BeadApp › Comparisons › PlanBead
BeadApp vs PlanBead
PlanBead is a subscription beading app for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android and Windows, built around a grid editor and designer pattern collections. 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 PlanBead has an edge. Last checked: planbead.com and its App Store listing, 9 October 2026. Features change — please try both and decide for yourself.
BeadApp vs PlanBead, side by side
| BeadApp | PlanBead | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free · Pro $9.99/mo ($79.99/yr) | Free · $9.99/mo or $49.99/yr |
| Stitches on the free plan | Almost all 20+ | Basic grids |
| Free patterns & starters | 700+ patterns / 1,500+ colorways | 100+, many locked |
| 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 |
| Freeform (off-grid) design | Yes — Open Studio | Not offered |
| Realistic finish (matte, metallic, AB, lined) | Yes — in the chart and the 3D preview | Real Miyuki bead images (MatchBead) |
| 3D preview | Yes, free | Premium (unlimited 3D previews) |
| Step-by-step while beading | Yes, free | Yes — Weaving Mode |
| Photo → pattern | Yes, free | Yes; some modes premium |
| Printable pattern | Free (small watermark; Pro removes it) | Premium only |
| Real bead product photos | Yes | Yes (MatchBead) |
| Devices | Any browser; installs as an app | iOS, Android, Windows apps |
| Ads | None | None seen |
| 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
Drawing is free. The App Store lists Gold at $9.99 a month and Platinum at $49.99 a year, and some patterns need 'gems' bought separately (5 for $0.99). PDF export, unlimited 3D previews and premium patterns sit behind the paid tiers. BeadApp prints, previews in 3D and converts photos on the free plan.
Stitches
PlanBead has grown a long template list — loom, peyote, brick, herringbone, leaf, fringe, triangle, star, tubular peyote, bead crochet rope and more. BeadApp adds circular peyote, St. Petersburg, right-angle weave, kumihimo, bead knitting and freeform.
Patterns
PlanBead advertises 100+ professional patterns and tutorials, some locked. BeadApp has 700+ free patterns in 1,500+ colorways, all free to open, edit and print.
Colour and finish
PlanBead's MatchBead shows real Miyuki bead images while you design, and its paid 3D preview renders the piece. BeadApp draws finish — matte, metallic, AB, silver-lined, transparent — in the chart itself and in a free 3D preview, and turns the colours into an orderable bead list.
Following along
Both have a row-by-row mode: PlanBead's Weaving Mode highlights the current row, BeadApp's Step-by-Step walks the pattern and keeps the screen awake.
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 PlanBead has an edge
- App Store and Google Play apps. PlanBead installs natively; BeadApp installs from the browser to your home screen.
- Real bead photos as the chart fill. MatchBead fills the chart with Miyuki product images.
Verdict
Choose PlanBead if you want a native app-store app. For free printing and 3D, freeform, 700+ free patterns in 1,500+ colorways and an orderable bead list, choose BeadApp.
Try BeadApp freeBrowse 700+ free patterns in 1,500+ colorwaysVisit PlanBead
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 PlanBead?
Choose PlanBead if you want a native app-store app. For free printing and 3D, freeform, 700+ free patterns in 1,500+ colorways and an orderable bead list, 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 PlanBead cost?
Free · $9.99/mo or $49.99/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 PlanBead 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. PlanBead is a trademark of its owner; BeadApp is not affiliated with it. All comparisons.