# Bead Magazine vs Planbead

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bead Magazine | Planbead |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.4 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bead-magazine/id616019934/reviews) | **[4.7 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planbead/id6741919764/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **16** | 14 |
| Positive reviews | 42.9% of reviews | **92.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 19 MB | 90 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ashdown Broadcasting](https://appshunter.io/developer/558519375) | [Alexander Monneret](https://appshunter.io/developer/1773421973) |

## 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 (23)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bead Magazine Auto-Renewable Subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| 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 |
| Bead Issue 54 (id:738344) | $4.99 | one-time |
| Issue 126 (id:726372) | $5.99 | one-time |
| Issue 112 (id:782117) | $5.99 | one-time |
| Aug/Sep 20 (id:785123) | $5.99 | one-time |
| Issue 115 (id:780786) | $5.99 | one-time |
| Issue 117 (id:780782) | $5.99 | one-time |
| Issue 71 (id:798877) | $6.99 | one-time |
| Bead & Jewelle... (pp:1120060) | $6.99 | one-time |
| Issue 133 (pp:1083889) | $6.99 | one-time |
| Issue 129 (pp:1043386) | $6.99 | one-time |
| Issue 131 (pp:1043374) | $6.99 | one-time |
| Issue 132 (pp:1083898) | $6.99 | one-time |
| Bead Magazine 3 Back Issue Bundle | $14.99 | one-time |
| Bead & Jewellery CYC 50 | $89.99 | one-time |


### Planbead

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planbead/id6741919764)

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)

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gold Membership – 1 Month | $9.99 | per month |
| Platinum Membership – 1 Year | $49.99 | per year |
| Planbead 5 Gems | $0.99 | one-time |
| Planbead 10 Gems | $1.99 | one-time |
| Planbead 50 Gems | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*