Comparison

Swift Pixels vs Pixel Designer Pro

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

Head to head
About

Swift Pixels

Create pixel art with a unique color palette and diverse rendering options. Save your creations as PNGs with transparency or high-resolution images to share. Import photos from your library or camera to use as a base for your designs.

Highlights
  • Unique color palette with universal categories
  • Render pixels as squares, 3D boxes, beads, towels, or hexels
  • Save images as PNG with transparency
  • High-resolution export and sharing
  • Import photos from library or camera
Features
Read full description

Simple and easy to use drawing application to create pixel art. Features: * Unique color palette based on universal color categories. Each color category expands a continuous gamut for that color. * Render pixels as simple squares, 3D boxes, beads, a towel, or as hexagons (hexels). * Save small images as PNG images with transparency (alpha/mask), or save them in hi-res and share them with the world :) * Load and import pictures from your Photo Library, or directly take a picture from your camera.

About

Pixel Designer Pro

Create pixel art, animations, and game assets with a professional editor. Features include multiple drawing modes, advanced layers, custom palettes, and precision tools. Seamlessly work across devices with cross-platform sync.

Highlights
  • Multiple Drawing Modes (Frame, Tile, Tileset, Sheet)
  • Advanced Layer System
  • Custom Color Palettes
  • Animation Tools with Real-time Preview
  • Precision Drawing Tools
  • Mirror Drawing
  • Flexible Grid Options
  • Professional Export Options (PNG, GIF, etc.)
Features
Read full description

PixelDesigner - Professional Pixel Art Editor Create stunning pixel art, animations, and game assets with PixelDesigner, the powerful native editor built for artists, game developers, and designers. KEY FEATURES =========== Multiple Drawing Modes Switch seamlessly between Frame Mode for animations, Tile Mode for individual game tiles, Tileset Mode with Wang tile support, and Sheet Mode for organizing sprite sheets. Each mode is optimized for specific pixel art workflows. Advanced Layer System Work with multiple layers to build complex compositions. Organize your artwork, separate elements, and maintain full creative control over every pixel. Custom Color Palettes Create and manage your own color palettes for consistent artwork. Import existing palettes or build new ones from scratch to match your project's aesthetic. Animation Tools Preview your animations in real time as you work. Export animations as GIF or PNG sequences with customizable frame rates and timing controls. Precision Drawing Tools Choose from Brush, Eraser, Fill, and Eyedropper tools. Each tool is designed specifically for pixel-perfect artwork with full control over every detail. Mirror Drawing Create perfectly symmetrical designs with horizontal and vertical mirroring. Ideal for character sprites, icons, and architectural elements. Flexible Grid Options Work with multiple grid styles including solid, dashed, dot, checkerboard, and more. Customize your workspace to match your preferred drawing style. Professional Export Options Export your work in multiple formats including PNG, JPEG, GIF, and TIFF. Generate sprite sheets with customizable layouts, export individual tiles, or create animated GIFs with precise control over timing and quality. Wang Tile Support Automatically generate seamless tilesets using Wang tile algorithms. Perfect for creating game environments and repeating patterns that tile perfectly. Document-Based Workflow Save and organize your projects with a native document-based architecture. Open multiple documents simultaneously and switch between projects effortlessly. Native Performance Built from the ground up with SwiftUI for optimal performance on both iOS and macOS. Enjoy a responsive, fluid experience that takes full advantage of your device's capabilities. Cross-Platform Sync Start a project on your Mac and continue on your iPad. PixelDesigner uses a universal file format that works seamlessly across all your devices. Whether you are creating game sprites, animated icons, retro artwork, or detailed pixel illustrations, PixelDesigner provides all the tools you need in a clean, intuitive interface.

Screenshots

Swift Pixels4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Pixel Designer Pro at Free against Swift Pixels's $1.99. Swift Pixels's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 3.3) and review sentiment (60% vs 38%). On ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement 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

Pixel Designer Pro is free to download; Swift Pixels costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Swift Pixels holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of Swift Pixels's written reviews are positive against 38% of Pixel Designer Pro's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Swift Pixels ships an update every 5 months, Pixel Designer Pro every 24 months. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Swift Pixels versus Pixel Designer Pro: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSwift PixelsPixel Designer Pro
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.7 (14 ratings) — better3.3 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews60.0% of reviews — better38.5% of reviews
Number of ratings14 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 5 months — betterEvery 24 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPad, Mac
Requires iOS14.7 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDavid GavilanInfinite Token

Customer experience

Swift Pixels

All ratings14 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.1%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%

Pixel Designer Pro

All ratings3 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral33.3%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive38.5%
Neutral7.7%
Negative53.8%

In-app purchases

None

Swift Pixels

No in-app purchases

None

Pixel Designer Pro

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Swift Pixels free?
Swift Pixels costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pixel Designer Pro free?
Pixel Designer Pro is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Swift Pixels or Pixel Designer Pro?
Swift Pixels is rated higher. Swift Pixels averages 4.7 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Pixel Designer Pro averages 3.3 from 3 ratings.
Do Swift Pixels or Pixel Designer Pro have ads?
Neither Swift Pixels nor Pixel Designer Pro shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Swift Pixels or Pixel Designer Pro?
Swift Pixels ships an update every 5 months, and Pixel Designer Pro every 24 months. Most recently, Swift Pixels was updated on October 2, 2026 and Pixel Designer Pro on October 11, 2026.

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