Comparison

Bead Magazine vs Planbead

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

Head to head
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

About

Planbead

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)
Read full description

Welcome to PlanBead, the ultimate design studio for every beading artist! Design, weave, and create stunning beaded jewelry for free. All Drawing Features are FREE! We believe creativity shouldn't have a price tag. In PlanBead, all essential drawing features are available to everyone, completely free: Unlimited Designs: Create as many patterns as you want in your personal workspace for free. Full Miyuki Color Palette: Design with the industry-standard Miyuki Delica color library. Bead Inventory: Manage your stash of beads within the app, keep track of all your beads Loom, Pyeote & Brick: Easily switch between the most popular beading stitches to perfect your patterns. currently supporting: - Loom Bracelet - Folded Leaf Earring - R-Leaf Earring - Fringe Earring - Triangle Earring - Herringobne Earring, Bracelet - Peyote Earring, Bracelet, Ring - Brick Earring, Bracelet, Ring - more beaded jewelry Revolutionary Weaving Mode: Never print a pattern again! Our dynamic weaving mode is a game-changer. Follow Along On-Screen The app highlights your current row and beads, making it easy to keep your place. Word Chart Included Generate an instant word chart for any design, perfect for complex patterns. Eco-Friendly Beading Keep the environment healthy, one sheet of paper at a time. Ditch the printer and weave directly from your device. Inspiration Delivered Weekly Stay inspired with a constant stream of new ideas! Every week, we release beautiful, professional patterns for both free and premium users. Discover new techniques and challenge your skills. Go Premium for More! Unlock powerful features with a PlanBead subscription (auto-renewing): - Unlimited 3D previews: 1-click to convert your 2D pattern to a 3D realistic preview of you beaded jewelry - Cloud Sync: Never lose your patterns again, automatically back up and sync your entire design library across all your devices - Ad-Free Experience: Enjoy a focused, uninterrupted creative workflow - Premium Patterns: Made by professional beading artists - Image Tracing: Convert an image to a beading pattern - PDF Export: Export your patterns as a printable PDF with step by step tutorial Privacy Policy: https://www.planbead.com/privacy-policy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula Download PlanBead now and bring your beading ideas to life!

Screenshots

Bead Magazine1 screens
Planbead4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Planbead at 92% against Bead Magazine's 43%. Planbead also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.4) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 14 months). Bead Magazine's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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. Bead Magazine sells 23 in-app purchases, starting at $39.99 per year 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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Planbead holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 14 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of Bead Magazine's written reviews are positive against 92% of Planbead's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bead Magazine ships an update every 14 months, Planbead every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Bead Magazine versus Planbead: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBead MagazinePlanbead
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.4 (16 ratings)4.7 (14 ratings) — better
Positive reviews42.9% of reviews92.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings16 — better14
Update frequencyEvery 14 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS13.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB90 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAshdown BroadcastingAlexander Monneret

Customer experience

Bead Magazine

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

Planbead

All ratings14 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.1%
Written reviews25 reviews
Positive92.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative4.0%

In-app purchases

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
5 purchases

Planbead

Subscriptions2
  • Gold Membership – 1 Month3 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Platinum Membership – 1 Year$49.991 Year
One-time3
  • Planbead 5 Gems$0.99
  • Planbead 10 Gems$1.99
  • Planbead 50 Gems$7.99

Questions

Is Bead Magazine free?
Bead Magazine 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, Bead Magazine or Planbead?
Planbead is rated higher. Bead Magazine averages 3.4 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Planbead averages 4.7 from 14 ratings.
Do Bead Magazine or Planbead have ads?
Neither Bead Magazine nor Planbead shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bead Magazine or Planbead?
Bead Magazine ships an update every 14 months, and Planbead every 4 days. Most recently, Bead Magazine was updated on September 21, 2026 and Planbead on September 22, 2026.

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