Comparison

Threads Magazine vs Bobbin

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

Bobbin

Organize your sewing projects, patterns, and fabric stash. Create mood boards, document progress with photos and notes, and discover new patterns. Syncs across iPhone and iPad via iCloud.

Highlights
  • Mood board creation
  • Project management
  • Pattern and fabric cataloging
  • Import from web
  • Pattern discovery
  • iCloud sync
  • Family sharing
Features
Read full description

Bobbin is the all-in-one app that helps you at every step of the sewing process, from concept to closet. Note: A paid license is required to use Bobbin. Once your free trial ends, an in-app purchase will be required to continue using the app. Your free trial does not automatically convert into a paid license, so you won't be charged unexpectedly. Featuring: - Collage Mode, which allows you to make mood boards of your sewing ideas, with photos, text, drawings, and cutouts Use Projects to: - Manage every detail of the sewing process - Consider patterns and fabrics side-by-side - Document your sewing project with photos and notes - Keep track of ongoing sewing projects by status Use Stash to: - Catalog your entire stash of sewing patterns and fabrics in an easy-to-use interface - Save time by automatically capturing sewing product details from a URL using Bobbin’s ‘Import from web’ feature - Document pattern details like size, difficulty, source, and more - Document fabric details like width, length, color, fabric type, and more - Easily add sewing patterns and fabrics to projects - Add patterns and fabrics to your wishlist to purchase later - Archive patterns and fabrics once you’ve used them Use Explore to: - Find your next make with a growing database of over 5,000 sewing patterns - Browse from your favorite pattern sources, from the big name brands to indie pattern makers - Patterns may link out to purchase from the pattern maker directly; Bobbin does not publish actual sewing pattern files - Advanced search and filter to find exactly what you want to make And more: - Works on iPhone and iPad: Bobbin syncs your sewing projects and data, as long as it’s the same iCloud account - Share with family: Bobbin’s paid license (available via one in-app purchase) works with iCloud Family Sharing, allowing you to share with up to 5 others - Private by design: Bobbin will never display ads or collect user data More features coming in upcoming updates.

Screenshots

Threads Magazine4 screens
Bobbin4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Bobbin at 100% against Threads Magazine's 41%. Bobbin also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 7 months). Threads Magazine's advantage is ratings volume (320 vs 7) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 10 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 2 months and Bobbin sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Bobbin holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Threads Magazine has 320 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of Threads Magazine's written reviews are positive against 100% of Bobbin's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Threads Magazine ships an update every 7 months, Bobbin every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Threads Magazine versus Bobbin: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThreads MagazineBobbin
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (320 ratings)5.0 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews41.2% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings320 — better7
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size96 MB105 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperTaunton InteractiveDabble Product Company, LLC

Customer experience

Threads Magazine

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

Bobbin

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

Bobbin

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Threads Magazine

Subscriptions2
  • Threads Subscription$5.992 Months
  • Threads Subscription$29.991 Year
One-time8
  • Gifts to Make$2.99
  • December / January 2013$6.99
  • February / March 2013$6.99
Show 5 more
  • Fitting$6.99
  • Threads Classic Garment Sewing Skills$6.99
  • Make it Couture$8.99
  • SewStylish Fall Fashion 2014$8.99
  • Threads Handbags$8.99
3 purchases

Bobbin

One-time3
  • 30-Day Free TrialFree
  • Bobbin License$12.99
  • Bobbin License$14.99

Questions

Is Threads Magazine free?
Threads Magazine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Bobbin free?
Bobbin is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Threads Magazine or Bobbin?
Bobbin is rated higher. Threads Magazine averages 4.6 out of 5 from 320 ratings, while Bobbin averages 5.0 from 7 ratings.
Do Threads Magazine or Bobbin have ads?
Neither Threads Magazine nor Bobbin shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Threads Magazine or Bobbin?
Threads Magazine ships an update every 7 months, and Bobbin every 6 weeks. Most recently, Threads Magazine was updated on November 1, 2026 and Bobbin on October 30, 2026.

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