Beadly vs Cross
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Beadly
Design intricate bead patterns from images or sketches with this tool. It offers precise editing, multiple pattern types, and a reference image feature for tracing. Enjoy a privacy-focused, ad-free experience with a one-time purchase.
- Import images to create bead patterns
- Design peyote, brick, and loom patterns
- Reference image tracing
- Adjust pattern size and color count
- Precise bead map editor
- Guided stitching mode
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Beadly is a modern bead pattern design tool for creating peyote, brick, and loom designs with precision and ease. Built natively for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, it delivers a fast, consistent experience across all your Apple devices. Turn photos, artwork, sketches, and inspiration images into detailed bead patterns in seconds. Convert any image into loom, peyote, or brick bead maps and control the pattern size, colour count, and level of detail to match your project. Use the Reference Image feature to place any image behind your bead map, adjust its position and transparency, and draw directly on top. Perfect for tracing designs, recreating existing patterns, and transforming artwork into bead creations with greater accuracy. Customise Beadly with icon colour themes to match your personal style and create a workspace that feels uniquely yours. Design detailed bead maps, build colour palettes, edit selections with precision tools, and refine patterns using an interface that feels natural, responsive, and unmistakably Apple. Try before you unlock: Use all features in the free trial with a limit of up to 3 colours per design. Unlock the full version anytime with a simple one-time purchase - no subscriptions, no ongoing fees. Privacy-first by design: No accounts. No tracking. No data collection. Beadly works entirely with your files, stored locally or in iCloud - fully under your control. Built for Apple platforms: - Seamless experience across iPhone, iPad, and Mac - Customisable icon colour themes - Clean interface aligned with Apple design standards - Fast, responsive performance - even for complex patterns - Native Apple technologies for smooth and reliable workflows - Optimised layouts for both compact and large screens Key features - Import any image and convert it into a bead pattern - Create loom, peyote, and brick bead designs - Add reference images behind bead maps for tracing and design assistance - Adjust reference image position and transparency - Control colour count, pattern size, and image detail during conversion - Guided stitching mode to help track progress row by row - Precise bead map editor optimised for pattern creation - Selection tools with cut, copy, paste, and flip actions - Vertical and horizontal selection flipping - Context popup menus for faster editing workflows - Colour palette tracking with clear visual codes - Smooth drawing tools for fast, efficient design workflows - Add author information to printed bead maps and PDF exports - Share designs easily as files, prints, and PDFs - File-based workflow with full ownership of your data - One-time purchase across all supported devices Beadly gives you everything you need to design, refine, and share bead patterns - without distractions, subscriptions, or compromises on privacy.
Cross
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Cross-Stitch Copilot helps you keep your place in PDF cross-stitch patterns on iPhone and iPad. Open a chart you already own, mark the stitches or areas you have finished, and continue from the page and position where you stopped. Make a new pattern from a photo, follow your progress, and organize DMC floss in the same app. STITCH FROM PDF AND IMAGE CHARTS Keep your original PDF pattern visible while you work. Zoom into small symbols, move between pages, and mark completed areas directly on the chart. For stitch-by-stitch tracking, place a grid over a chart page, check its alignment, and mark individual cells. Your last PDF page, zoom level, and position are saved for the next session. You can also import a PNG or JPG chart, including a clear scan of a printed pattern. Review the detected grid and legend before using cell counts. The imported chart stays available as a reference while you stitch. FIND THE SYMBOL YOU NEED On a configured PDF page, select a chart symbol to highlight suggested matches. Check them against the original pattern before marking stitches complete. Focus on one symbol, see which cells are finished and which remain, and undo a mark when you need to correct it. You can mark a single cell or a matching area as you work. CREATE A CROSS-STITCH PATTERN FROM A PHOTO Turn a photo of a pet, landscape, drawing, or another subject into a new chart. Crop the image, choose the chart size and color settings, and preview the design before creating it. Each cell in the generated pattern represents one color and one symbol, so you can follow and mark the chart as you stitch. SEE WHAT YOU HAVE FINISHED View completed and remaining stitches, project completion, and recent activity in one place. Set goals and follow your stitching history. When a project has enough data, see an estimated finish time. Add notes and progress photos to remember how the work grew from the first stitches to the final details. KEEP FLOSS AND MATERIALS ORGANIZED Review DMC thread colors, record the floss you own, and make a shopping list for what you still need. For imported charts, check the pattern's own color key and confirm suggested symbol-to-thread matches before relying on material totals. PICK UP WHERE YOU LEFT OFF Your marks and project progress save as you work. Export a backup and restore it when needed. No account is required to begin. From a first cross-stitch kit to a detailed multi-page PDF, Cross-Stitch Copilot brings your pattern, symbol search, stitch counter, progress tracker, and floss list together in one calm workspace. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Cross at none against Beadly's 1. Cross also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs weekly) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads and device support 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
Both are free to download. Beadly sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Cross asks for nothing beyond the download.
Beadly ships an update weekly, Cross every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Beadly | Cross |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 39 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Konstantin Akopov | Mikhail Andrewywvich Chekalin |
In-app purchases
Beadly
- Beadly$12.99
Cross
No in-app purchases









