A Pixel-Beads.net Alternative That Matches the Knobs — Then Keeps Going
pixel-beads.net earned its reputation on conversion depth: real dithering algorithms, real color-distance metrics, custom palettes. MakeBead gives you that same depth — the same five dithering kernels, the same perceptual metrics up to CIEDE2000, palette import in the same format — and then adds everything around the conversion: a bead editor, free cloud saving, a gallery, pegboard PDF pages, and 11 languages. (This page compares pixel-beads.net; pixel-beads.com is an unrelated product.)
MakeBead vs pixel-beads.net at a Glance
| MakeBead | pixel-beads.net | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free (donation-supported) |
| Photo → bead pattern | ✓ (in your browser) | ✓ (in your browser) |
| Dithering | Floyd–Steinberg · Atkinson · Sierra · Stucki · Burkes · none | Floyd–Steinberg · Atkinson · Sierra · Stucki · Burkes · none |
| Color matching | Weighted RGB · Euclidean · CIE76 · CIE94 · CIEDE2000 | Weighted Euclidean · Euclidean · CIE76 · CIE94 · CIEDE2000 |
| Custom palettes | ✓ My Colors: paste codes, import/export palette files, account sync | ✓ CSV/TXT palette upload + download |
| Edit beads after converting | ✓ full editor: paint, erase, fill, replace, undo | ✗ no retouch tools |
| Save & reopen projects | ✓ free cloud save + cross-device sync | ✗ export only |
| Pattern gallery & sharing | ✓ public gallery, likes, share links | ✗ |
| Bead brand palettes | Perler · Hama · Artkal · Nabbi · MARD | Perler · Hama · Artkal · Nabbi · IKEA Pyssla |
| Pegboard layout | ✓ board splitting + per-board PDF pages | ✗ width-in-beads only |
| Export formats | PDF · PNG | PDF · Excel, 8 print styles, mm cell sizing |
| Written instructions | ✓ on the craft tools (crochet, mosaic, peyote…) | ✗ |
| Other crafts in one place | ✓ cross stitch, diamond painting, kandi, loom, crochet family, peyote/brick | ✗ (sister site for cross stitch) |
| Languages | 11 | English · German |
Feature comparison verified against the live pixel-beads.net tool in July 2026. It's an independent project by a solo developer — no affiliation, and honest respect. Spotted something outdated? Use the Feedback button and we'll correct it.
What pixel-beads.net Does Well
Its print pipeline is the most configurable around: eight pattern styles from symbol grids to colored circles, PDF cell size adjustable in millimeters, highlighted guide lines at your chosen interval, and Excel export for spreadsheet lovers. It carries the IKEA Pyssla palette, lets you choose between two quantization algorithms, and processes everything client-side. For a solo-developer project, it's impressively deep — that's exactly why we benchmarked our own advanced panel against it.
Where MakeBead Takes Over
On pixel-beads.net the conversion is the end of the road: no way to fix a stray bead, no saving, no sharing, and a UI in two languages. MakeBead picks up there — edit any bead with paint/erase/fill/replace and undo, overlay the original photo while you edit, split big designs across pegboards with per-board PDF pages, and save everything to a free account with cross-device sync and an optional public gallery. Your custom colors live in My Colors, with palette file import/export in the same #hex,CODE (NAME) format. And if your craft wanders past fuse beads, the same account covers cross stitch, diamond painting, kandi, bead loom, the crochet family, and peyote/brick — with written instructions, in 11 languages.
Switching Takes One Upload
- Open the Perler converter (or the fuse bead page for other brands) and upload the same photo.
- Set width and colors; in the Advanced panel pick the same dithering kernel and color metric you used on pixel-beads.net — the names match.
- Import your custom palette into My Colors if you have one, fix any stray beads in the editor, then export the PDF or save it to your free account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does MakeBead have the same dithering and color-matching options as pixel-beads.net? ▾
Essentially yes. Both offer Floyd–Steinberg, Atkinson, Sierra, Stucki and Burkes dithering (or none), and both match colors with weighted RGB, Euclidean, CIE76, CIE94 or CIEDE2000. pixel-beads.net additionally exposes a choice of two quantization algorithms; MakeBead uses its own frequency-based reduction. On real photos the outputs are directly comparable.
Can I use my own bead colors like on pixel-beads.net? ▾
Yes — MakeBead's "My Colors" accepts pasted color-code lists and palette file import/export in the same #hex,CODE (NAME) style, and a free account syncs your palette across devices. You can also restrict any conversion to only the colors you own.
What does MakeBead add over pixel-beads.net? ▾
A bead-by-bead editor (pixel-beads.net has no retouching after generation), free cloud saving and sharing, a public template gallery, pegboard splitting with per-board PDF pages, written instructions on the craft tools, and a fully translated interface in 11 languages (pixel-beads.net offers English and German). Checked against the live tool in July 2026.
What does pixel-beads.net do better? ▾
Its print pipeline is more configurable: eight pattern styles (symbols, letters, numbers, boxes, circles), an adjustable PDF cell size in millimeters, and Excel export. It also offers the IKEA Pyssla palette and a choice of quantization algorithm. It's a well-made tool by a solo developer — if you need Excel output or millimeter-exact print sizing, it has the edge.
Is pixel-beads.com the same site? ▾
No — pixel-beads.net (the German-built converter this page compares) and pixel-beads.com (a separate, newer product) are unrelated sites that happen to share a name. This comparison is about pixel-beads.net only.
Is MakeBead affiliated with pixel-beads.net? ▾
No. It's an independent tool we respect — this page is our own feature comparison, verified against the live site in July 2026. If something here has gone stale, tell us via Feedback and we'll correct it.