Comparison

Blocks Magazine vs ThreadABead

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

Head to head
About

Blocks Magazine

Dive into the world of LEGO with this digital magazine. Discover reviews, how-to guides, and expert insights for enthusiasts of all ages. Purchase individual issues or subscribe for ongoing content.

Highlights
  • LEGO reviews
  • How-to guides
  • Expert insights
  • Current and back issue purchases
  • Subscription options
  • Cross-platform purchases
Features
Read full description

Blocks magazine is a celebration of everything LEGO. Aimed at enthusiasts of all ages it is the perfect way to immerse in the world of plastic bricks. Each month it’s full of reviews, hints, how-to features, from LEGO experts. ---------------------------------------------- This is a free app download. Within the app users can purchase the current issue and back issues. Subscriptions are also available within the application. A subscription will start from the latest regular issue at the time of purchase. -The subscription will renew automatically unless cancelled more than 24 hours before the end of the current period. You will be charged for renewal within 24 hours of the end of the current period, for the same duration and at the current subscription rate for the product. -You may turn off the auto-renewal of subscriptions through your Account Settings, however you are not able to cancel the current subscription during its active period. -Payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase and any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when a subscription to that publication is purchased. -If a subscription offers a free trial, at the end of the trial period, you will be charged the full price of the subscription. You may cancel a subscription during its free trial period via the subscription settings on your iTunes account. This must be done 24 hours before the end of the subscription period to avoid being charged. Users can register for/ login to a pocketmags account in-app. This will protect their issues in the case of a lost device and allow browsing of purchases on multiple platforms. Existing pocketmags users can retrieve their purchases by logging into their account. We recommend loading the app for the first time in a wi-fi area so that all issue data is retrieved. If your app will not load past the splash page after a first install or an update, please delete and reinstall the app from the App Store Help and frequently asked questions can be accessed in-app and on pocketmags. If you have any problems at all please do not hesitate to contact us: help@pocketmags.com -------------------- You can find our privacy policy here: http://www.pocketmags.com/privacy.aspx You can find our terms and conditions here: http://www.pocketmags.com/terms.aspx

About

ThreadABead

Explore a vast collection of over 4,000 exclusive bead patterns for various jewelry and decorative items. Save your favorite designs to a personal wish list and discover new and popular patterns with an easy-to-use search function.

Highlights
  • Exclusive bead pattern collection
  • Save to wish list
  • Browse new and popular patterns
  • Search extensive catalog
  • Designs for jewelry and ornaments
Features
Read full description

Since 2007, ThreadABead has rapidly amassed a large collection of 4,000+ exclusive Bead Patterns making it the largest UK Bead Pattern site. It has become a favourite site for many beaders due to its diverse range of patterns specialising in bead designs for Size 11 Miyuki Delica beads. With ThreadABead you can find a treasure trove of patterns for ornaments, bracelets, earrings, necklaces and trinkets on many different topics such as seasonal, sports, hobbies and pets to name a few. If you are looking for an unusual design we most likely have just the thing! Now for the first time ThreadABead is making its on-site Wish List feature available in an app to all customers of ThreadABead and newcomers to browse our patterns and save them to their Wish List easily. Additionally new patterns to the site, and our most popular patterns can be also viewed, along with a search facility to trawl through our extensive catalogue.

Screenshots

Blocks Magazine1 screens
ThreadABead3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Blocks Magazine at 4.7 against ThreadABead's 3.0. Blocks Magazine also leads on review sentiment (67% vs 50%) and ratings volume (21 vs 2). ThreadABead's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 26) and update cadence (every 5 months vs every 24 months). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Blocks Magazine sells 26 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. ThreadABead asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Blocks Magazine holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blocks Magazine has 21 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Blocks Magazine's written reviews are positive against 50% of ThreadABead's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Blocks Magazine ships an update every 24 months, ThreadABead every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 13, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Blocks Magazine versus ThreadABead: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBlocks MagazineThreadABead
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (21 ratings) — better3.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings21 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 24 monthsEvery 5 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.2 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size27 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJellyfish Connect LimitedDavid Greenfield

Customer experience

Blocks Magazine

All ratings21 ratings
Positive95.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative4.8%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

ThreadABead

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

26 purchases

Blocks Magazine

Subscriptions3
  • Blocks Magazine Auto Renewable Subscription$4.991 Month
  • Blocks Magazine Auto Renewable Subscription$14.993 Months
  • Blocks$39.991 Year
One-time23
  • Nov-15 (id:807439)$5.99
  • Nov-14 (id:807201)$5.99
  • January 2016 (id:806900)$5.99
Show 20 more
  • February 2016 (id:806902)$5.99
  • Jul-16 (id:806912)$5.99
  • November 2016 (id:806920)$5.99
  • Jan-17 (id:806738)$5.99
  • Apr-17 (id:806744)$5.99
  • ISSUE 101 (id:823347)$5.99
  • Issue 112 (pp:1017497)$5.99
  • Issue 114 (pp:1017485)$5.99
  • Issue 126 (pp:1115810)$5.99
  • Issue 125 (pp:1115812)$5.99
  • Issue 123 (pp:1017431)$5.99
  • Issue 120 (pp:1017449)$5.99
  • Issue 124 (pp:1115814)$5.99
  • Jun-17 (id:806748)$5.99
  • May 20 (id:806085)$5.99
  • ISSUE 104 (id:715062)$5.99
  • ISSUE 102 (pp:906602)$5.99
  • Issue 119 (pp:1017455)$5.99
  • Issue 118 (pp:1017461)$5.99
  • Issue 115 (pp:1017479)$5.99
None

ThreadABead

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Blocks Magazine free?
Blocks Magazine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ThreadABead free?
ThreadABead is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Blocks Magazine or ThreadABead?
Blocks Magazine is rated higher. Blocks Magazine averages 4.7 out of 5 from 21 ratings, while ThreadABead averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Blocks Magazine or ThreadABead have ads?
Neither Blocks Magazine nor ThreadABead shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Blocks Magazine or ThreadABead?
Blocks Magazine ships an update every 24 months, and ThreadABead every 5 months. Most recently, Blocks Magazine was updated on September 13, 2026 and ThreadABead on June 1, 2026.

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