Comparison

Planbead vs Rowloom

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

Head to head
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!

About

Rowloom

Features
Read full description

Pattern Reader keeps an imported PDF, a movable reading guide and saved checkpoints together so you can resume where you left off. HOW IT WORKS 1. Open Pattern Reader from Projects. Import your unencrypted PDF or explore the clearly labeled reader-practice document. 2. Choose the PDF page, position the highlighted band with the Guide slider, and advance the independent reader-row count. Undo restores the prior row, page and guide position. 3. Save named bookmarks, return to them, resume from the library or share a reading-progress report. Delete a reader copy when finished to reclaim its storage. Existing project counters, pattern-repeat notes, linked counters, row reminders, optional hands-free counting, focus timers, references, finished projects and JSON project backups remain available. Pattern Reader stores its own PDF copies and progress separately; existing project backup files do not include reader PDFs. WHAT TO KNOW Manual reading aid only: no chart recognition, stitch interpretation or automatic project-counter changes. Page turns are manual. Reader row and guide positions are independent of knitting instructions. Up to 10 PDFs, 30 MB and 200 pages each, with a 120 MB PDF library limit, 50 bookmarks per pattern and 100 undo positions. iPhone and iPad.

Screenshots

Planbead4 screens
Rowloom3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Planbead at Free against Rowloom's $0.99. Rowloom's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5). On update cadence, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

Planbead is free to download; Rowloom costs $0.99 up front. Planbead sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Rowloom asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Planbead ships an update every 5 days, Rowloom every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Planbead versus Rowloom: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlanbeadRowloom
PriceFree — better$0.99
Rating4.5 (15 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews92.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings15 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 6 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size88 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlexander MonneretRobert Corbin

In-app purchases

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
None

Rowloom

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Planbead free?
Planbead is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Rowloom free?
Rowloom costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Planbead or Rowloom have ads?
Neither Planbead nor Rowloom shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Planbead or Rowloom?
Planbead ships an update every 5 days, and Rowloom every 6 days. Most recently, Planbead was updated on October 22, 2026 and Rowloom on October 8, 2026.

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