# Beads Creator vs smART pixelator 2.0

The clearest difference is rating: smART pixelator 2.0 at 5.0 against Beads Creator's 4.5. smART pixelator 2.0 also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). Beads Creator's advantage is ratings volume (1.5K vs 1). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Beads Creator sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. smART pixelator 2.0 asks for nothing beyond the download.

smART pixelator 2.0 holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Beads Creator has 1.5K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Beads Creator ships an update every 2 months, smART pixelator 2.0 every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Beads Creator | smART pixelator 2.0 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beads-creator-bead-patterns/id1235585928/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-pixelator-20/id6480178795/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.5K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 74.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 49 MB | 69 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Takayuki Miyagawa](https://appshunter.io/developer/894301276) | [FlyCatcher Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/841991396) |

## What reviewers say

### Beads Creator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beads-creator-bead-patterns/id1235585928)

Design custom fuse bead and Perler bead patterns with an intuitive pixel art editor. Import images to create patterns or use the bead list to track colors and quantities. Supports multiple bead brands and sizes.

**Highlights:** Pixel art style editing, Create patterns from images, Supports multiple bead brands, Bead list for color and quantity tracking, Cross-stitch pattern design, Supports 6 bead types

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Helpful for creating bead designs
- 🎨 Variety of colors and bead types
- 🔍 Useful for visualizing patterns

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and loses progress
- 🔍 Limited grid sizes and shapes
- 🎨 Lacking some common bead colors
- 📱 Orientation constraints on iPad

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to delete saved patterns
- Inconsistent behavior when adding beads

**Requested features**

- Copy/paste design elements
- Larger and custom grid sizes
- Import image to convert to pattern
- Fused bead view for final look
- Ability to edit bead colors


### smART pixelator 2.0

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-pixelator-20/id6480178795)

This companion app uses light technology and step-by-step instructions to help children create 2D and 3D pixelated designs using beads or pegs. It encourages creativity, fine motor skills, and spatial awareness, allowing users to customize colors and sizes for endless crafting activities.

**Highlights:** Step-by-step pixel art instructions, 2D and 3D project creation, Use with beads or pegs, Photo import and pixelation, Customizable colors and sizes, Bluetooth connectivity

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Beads Creator free?

Beads Creator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is smART pixelator 2.0 free?

smART pixelator 2.0 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Beads Creator or smART pixelator 2.0?

smART pixelator 2.0 is rated higher. Beads Creator averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while smART pixelator 2.0 averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Beads Creator or smART pixelator 2.0 have ads?

Beads Creator shows ads; smART pixelator 2.0 does not.

### Which is updated more often, Beads Creator or smART pixelator 2.0?

Beads Creator ships an update every 2 months, and smART pixelator 2.0 every 6 weeks. Most recently, Beads Creator was updated on October 21, 2026 and smART pixelator 2.0 on October 6, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*