# dot Customizer vs CREATIVATE

The clearest difference is rating: CREATIVATE at 4.4 against dot Customizer's 3.1. CREATIVATE also leads on ratings volume (384 vs 14). dot Customizer's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

CREATIVATE holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CREATIVATE has 384 ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 23% of dot Customizer's written reviews are positive against 18% of CREATIVATE's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

dot Customizer ships an update every 2 months, CREATIVATE every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | dot Customizer | CREATIVATE |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dot-customizer/id1338725482/reviews) | **[4.4 (384 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/creativate/id1548312728/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 14 | **384** |
| Positive reviews | **22.7% of reviews** | 18.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 188 MB | 374 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DRAWstitch International Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1236181242) | [VSM Group AB](https://appshunter.io/developer/444087287) |

## What reviewers say

### dot Customizer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dot-customizer/id1338725482)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### CREATIVATE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/creativate/id1548312728)

This app provides comprehensive guidance and tools for sewing, embroidery, quilting, and craft cutting. It offers step-by-step instructions, design customization, and integration with cutting machines to simplify creative projects.

**Highlights:** Step-by-step guidance, Stitch database, Quilt block design and preview, Craft design and cutting, Sewing machine setup and operation, Embroidery design editing and placement, Photo to embroidery conversion

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ PhotoStitch feature praised
- 📍 Design Positioning functionality works well
- 👁️ Visual preview before stitching saves time and materials
- 📱 Monitor function tracks embroidery progress
- 🎨 Useful for design creation and embroidery work

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezing
- ⚠️ Measurement unit selection screen broken/unresponsive
- 🔐 Login functionality severely broken
- ⏱️ Extremely slow performance
- 📱 Poor mobile optimization for smaller screens

**Reported bugs**

- Measurement unit selection dialog box cut off/not fully visible
- Unable to confirm measurement choice (mm/inches) - OK button unresponsive
- App freezes when accessing embroidery, crafting, or quilting tabs
- Login button missing or unresponsive
- Sign-in credentials field present but no submit button

**Requested features**

- Add missing sewing machine models to database
- Implement working print functionality
- Fix audible push notifications for monitor alerts
- Improve mobile app design capabilities
- Add support for older machine models (Epic 1, Designer Ruby 90, Topaz 50, etc.)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is dot Customizer free?

dot Customizer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is CREATIVATE free?

CREATIVATE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, dot Customizer or CREATIVATE?

CREATIVATE is rated higher. dot Customizer averages 3.1 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while CREATIVATE averages 4.4 from 384 ratings.

### Do dot Customizer or CREATIVATE have ads?

Neither dot Customizer nor CREATIVATE shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, dot Customizer or CREATIVATE?

dot Customizer ships an update every 2 months, and CREATIVATE every 5 weeks. Most recently, dot Customizer was updated on June 1, 2026 and CREATIVATE on September 23, 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.*