# YarnPal vs ThreadABead Pattern Reader

The clearest difference is ratings volume: YarnPal at 34K against ThreadABead Pattern Reader's 2. YarnPal also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 4 weeks) and chart position (#37 vs unranked). ThreadABead Pattern Reader's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. YarnPal sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days and ThreadABead Pattern Reader sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $12.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ThreadABead Pattern Reader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: YarnPal has 34K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

YarnPal ships an update weekly, ThreadABead Pattern Reader every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | YarnPal | ThreadABead Pattern Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (34K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yarnpal-crochet-and-patterns/id6738537088/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/threadabead-pattern-reader/id6757329216/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **34K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 33.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#37** | — |
| Size | 202 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PIXELCELL.LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1639061354) | [ThreadABead Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1888947035) |

## What reviewers say

### YarnPal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yarnpal-crochet-and-patterns/id6738537088)

**Currently charting:** #37 Top Grossing · Lifestyle, #100 Top Free · Lifestyle (US App Store)

Learn crochet and knitting with step-by-step video guides and hundreds of patterns. Track your project progress, identify stitches from photos, and even design your own creations. Perfect for beginners and experienced crafters alike.

**Highlights:** Step-by-step learning courses, Full video tutorials, 500+ crochet and knitting patterns, Project progress tracking, Stitch identification from photos, Pattern design tool, PDF/web pattern converter

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Knitpal Premium | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Knitpal Premium | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Yarnpal Premium | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Yarnpal Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Knitpal Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Knitpal Premium | $39.99 | per year |
| Yarnpal Premium | $39.99 | per year |
| Yarnpal Premium | $39.99 | per year |
| Knitpal Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| Knitpal Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| Knitpal Premium | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for learning crochet skills
- 👍 Good for beginners
- 👍 Provides basic tutorials
- 👍 Interesting and exciting app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate pattern recognition
- 🐛 Limited photo encyclopedia

**Reported bugs**

- Crashing issues
- Incompatibility with certain devices

**Requested features**

- More advanced crochet patterns and projects
- Ability to upload and identify custom crochet patterns


### ThreadABead Pattern Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/threadabead-pattern-reader/id6757329216)

This app is a secure PDF reader designed for bead patterns. It offers tools to easily follow designs, including adjustable markers and navigation aids. A subscription allows importing and reading your own PDF patterns.

**Highlights:** Secure PDF viewing, Adjustable reading markers, Focus Mode, Per-pattern notes, Page thumbnails, Import personal PDF patterns

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Personal PDF Library | $12.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is YarnPal free?

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

### Is ThreadABead Pattern Reader free?

ThreadABead Pattern Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, YarnPal or ThreadABead Pattern Reader?

ThreadABead Pattern Reader is rated higher. YarnPal averages 4.7 out of 5 from 34K ratings, while ThreadABead Pattern Reader averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do YarnPal or ThreadABead Pattern Reader have ads?

Neither YarnPal nor ThreadABead Pattern Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, YarnPal or ThreadABead Pattern Reader?

YarnPal ships an update weekly, and ThreadABead Pattern Reader every 4 weeks. Most recently, YarnPal was updated on October 13, 2026 and ThreadABead Pattern Reader on October 1, 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.*