Comparison

Threads Magazine vs Bead Magazine

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

Head to head
About

Threads Magazine

Access comprehensive garment-sewing instruction on your iPad. This app offers digital delivery with enhanced features like searchable content, videos, and slideshows. It caters to all skill levels, from beginners to advanced sewers, covering all aspects of garment creation.

Highlights
  • Linkable and searchable content
  • Techniques videos
  • Slide shows
  • New trends
  • In-depth garment sewing instruction
  • Pattern adaptation and fitting advice
Read full description

Enjoy Threads – the best garment-sewing information anywhere – on your iPad. Convenient digital delivery includes unique bonus features and enhancements: linkable and searchable content, techniques videos, slide shows, new trends, and more. A FREE sample issue is included with the app. No other sewing brand delivers the caliber of garment-sewing instruction provided by Threads: in-depth information, tailored to suit beginners to advanced sewers. From learning sewing fundamentals to mastering advanced skills, Threads covers every aspect of garment sewing: inspiring ideas, patterns, fabrics, insider secrets and designer techniques for adapting patterns, fitting, tailoring, and embellishments. SUBSCRIPTION PLANS ARE AVAILABLE. Download the Threads Magazine app, then subscribe or buy issues individually. If you are currently a print subscriber or a paid Threads Insider, you can get access to digital editions FREE -- absolutely no extra cost. Simply sign in with your customer number or member email in the Settings tab. Auto-renewable Subscription plans: 1 year (6 issues) - $32.99(automatically renewed until canceled) 2 Months (1 issue) - $5.99 (automatically renewed until canceled) Single copies - $6.99 (not automatically renewed) Many of our other celebrated newsstand-only publications are available for individual purchase, including SewStylish and CraftStylish. - All purchases (inc. subscriptions) will be charged to your iTunes account at the confirmation of purchase. - Subscriptions will automatically renew within 24 hours of the end of the current subscription. - If you would like to cancel your subscription please do so before this 24 hour period by accessing your iTunes account settings. - Please be aware that subscriptions cannot be cancelled/refunded once purchased. - Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription. Terms of use: - All content in the Threads Magazine app is copyright Active Interest Media. All rights reserved. - Terms of use and privacy policy apply when accessing content via the Active Interest Media app. - Privacy Policy - https://www.aimmedia.com/privacy-policy/ - Terms of Use - https://www.aimmedia.com/terms-of-service/ // Credits Threads Magazine is published by Active Interest Media. iPhone/iPad application developed by Paperlit

About

Bead Magazine

Discover beautiful beadwork, wirework, and lampwork projects. This app offers stylish designs and tutorials for jewelry making enthusiasts. Explore new techniques and inspiration for your creative endeavors.

Highlights
  • Beadwork projects
  • Wirework tutorials
  • Lampwork designs
  • Stringing projects
  • Metal clay designs
  • Polymer clay designs
Features
Read full description

We love beading! If you love beading too then Bead is the magazine for you! Created by bead lovers, for bead lovers each issue of Bead is packed full of beautiful beadwork, wirework and stringing projects. Plus stylish and quality lampwork, metal clay, and polymer clay designs, and much more! ---------------------------------------------- This is a free app download. Within the app users can purchase the current issue and back issues. Subscriptions are also available within the application. A subscription will start from the latest regular issue at the time of purchase. -The subscription will renew automatically unless cancelled more than 24 hours before the end of the current period. You will be charged for renewal within 24 hours of the end of the current period, for the same duration and at the current subscription rate for the product. -You may turn off the auto-renewal of subscriptions through your Account Settings, however you are not able to cancel the current subscription during its active period. -Payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase and any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when a subscription to that publication is purchased. -If a subscription offers a free trial, at the end of the trial period, you will be charged the full price of the subscription. You may cancel a subscription during its free trial period via the subscription settings on your iTunes account. This must be done 24 hours before the end of the subscription period to avoid being charged. Users can register for/ login to a pocketmags account in-app. This will protect their issues in the case of a lost device and allow browsing of purchases on multiple platforms. Existing pocketmags users can retrieve their purchases by logging into their account. We recommend loading the app for the first time in a wi-fi area so that all issue data is retrieved. If your app will not load past the splash page after a first install or an update, please delete and reinstall the app from the App Store Help and frequently asked questions can be accessed in-app and on pocketmags. If you have any problems at all please do not hesitate to contact us: help@pocketmags.com -------------------- You can find our privacy policy here: http://www.pocketmags.com/privacy.aspx You can find our terms and conditions here: http://www.pocketmags.com/terms.aspx

