 against AcuSketch's 2.6. dot Customizer also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. AcuSketch sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. dot Customizer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

dot Customizer holds the better App Store score, 3.1 against 2.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 14 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 17% of AcuSketch's written reviews are positive against 23% of dot Customizer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AcuSketch ships an update every 4 months, dot Customizer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
AcuSketch versus dot Customizer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAcuSketchdot Customizer
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.6 (10 ratings)3.1 (14 ratings) — better
Positive reviews16.7% of reviews22.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1014 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS13.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size27 MB188 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJANOME CorporationDRAWstitch International Ltd.

Customer experience

AcuSketch

All ratings10 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive16.7%
Neutral8.3%
Negative75.0%

dot Customizer

All ratings14 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive22.7%
Neutral18.2%
Negative59.1%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

AcuSketch

One-time1
  • Line stitch pack$3.99
None

dot Customizer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is AcuSketch free?
AcuSketch is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is dot Customizer free?
dot Customizer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, AcuSketch or dot Customizer?
dot Customizer is rated higher. AcuSketch averages 2.6 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while dot Customizer averages 3.1 from 14 ratings.
Do AcuSketch or dot Customizer have ads?
Neither AcuSketch nor dot Customizer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AcuSketch or dot Customizer?
AcuSketch ships an update every 4 months, and dot Customizer every 2 months. Most recently, AcuSketch was updated on October 1, 2026 and dot Customizer on September 20, 2026.

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