Comparison

Swift Pixels vs Polagone

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

Polagone

Create striking generative art and animations for posters, album covers, and motion loops. This parametric design studio allows exploration of shapes, grids, and transformations to produce endless visual compositions. Export high-resolution images and animations ready for print, video, and projection.

Highlights
  • Parametric design studio
  • Generative art and animations
  • High-resolution export (images & video)
  • Vector export (SVG, PDF)
  • Real-time motion and VJ visuals
  • Advanced creative tools (deformers, effects)
  • Seamless iCloud sync
Features
Read full description

Polagone is a visual synthesizer for creating generative motion, patterns and real-time graphics. Build systems instead of drawing frame by frame. Combine grids, shapes, colors, effects, animation, audio reaction and MIDI control to create visuals that constantly evolve. From geometric motion loops to optical art, posters, VJ visuals and experimental design, Polagone transforms simple structures into dynamic visuals in real time. Designed for artists, designers, musicians and visual explorers. Features: • Real-time generative design • Audio-reactive & MIDI-controlled visuals • Parametric grids and shape systems • Motion loops and animation tools • Vector, image and video export • SVG, PDF, PNG, TIFF, MP4 & ProRes export • External fullscreen output • Works on Mac, iPad & iPhone No subscriptions. Just create.

Screenshots

Swift Pixels4 screens
Polagone4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Polagone at Free against Swift Pixels's $1.99. Polagone also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 60%) and update cadence (every 8 days vs every 5 months). Swift Pixels's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (14.7 vs 18). On rating, ratings volume, ads and device support 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

Polagone is free to download; Swift Pixels costs $1.99 up front. Polagone sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Swift Pixels asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Swift Pixels holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 11 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 60% of Swift Pixels's written reviews are positive against 100% of Polagone's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Swift Pixels ships an update every 5 months, Polagone every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Swift Pixels versus Polagone: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSwift PixelsPolagone
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.7 (14 ratings) — better4.5 (11 ratings)
Positive reviews60.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings14 — better11
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 8 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS14.7 — better18
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDavid GavilanFingerlab

Customer experience

Swift Pixels

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

Polagone

All ratings9 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Swift Pixels

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Polagone

One-time1
  • Polagone Pro$9.99

Questions

Is Swift Pixels free?
Swift Pixels costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Polagone free?
Polagone is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Swift Pixels or Polagone?
Swift Pixels is rated higher. Swift Pixels averages 4.7 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Polagone averages 4.5 from 11 ratings.
Do Swift Pixels or Polagone have ads?
Neither Swift Pixels nor Polagone shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Swift Pixels or Polagone?
Swift Pixels ships an update every 5 months, and Polagone every 8 days. Most recently, Swift Pixels was updated on October 26, 2026 and Polagone on October 24, 2026.

Other comparisons