Comparison

Pixel Beader vs Fuse Beads

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

Head to head
About

Pixel Beader

Features
Read full description

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/

About

Fuse Beads

Read full description

Fuse Beads helps you turn a photo into a fuse-bead pattern you can actually iron. Pick a picture from Photos, the camera, or Files, generate a pattern on this iPhone, then edit beads, count materials, and follow along color by color. What you can do: - Start from a photo or one of 24 original built-in designs - Board sizes 15×15, 21×21, 29×29, 40×40, 58×58, plus 20×30, 29×40, and custom sizes - Crop with a live preview before you generate - Three detail modes and careful on-device color matching - Optional background cleanup that keeps the subject - Perler common names, Hama Midi numbers, and Artkal S-5mm numbers as on-screen references - Edit bead by bead, undo, zoom, and jump by row or column - See material totals, tick colors you already have, estimate packs, and copy a shopping list - Highlight one color, mark progress, and see what to place next - Search, sort, rename, duplicate, and delete projects - Export high-resolution PNG or PDF with coordinates; large boards split into section pages - Keep a local backup you can export and merge later - 13 interface languages, including Arabic (right to left). Follow the system or lock a language in Settings Privacy first: No account, ads, analytics SDKs, or tracking. Photos, patterns, and progress stay on your device. The camera is used only if you choose to take a photo. Files leave the app only when you save a PNG to Photos or pick a destination in the system share sheet. Screen colors may differ from physical beads. Check the brand’s latest physical color card before buying in quantity. Perler, Hama, and Artkal are trademarks of their respective owners. This app is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or officially authorized by those brands.

Screenshots

Pixel Beader4 screens
Fuse Beads4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Fuse Beads at none against Pixel Beader's 2. Fuse Beads also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, 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

Both are free to download. Pixel Beader sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Fuse Beads asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pixel Beader ships an update every 2 months, Fuse Beads every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 4 level
Pixel Beader versus Fuse Beads: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPixel BeaderFuse Beads
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.117.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYu YanShanghai Qishan Cultural Communication Co., Ltd.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Pixel Beader

Subscriptions1
  • Pixel Beader Pro Monthly$0.991 Month
One-time1
  • Pixel Beader Pro Lifetime$9.99
None

Fuse Beads

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pixel Beader free?
Pixel Beader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Fuse Beads free?
Fuse Beads is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Pixel Beader or Fuse Beads have ads?
Neither Pixel Beader nor Fuse Beads shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pixel Beader or Fuse Beads?
Pixel Beader ships an update every 2 months, and Fuse Beads every 2 weeks. Most recently, Pixel Beader was updated on October 4, 2026 and Fuse Beads on October 12, 2026.

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