Screenshots

Threads Magazine4 screens
Bead Magazine1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Threads Magazine at 4.6 against Bead Magazine's 3.4. Threads Magazine also leads on ratings volume (320 vs 16). On price, review sentiment, update cadence 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. Threads Magazine sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 2 months and Bead Magazine sells 23 in-app purchases, starting at $39.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Threads Magazine holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Threads Magazine has 320 ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 41% of Threads Magazine's written reviews are positive against 43% of Bead Magazine's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Threads Magazine ships an update every 7 months, Bead Magazine every 14 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Threads Magazine versus Bead Magazine: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThreads MagazineBead Magazine
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (320 ratings) — better3.4 (16 ratings)
Positive reviews41.2% of reviews42.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings320 — better16
Update frequencyEvery 7 months — betterEvery 14 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.013.0
Further details — not scored
Size96 MB19 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperTaunton InteractiveAshdown Broadcasting

Customer experience

Threads Magazine

All ratings318 ratings
Positive90.9%
Neutral1.6%
Negative7.5%
Written reviews102 reviews
Positive41.2%
Neutral10.8%
Negative48.0%

Bead Magazine

All ratings16 ratings
Positive56.3%
Neutral6.3%
Negative37.5%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive42.9%
Neutral14.3%
Negative42.9%

Bugs and requests

Threads Magazine

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes on launch
  • Unable to download/access purchased issues
  • Login issues and lost subscription access

Requested features

4 requests
  • Update app to support latest iOS versions
  • Improve stability and reliability
  • Provide better access to past/archived issues
  • Clarify subscription options and entitlements

Bead Magazine

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

13 purchases

Threads Magazine

Subscriptions3
  • Threads Subscription$5.992 Months
  • Threads Subscription$29.991 Year
  • 1 Year Subscription$29.991 Year
One-time10
  • Gifts to Make$2.99
  • December / January 2013$6.99
  • February / March 2013$6.99
Show 7 more
  • Fitting$6.99
  • Threads Classic Garment Sewing Skills$6.99
  • SewStylish Spring Fashion 2017$6.99
  • Threads October/November 2014$6.99
  • Make it Couture$8.99
  • SewStylish Fall Fashion 2014$8.99
  • Threads Handbags$8.99
23 purchases

Bead Magazine

Subscriptions1
  • Bead Magazine Auto-Renewable Subscription1 Month trial$39.991 Year
One-time22
  • Bead Issue 51$2.99
  • Bead Issue 53 (id:737062)$4.99
  • Bead Issue 50 (id:741773)$4.99
Show 19 more
  • Bead Issue 48 (id:739411)$4.99
  • Bead Issue 46 (id:741772)$4.99
  • Bead Issue 45 (id:738863)$4.99
  • Bead Issue 40 (id:740379)$4.99
  • Bead Issue 36 (id:740301)$4.99
  • Bead Issue 54 (id:738344)$4.99
  • Issue 126 (id:726372)$5.99
  • Issue 112 (id:782117)$5.99
  • Aug/Sep 20 (id:785123)$5.99
  • Issue 115 (id:780786)$5.99
  • Issue 117 (id:780782)$5.99
  • Issue 71 (id:798877)$6.99
  • Bead & Jewelle... (pp:1120060)$6.99
  • Issue 133 (pp:1083889)$6.99
  • Issue 129 (pp:1043386)$6.99
  • Issue 131 (pp:1043374)$6.99
  • Issue 132 (pp:1083898)$6.99
  • Bead Magazine 3 Back Issue Bundle$14.99
  • Bead & Jewellery CYC 50$89.99

Questions

Is Threads Magazine free?
Threads Magazine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Bead Magazine free?
Bead Magazine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Threads Magazine or Bead Magazine?
Threads Magazine is rated higher. Threads Magazine averages 4.6 out of 5 from 320 ratings, while Bead Magazine averages 3.4 from 16 ratings.
Do Threads Magazine or Bead Magazine have ads?
Neither Threads Magazine nor Bead Magazine shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Threads Magazine or Bead Magazine?
Threads Magazine ships an update every 7 months, and Bead Magazine every 14 months. Most recently, Threads Magazine was updated on October 23, 2026 and Bead Magazine on October 21, 2026.

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