# Dot Lab vs Paper Bloom

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Paper Bloom at none against Dot Lab's 5. Paper Bloom also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and ratings volume (30 vs 10). Dot Lab's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Dot Lab sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Paper Bloom asks for nothing beyond the download.

Paper Bloom holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 30 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 96% and 96% positive.

Dot Lab ships an update fortnightly, Paper Bloom every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on September 28, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dot Lab | Paper Bloom |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dot-lab-perler-beads-pattern/id6504469120/reviews) | **[4.8 (30 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paper-bloom/id6742748813/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 10 | **30** |
| Positive reviews | **96.4% of reviews** | 96.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 80 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [桂华 冉](https://appshunter.io/developer/1751093769) | [Mingkun Hong](https://appshunter.io/developer/1779061248) |

## What reviewers say

### Dot Lab

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dot-lab-perler-beads-pattern/id6504469120)

Create pixel art for NFTs, avatars, or fuse bead patterns with intuitive drawing tools and customizable palettes. Generate detailed patterns for crafts like perler beads and crochet, with options for efficient creation and sharing.

**Highlights:** Efficient drawing tools, Multiple canvas sizes, Rich color options and palette management, Automatic pattern generation for crafts, Workstation for secondary creations, Share and save artwork, Data backup and canvas lock

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| Annual member | $19.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $22.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $29.99 | one-time |


### Paper Bloom

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paper-bloom/id6742748813)

Experience the art of papercutting digitally. Create intricate designs with intuitive tools, then unfold them to reveal magical patterns. Bring your creations to life in your own space using augmented reality.

**Highlights:** Realistic papercutting simulation, Finger and Apple Pencil support, Magical unfolding animations, Augmented reality placement, Create and share designs

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Dot Lab free?

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

### Is Paper Bloom free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Dot Lab or Paper Bloom?

Paper Bloom is rated higher. Dot Lab averages 4.5 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while Paper Bloom averages 4.8 from 30 ratings.

### Do Dot Lab or Paper Bloom have ads?

Neither Dot Lab nor Paper Bloom shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Dot Lab or Paper Bloom?

Dot Lab ships an update fortnightly, and Paper Bloom every 2 weeks. Most recently, Dot Lab was updated on September 28, 2026 and Paper Bloom on September 28, 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.*