BeadApp › Comparisons › Beadographer
BeadApp vs Beadographer
Beadographer is a browser-based bead designer from a small team, with a capable free tier and a low-cost membership. BeadApp is a free bead pattern studio that runs in any browser, with 700+ free patterns in 1,500+ colorways, freeform design, 3D preview and Step-by-Step weaving.
A fair comparison from an interested party. We make BeadApp, so we're not neutral. We've checked every fact and named where Beadographer has an edge. Last checked: beadographer.com and its user guide, 9 October 2026. Features change — please try both and decide for yourself.
BeadApp vs Beadographer, side by side
| BeadApp | Beadographer | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free · Pro $9.99/mo ($79.99/yr) | Free · $14.99/yr |
| Stitches on the free plan | Almost all 20+ | ~17 (no saving on free) |
| Free patterns & starters | 700+ patterns / 1,500+ colorways | None |
| Stitches supported | 20+ incl. peyote variants, herringbone, RAW, St. Petersburg, rope, kumihimo, knitting, fuse | 17 layouts incl. Huichol, medallion, warped square, RAW |
| Freeform (off-grid) design | Yes — Open Studio | Layout editor in Beadographer 5, in development |
| Realistic finish (matte, metallic, AB, lined) | Yes — in the chart and the 3D preview | Yes — matte/gloss, transparent, inside-colour, metallic tint |
| 3D preview | Yes, free | No |
| Step-by-step while beading | Yes, free | Yes, free |
| Photo → pattern | Yes, free | Yes, free |
| Printable pattern | Free (small watermark; Pro removes it) | Membership only |
| Real bead product photos | Yes | No |
| Devices | Any browser; installs as an app | Browser: Windows, Mac, iPad |
| Ads | None | None |
| Order the exact beads | Yes — shopping list of real Delica codes | No |
Green = free or a strength · red = paid-only, missing or a weakness.
The details
Price and what's free
Beadographer's free version has all the drawing tools, image conversion and beading mode, but cannot save a design or export a PDF — that needs the $14.99 membership. BeadApp saves and prints on the free plan.
Stitches
Beadographer has 17 layouts, including Huichol and medallion work that BeadApp does not chart. BeadApp covers 20+, including circular and tubular peyote, St. Petersburg, kumihimo, bead crochet and knitting.
Finish
This is the one other app here that takes finish seriously: you can set matte, semi-gloss or gloss, opaque, transparent or inside-colour, and tint beads to suggest metallic and iridescent. BeadApp goes further by driving finish from measured bead data and showing it in a 3D preview as well as the chart.
Freeform
BeadApp's Open Studio places beads off the grid today. Beadographer 5 is building a layout editor, still in development.
Patterns
Beadographer has no pattern library. BeadApp has 700+ free patterns in 1,500+ colorways.
Why beaders choose BeadApp
- Start from 700+ free patterns in 1,500+ colorways — open one, change anything, print it.
- Freeform Open Studio: place beads anywhere, off the grid. None of the other apps here offer that.
- Finish is drawn, not flattened: matte, metallic, AB, silver-lined and transparent beads look different on the chart and in 3D.
- Real product photos of the beads, plus a 3D preview of the finished piece — both free.
- Step-by-Step mode shows one row at a time and keeps your screen awake, free.
- Photo to pattern, printable chart, word chart, colour key and finished size — all on the free plan.
- Every colour is a real, orderable Miyuki Delica code, with a one-tap shopping list.
- 20+ stitches and techniques, including circular and tubular peyote, St. Petersburg, kumihimo, bead crochet, bead knitting and fuse beads.
- Line, rectangle and gradient drawing tools; bead substitution; import an existing PDF pattern.
- No ads. Works on any device with a browser, installs like an app, syncs through the cloud.
Where Beadographer has an edge
- Lower paid price. $14.99 a year.
- Huichol and medallion layouts. Specialist layouts BeadApp doesn't chart yet.
Verdict
Choose Beadographer for Huichol or medallion work on a tight budget. For free saving and printing, 3D, freeform and 700+ free patterns in 1,500+ colorways, choose BeadApp.
