# BeadsDesign vs PixelPencil

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BeadsDesign at none against PixelPencil's 1. BeadsDesign also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). PixelPencil's advantage is review sentiment (79% vs 55%). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PixelPencil sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. BeadsDesign asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for BeadsDesign against 4.6 for PixelPencil. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 65 and 110 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 55% of BeadsDesign's written reviews are positive against 79% of PixelPencil's.

BeadsDesign ships an update every 3 weeks, PixelPencil every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BeadsDesign | PixelPencil |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (65 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beadsdesign/id601626010/reviews)** | [4.6 (110 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixelpencil-pixel-art-editor/id1584616836/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 65 | **110** |
| Positive reviews | 55.1% of reviews | **78.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 13 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [HIDEHIKO NAGANO](https://appshunter.io/developer/569036928) | [Yosuke Seki](https://appshunter.io/developer/824851972) |

## What reviewers say

### BeadsDesign

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beadsdesign/id601626010)

Create pixel art designs for iron beads and bead weaving. Import photos, scan them into a canvas, and use various tools to edit and export your creations. Supports multiple panel shapes and color manipulation.

**Highlights:** Photo import and editing, Photo scanning onto canvas, Multiple panel shapes, Zoom, pan, and color selection tools, Flood fill and undo/redo functionality, Color replacement and grayscale conversion, Export designs to photo library

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### PixelPencil

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixelpencil-pixel-art-editor/id1584616836)

Create pixel art with a robust set of tools, including layers, blend modes, and various brushes. Easily zoom, rotate, and manage multiple projects. Export your creations as animated GIFs.

**Highlights:** Layer editing with grouping and blend modes, Comprehensive set of drawing tools, Undo/Redo functionality, Animated GIF export, Color creation tools, Pinch-to-zoom and canvas rotation, Save multiple works with iCloud support

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BeadsDesign free?

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

### Is PixelPencil free?

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

### Which has better reviews, BeadsDesign or PixelPencil?

BeadsDesign is rated higher. BeadsDesign averages 4.7 out of 5 from 65 ratings, while PixelPencil averages 4.6 from 110 ratings.

### Do BeadsDesign or PixelPencil have ads?

Both BeadsDesign and PixelPencil show ads.

### Which is updated more often, BeadsDesign or PixelPencil?

BeadsDesign ships an update every 3 weeks, and PixelPencil every 2 weeks. Most recently, BeadsDesign was updated on October 29, 2026 and PixelPencil on October 21, 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.*