# Bead Magazine vs Needleply

The clearest difference is rating: Needleply at 4.4 against Bead Magazine's 3.4. Needleply also leads on review sentiment (82% vs 43%) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 14 months). Bead Magazine's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.2). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bead Magazine sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Needleply sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Needleply holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 41 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of Bead Magazine's written reviews are positive against 82% of Needleply's.

Bead Magazine ships an update every 14 months, Needleply every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bead Magazine | Needleply |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.4 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bead-magazine/id616019934/reviews) | **[4.4 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/needleply/id1523300974/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 16 | **41** |
| Positive reviews | 42.9% of reviews | **82.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 19 MB | 232 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ashdown Broadcasting](https://appshunter.io/developer/558519375) | [Diana Białogrzywa](https://appshunter.io/developer/1101210882) |

## What reviewers say

### Bead Magazine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bead-magazine/id616019934)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bead Issue 51 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Bead Issue 53 (id:737062) | $4.99 | one-time |
| Bead Issue 50 (id:741773) | $4.99 | one-time |
| Bead Issue 48 (id:739411) | $4.99 | one-time |
| Bead Issue 46 (id:741772) | $4.99 | one-time |
| Bead Issue 45 (id:738863) | $4.99 | one-time |
| Bead Issue 40 (id:740379) | $4.99 | one-time |
| Bead Issue 36 (id:740301) | $4.99 | one-time |
| Issue 71 (id:798877) | $6.99 | one-time |
| Bead Magazine 3 Back Issue Bundle | $14.99 | one-time |


### Needleply

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/needleply/id1523300974)

Browse, search, and organize embroidery materials like threads, beads, and fabrics. Find color matches across different brands and export your selections for inventory tracking or printable tables.

**Highlights:** Thread, bead, and fabric palettes, Search materials reference, Find close color matches, Export to Needlentory, Create printable PDF tables, Organize embroidery materials

**Features:** iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Threads | $0.99 | one-time |
| Premium for 1 month | $0.99 | one-time |
| Premium for 6 months | $4.99 | one-time |
| Premium for 1 year | $9.99 | one-time |
| Canvas | $12.99 | one-time |
| Premium Lifetime | $29.99 | one-time |
| Kit | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bead Magazine free?

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

### Is Needleply free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Bead Magazine or Needleply?

Needleply is rated higher. Bead Magazine averages 3.4 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Needleply averages 4.4 from 41 ratings.

### Do Bead Magazine or Needleply have ads?

Needleply shows ads; Bead Magazine does not.

### Which is updated more often, Bead Magazine or Needleply?

Bead Magazine ships an update every 14 months, and Needleply every 9 days. Most recently, Bead Magazine was updated on November 1, 2026 and Needleply on November 3, 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.*