# Perlypop vs Planbead

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Perlypop at 454 against Planbead's 16. Perlypop also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). Planbead's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs fortnightly) and review sentiment (92% vs 78%). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Perlypop sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Planbead sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Perlypop holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Perlypop has 454 ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 78% of Perlypop's written reviews are positive against 92% of Planbead's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Perlypop ships an update fortnightly, Planbead every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Perlypop | Planbead |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (454 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/perlypop-perler-beads/id1450794449/reviews)** | [4.6 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planbead/id6741919764/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **454** | 16 |
| Positive reviews | 77.9% of reviews | **92.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Freemium** |
| Size | 48 MB | 88 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Subtlabs](https://appshunter.io/developer/1124491603) | [Alexander Monneret](https://appshunter.io/developer/1773421973) |

## What reviewers say

### Perlypop

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/perlypop-perler-beads/id1450794449)

Easily create custom fuse bead patterns from photos or by drawing. Supports various bead brands and sizes, with tools to help you visualize and track your progress. Export designs as printable PDFs.

**Highlights:** Create patterns from photos, Draw custom designs, Supports Perler, Hama, Artkal, Nabbi beads, Midi and Mini bead sizes, Export as printable PDF, Track project progress

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Special Offer | $19.99 | one-time |
| Full Version | $75.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Best app for perler/fuse bead designs
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 🎨 Excellent customization options
- 💡 Helpful features like color swapping and bead count
- 🎨 Supports multiple bead brands (Perler, Artkal, Hama)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Paid features behind paywall
- 🐛 Occasional crashes or bugs
- 🔍 Limited support for smaller projects
- 🎨 Struggles with converting some images accurately

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on certain iPad models after updates
- Issues with converting transparent images or sprites
- Inconsistent color matching when importing images

**Requested features**

- Ability to order supplies directly from the app
- Option to save and share custom palettes
- Support for larger pattern sizes (over 10 boards)
- Improved printing/export options
- Integration with other design/art apps


### Planbead

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planbead/id6741919764)

Design and create intricate beaded jewelry with a comprehensive set of free drawing tools. Manage your bead inventory, explore various beading stitches, and utilize a revolutionary weaving mode that guides you on-screen. Access weekly inspiration and an optional premium subscription for advanced features like 3D previews and cloud sync.

**Highlights:** Free drawing features, Miyuki color palette, Bead inventory management, Multiple beading stitches, On-screen weaving mode, Weekly inspiration patterns, 3D previews (premium)

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gold Membership – 1 Month | $9.99 | per month |
| Platinum Membership – 1 Year | $49.99 | per year |
| Planbead 5 Gems | $0.99 | one-time |
| Planbead 10 Gems | $1.99 | one-time |
| Planbead 50 Gems | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Perlypop free?

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

### Is Planbead free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Perlypop or Planbead?

Perlypop is rated higher. Perlypop averages 4.7 out of 5 from 454 ratings, while Planbead averages 4.6 from 16 ratings.

### Do Perlypop or Planbead have ads?

Neither Perlypop nor Planbead shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Perlypop or Planbead?

Perlypop ships an update fortnightly, and Planbead every 5 days. Most recently, Perlypop was updated on November 2, 2026 and Planbead on November 4, 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.*