Comparison
An ad-free PlanBead alternative
PlanBead is a feature-rich beading design app for phones, tablets and computers. Drawing is free; an ad-free experience, cloud sync, image to pattern and PDF export need a subscription. In BeadDot those are free and there are no ads. Here is how the two compare.
PlanBead vs BeadDot
| Feature | PlanBead | BeadDot |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free drawing; Gold $9.99 a month, Platinum $49.99 a year, plus “Gems” purchases | Free |
| Ads | Yes, on free use | None |
| Cloud sync | With a subscription | Free; patterns live in your account |
| Photo to pattern | With a subscription | Free: loom, peyote, brick and fuse beads |
| PDF export | With a subscription | Free |
| 3D preview | Unlimited with a subscription | Free |
| Inventory | Free | Free; matched against pattern colors |
| Stitches | Loom, peyote, brick, tubular peyote, herringbone, stars, warped squares, earring and necklace templates | Peyote (even, odd, diagonal), brick stitch, loom, herringbone |
| Platforms | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android and Windows apps | In the browser; nothing to download |
| Language | English | English and Turkish |
Checked against the sources below on October 21, 2026. Prices are in US dollars, taken from each tool’s own site or US store, and may vary by region.
Sources: App Store: Planbead · Google Play: PlanBead
When PlanBead is the better fit
- You want shapes such as tubular peyote, stars or warped squares and ready-made jewelry templates.
- You want an app installed on your phone and new patterns every week.
When BeadDot is the better fit
- You want to work without ads and without a subscription.
- You want your patterns synced across devices for free.
- You do not want to pay for image to pattern and PDF export.
- You want an interface in Turkish.
FAQ
Is PlanBead free?
In PlanBead, drawing, unlimited designs and the inventory are free, and free use shows ads. Ad-free use, cloud sync, image to pattern, PDF export and unlimited 3D previews come with Gold ($9.99 a month) or Platinum ($49.99 a year). In BeadDot all of those are free and there are no ads.
Can I move my PlanBead patterns to BeadDot?
BeadDot cannot open PlanBead files directly. Upload a screenshot of the pattern to the image to pattern converter, or redraw it in the editor with its color codes.
Does BeadDot work on a phone?
Yes. BeadDot runs in your phone’s browser, so there is no app to download. Your patterns live in your account: draw on a computer and follow them row by row on your phone.
Other comparisons
- BeadTool alternative
- Beadographer alternative
- BeadApp alternative
- MakeBead alternative
- How to choose the best free bead pattern maker
Spotted something wrong or out of date? Write to [email protected] and we will fix it.
PlanBead is a trademark of its owner. BeadDot is not affiliated with or endorsed by PlanBead.
Draw your pattern in the browser now
Nothing to install, no subscription, no ads. Start from a template or a photo, then bead it row by row.