BeadPainter vs ThreadABead Pattern Reader
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
BeadPainter
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BeadPainter is a creative studio for designing seed bead jewelry, whether you are making your first peyote ring or preparing professional patterns to share or sell. Design beadwork on an interactive canvas built for real making. Preview every bead in live 3D, work with real MIYUKI Delica images, track your progress, follow bead-by-bead weaving tutorials, and export branded PDFs. FEATURES Design beadwork • Create rings, earrings, bracelets, pendants and custom patterns • Work with peyote, brick, and loom stitch layouts • Choose cylinder or rounded bead shapes • Adjust bead proportions for seed beads, tube beads, or larger rounded beads Draw and edit patterns • Draw on an interactive bead grid • Full Apple Pencil support • Use pencil, eraser, bucket, and pipette tools • Select areas to move, duplicate, repeat, or edit (NEW) • Turn selected areas into reusable stamps (NEW) • Freely move, zoom and rotate the grid by 90 degrees • Use row numbers and symbols for clearer pattern reading • Add, remove, or shift rows and columns • Rename, duplicate, and version patterns • Use Image tracing/reference with pin, layers and opacity controls (NEW) Build color palettes • Explore Miyuki Delica 8/0, 10/0, 11/0, and 15/0 catalogue • Work with 1,200+ real bead images • Search instantly by bead number or hue • Find the closest Delica matches for custom colors • Simulate glossy, matte, metallic and sparkle beads Preview in live 3D • See every edit update instantly in 3D • Preview beadwork as flat or cylindrical designs • Edit in 2D and preview in 3D side by side on iPad • Change bead shapes, colors, sizes, and finishes in 3D Follow guided weaving • Stay organized with material checklists • Learn with step-by-step stitch tutorials • Follow adaptive row-by-row guidance for your own patterns • Mark the last bead if you paused • Track your progress while you bead Export and share • Create professional PDF pattern documents • PDF include charts, material lists, bead counts, and flow charts • Branding kit: add your logo, author info, copyright, and license text • Choose portrait or landscape PDF layouts • Export editable BeadPainter files • Save PNG files for sharing and reference START FREE Start creating with the essentials for free: ready-made jewelry layouts, live 3D preview, Apple Pencil support, and core drawing tools. Design loom bracelets, fringe earrings, peyote rings, and your own custom bead patterns in full 3D from day one. HOBBY PLAN Upgrade to Hobby for guided making tools, including step-by-step tutorials, adaptive weaving guidance, progress tracking, and unlimited projects. PRO PLAN Go Pro for professional pattern design tools, including commercial use rights, PDF export, advanced pattern editing tools, bead material calculation, bead size controls, and additional bead finish styles such as matte, metallic, and sparkle. Whether you are sketching a quick idea, planning a handmade gift, learning bead weaving, or preparing polished PDFs for your pattern collection, BeadPainter gives you a creative studio made for seed bead jewelry. Download BeadPainter and turn your bead patterns into beautiful wearable jewelry. Terms of Service: https://beadpainter.nl/terms Privacy Policy: https://beadpainter.nl/privacy EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
ThreadABead Pattern Reader
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.
- Secure PDF viewing
- Adjustable reading markers
- Focus Mode
- Per-pattern notes
- Page thumbnails
- Import personal PDF patterns
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The ThreadABead Pattern Reader is a secure, purpose-built PDF reader designed specifically for viewing ThreadABead bead patterns and your own personal PDF patterns. View your purchased ThreadABead patterns with tools that make reading and following designs easier, including adjustable reading markers, Focus Mode, per-pattern notes, and page thumbnails for quick navigation. You can also subscribe to Personal Library to import and read your own non-ThreadABead PDF patterns in the same reading environment. Features: • Secure PDF viewing • Access your purchased ThreadABead patterns after sign-in • Personal Library subscription for your own imported PDF patterns • Horizontal and vertical reading markers • Compact arrow, full-width marker, and Focus Mode • Per-pattern notes • Page thumbnails for quick navigation • Reading progress and marker preferences can sync across devices with iCloud
Screenshots
Verdict
BeadPainter and ThreadABead Pattern Reader are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. BeadPainter sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month 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.
BeadPainter ships an update every 3 weeks, ThreadABead Pattern Reader every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and July 16, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | BeadPainter | ThreadABead Pattern Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 5 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.1 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 64 MB | 19 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Alexandra Duzhinskaya | DAE TECH LTD |
In-app purchases
BeadPainter
- Hobby$9.991 Month
- Pro$59.991 Year
ThreadABead Pattern Reader
- Personal PDF Library7 Days trial$12.991 Year