Try BeadApp freeBrowse 700+ free patterns in 1,500+ colorwaysVisit Beadographer
Every bead app we compared
| BeadApp | PlanBead | Beadographer | Loomerly | BeadTool 4 | BeadBrush | MakeBead | Loomet | JBead | Beadifier | Pixel-Beads | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free · Pro $9.99/mo ($79.99/yr) | Free · $9.99/mo or $49.99/yr | Free · $14.99/yr | One-time $75 (offer $29.99) | $49.95 one-time | Free · $5/mo ($45/yr) | Free | Free · Maker $49/yr or $5.99/mo | Free, open source | Free, browser-based | Free |
| Stitches on the free plan | Almost all 20+ | Basic grids | ~17 (no saving on free) | Trial only | No saving without licence | 7 layouts, last 3 files reopenable | Peyote, brick, loom, RAW + fuse | Square/loom; peyote, brick beta | 1 | Fuse only | Fuse only |
| Free patterns & starters | 700+ patterns / 1,500+ colorways | 100+, many locked | None | None | None | None | Community gallery | None | None | None | None |
| Stitches supported | 20+ incl. peyote variants, herringbone, RAW, St. Petersburg, rope, kumihimo, knitting, fuse | Loom, peyote, brick, herringbone, leaf, fringe, triangle, star, tubular peyote, rope, more | 17 layouts incl. Huichol, medallion, warped square, RAW | 3 (loom, peyote, brick) | 6 families (loom/square, brick, peyote 1-9 drop, tubular peyote, gourd, RAW) | 7 (loom, peyote, brick, warped square, triangle, star, kaleidocycle) | Peyote, brick, loom, RAW; fuse, kandi, other crafts | Square, loom; peyote, brick, double brick in beta | 1 (bead crochet rope) | Fuse beads only | Fuse beads only |
| Freeform (off-grid) design | Yes — Open Studio | Not offered | Layout editor in Beadographer 5, in development | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered |
| Realistic finish (matte, metallic, AB, lined) | Yes — in the chart and the 3D preview | Real Miyuki bead images (MatchBead) | Yes — matte/gloss, transparent, inside-colour, metallic tint | Not stated | Not stated | Yes — matte, metallic, AB, transparent, glossy, lined | Flat averaged colour (its site says lined and AB differ in person) | Finish names only | Flat colour and symbols | Flat palette colours | Flat palette colours |
| 3D preview | Yes, free | Premium (unlimited 3D previews) | No | No | No | No | No | No | Rope simulation | No | No |
| Step-by-step while beading | Yes, free | Yes — Weaving Mode | Yes, free | Progress tracking | No | Paid | Numbered rows + tracker | Yes (Build Mode, beta) | No | No | No |
| Photo → pattern | Yes, free | Yes; some modes premium | Yes, free | Yes | Yes | Yes, free | Yes, free | Square/loom; others beta | No | Yes | Yes |
| Printable pattern | Free (small watermark; Pro removes it) | Premium only | Membership only | Yes (full version) | Yes (licence) | Paid | Free, watermarked | Free with watermark | Yes | PDF, SVG, PNG, XLSX | PDF, Excel |
| Real bead product photos | Yes | Yes (MatchBead) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Devices | Any browser; installs as an app | iOS, Android, Windows apps | Browser: Windows, Mac, iPad | Apple only (Mac needs M1+) | Windows; Mac is Intel-only, not macOS 26 | Browser | Browser | Browser | Windows, Mac (Apple silicon), Linux | Browser | Browser |
| Ads | None | None seen | None | None | None | None | Yes | None | None | None | None |
| Order the exact beads | Yes — shopping list of real Delica codes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Green = free or a strength · red = paid-only, missing or a weakness. Every app rechecked on 9 October 2026.
Questions
Is BeadApp better than Beadographer?
Choose Beadographer for Huichol or medallion work on a tight budget. For free saving and printing, 3D, freeform and 700+ free patterns in 1,500+ colorways, choose BeadApp.
How many free patterns does BeadApp have?
700+ free patterns in 1,500+ colorways in the marketplace, free to open, edit and print. The current exact count is on our FAQ.
Which bead apps support freeform design?
BeadApp's Open Studio lets you place beads anywhere, off the grid. None of the other apps we compared offer freeform design today.
How much does Beadographer cost?
Free · $14.99/yr.
Can I try BeadApp without an account?
Yes. Open a pattern, a blank grid or a photo and start designing in your browser.
Who wrote this comparison?
The BeadApp team. We're not neutral, so we name where Beadographer has an edge and link to it so you can try both.
Spotted something wrong or out of date? Email support@beadapp.io and we'll fix it. Beadographer is a trademark of its owner; BeadApp is not affiliated with it. All comparisons.