Pixmaker vs Pixel Beader
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Pixmaker
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PixMaker helps you create fuse bead and Perler bead art faster, easier, and with more confidence. Connect your PixMaker board to the app, choose or import a design, and follow the LED light guide step by step. Each light shows where to place your beads, so you can focus on creating instead of counting. PixMaker is designed for beginners, families, hobby makers, and advanced bead artists who want to create more detailed patterns with fewer mistakes. With the PixMaker app, you can: • Connect your PixMaker board by Bluetooth • Choose bead patterns and designs • Import your own images • Convert images into bead art patterns • Follow the LED guide directly on the board • Create larger and more detailed artwork faster • Access tutorials, updates, and product support PixMaker makes bead art more visual, more accurate, and more enjoyable. Follow the lights and start creating.
Pixel Beader
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Pixel Beader is a fuse bead design and pattern-making app built for iPhone and iPad. It gives you a complete workflow for creating, choosing colors, previewing, and sharing fuse bead art. 【From ideas to bead patterns】 Start with a blank pegboard and place beads one by one, or import a photo and quickly turn it into a clean pixel bead pattern. Fine-tune the rows, columns, sampling method, transparent background, and color count. Pixel Beader automatically matches colors to your palette and shows the code and quantity for every bead color. 【Precise editing, flexible colors】 On an iPad that supports Apple Pencil, you can place, replace, and erase beads as naturally as drawing. You can also switch to touch editing. Convert between pegboards and patterns to move smoothly from digital design to hands-on crafting. Choose from multiple built-in bead palettes, or add and edit your own colors. 【Organize, preview, and share】 Organize patterns in folders, favorite the designs you use most, and recover accidentally deleted items from Recently Deleted. When your design is ready, simulate the fusing process and preview Film, Parchment, and Teflon surface finishes. Inspect the finished piece from different angles in 3D or AR. Export pattern images and 3D snapshots, or share editable project files that can be imported again. 【Key features】 • Edit individual beads with Apple Pencil or touch • Pen, single-bead editing, eyedropper, eraser, lasso, and undo tools • Turn photos into pixel bead patterns • Automatically generate color legends and bead counts • Multiple built-in bead palettes • Organize patterns in folders • Favorites and Recently Deleted • Simulate fusing with three surface finishes • Inspect finished designs in 3D and AR • Export and share pattern images 【Privacy】 All photo processing and project data remain on your device and are never uploaded to a server. 【Membership】 The free plan supports pegboards and patterns up to 104 × 104. An optional monthly or lifetime membership unlocks projects up to 208 × 208 and interactive pattern previews. From inspiration to pattern to finished piece, Pixel Beader keeps every step of your creative process clear and organized. 【Requirements】 Apple Pencil features require a compatible iPad and Apple Pencil. AR features require an ARKit-compatible device. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pixmaker at none against Pixel Beader's 2. Pixmaker also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.1). 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. Pixel Beader sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Pixmaker asks for nothing beyond the download.
Pixmaker ships an update every 3 days, Pixel Beader every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Pixmaker | Pixel Beader |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 18.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 44 MB | 13 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Pixply LTD | Yu Yan |
In-app purchases
Pixmaker
No in-app purchases
Pixel Beader
- Pixel Beader Pro Monthly$0.991 Month
- Pixel Beader Pro Lifetime$9.99








