Comparison

NDOT vs PixelBean

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

Head to head
About

NDOT

Features
Read full description

NDOT is an offline-first studio for fuse-bead patterns — from drawing a design dot by dot to placing real beads against the chart, in one app. DESIGN • A pro-grade editor: brush, eraser, fill, eyedropper, selection, line/rectangle/ellipse, mirror, layers • Real color codes from six brands: Perler, Hama, Artkal, MARD, CoCo, DoDo — 900+ colors in production • Custom palettes: build your own from the beads you actually own • Text tool with bitmap fonts, CJK included • Photo import: auto-matched to the nearest real bead colors, optional dithering • 6 built-in designs, ready to edit, build, or delete BUILD • Build mode: row by row, tap a cell for every bead you place — never lose your spot • Materials counted automatically: per-color totals and what's still missing • Bead inventory & shopping list: know what to buy, down to a bead • Board splitting: large patterns paginate per physical pegboard with alignment marks EXPORT • PNG at print-grade resolution, with optional grid and color codes • Vector PDF: crisp at any zoom; color or codes-only for B&W printing; optional materials page MADE FOR IPAD • Three-pane workspace: canvas, colors, layers and materials on one screen • Apple Pencil hover preview, palm rejection, drag-and-drop import PRIVACY & PURCHASE • Fully offline, collects no data; iCloud sync lives in your own iCloud Drive • The free version designs and exports PNG; Pro is a single one-time purchase — no subscription, Family Sharing supported Brand names are used solely to describe color-code compatibility; NDOT is not affiliated with these brands.

About

PixelBean

Features
Read full description

"PixelBean" turns any photo into a pixel bead pattern in just a few taps. KEY FEATURES • Smart color recognition: Upload an image and PixelBean automatically identifies colors and generates a pattern with matching bead color codes. • Grid patterns: Clear row and column numbers plus color codes make every pattern easy to follow. • Block-by-block beading: Sort by block or color, jump automatically, and move to the next block when you finish one. • High-resolution export: Export HD PNG and PDF patterns for sharing or printing. • Membership features: Ad-free use, high-resolution source images, batch export, and other advanced tools. WHO IT'S FOR Perfect for perler beads, pixel art, cross-stitch, and DIY craft lovers. No experience needed. HOW TO USE 1. Choose or take a photo. 2. Generate a pattern with matching color codes. 3. Start beading by color or block and follow the pattern as you go. 4. Export the finished pattern as a high-resolution image for saving or printing. MEMBERSHIP FEATURES • Unlimited pattern generation • Export HD PNG / PDF patterns • Unlock block export (104 Ɨ 104 for block-by-block printing) • Freely zoom the workspace while following a pattern • Full MARD color library (291 colors) • Bulk bead-box management and deduct beads by pattern AUTO-RENEWABLE SUBSCRIPTIONS • Monthly and yearly plans are auto-renewable subscriptions and renew automatically before the end of each period. • To cancel: Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions → Cancel. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current period. • Eligible new monthly subscribers may receive a 3-day free trial. • All prices, durations, and trial details are shown on the App Store purchase confirmation screen. Every bead has its place, and every project has a record. Questions or feedback? Contact us at beadplix@163.com Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

NDOT4 screens
PixelBean4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: PixelBean at 15.0 against NDOT's 17.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. NDOT sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and PixelBean sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference Ā· 5 level
NDOT versus PixelBean: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNDOTPixelBean
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 daysEvery 3 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB32 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNING LIäŗ‘åŽ 邓

In-app purchases

1 purchases

NDOT

One-time1
  • NDOT Pro$12.99
3 purchases

PixelBean

Subscriptions2
  • čæžē»­åŒ…ęœˆ3 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • čæžē»­åŒ…å¹“$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • ē»ˆčŗ«ä¼šå‘˜$22.99

Questions

Is NDOT free?
NDOT is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PixelBean free?
PixelBean is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do NDOT or PixelBean have ads?
Neither NDOT nor PixelBean shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NDOT or PixelBean?
NDOT ships an update every 3 days, and PixelBean every 3 days. Most recently, NDOT was updated on October 9, 2026 and PixelBean on October 7, 2026.

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