Comparison

Swift Pixels vs Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas

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 Art Maker PixelCanvas

Features
Read full description

Create pixel art with ease. Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas is a pixel art editor that lets you draw on grids from 8x8 to 128x128. With 5 drawing tools, a 64-color palette, and up to 3 layers, you can create everything from retro game sprites to modern pixel art. FLEXIBLE CANVAS SIZES Choose from 8x8, 16x16, 32x32, 64x64, or 128x128 grids (128x128 is unlockable). Pick the right size for tiny icons or detailed pixel art. 5 DRAWING TOOLS Pencil, eraser, flood fill, line, and rectangle tools. Intuitive controls let you draw exactly what you envision. COLOR PALETTE 64 built-in colors plus custom color support. Find the perfect shade for your creations. LAYER SUPPORT Up to 3 layers for separating elements like backgrounds and characters. Enables professional pixel art workflows. SYMMETRY MODES Horizontal and vertical mirror modes for efficient symmetric designs. Perfect for characters and patterns. TRANSPARENT PNG EXPORT Export finished art as transparent PNG files with adjustable scale. Use them as stickers, icons, social media avatars, and more. REFERENCE IMAGE IMPORT Import images as underlays for tracing. Easily convert your favorite illustrations into pixel art. GALLERY MANAGEMENT Save your artwork to the gallery for easy access, editing, and sharing. PINCH ZOOM & PAN Two-finger zoom and pan for precise dot placement on any canvas size.

Screenshots

Swift Pixels4 screens
Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas at Free against Swift Pixels's $1.99. Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months). Swift Pixels's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown).

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Swift Pixels ships an update every 5 months, Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Swift Pixels versus Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSwift PixelsPixel Art Maker PixelCanvas
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.7 (14 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews60.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings14 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.7 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDavid GavilanNotake Shoji

In-app purchases

None

Swift Pixels

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas

One-time1
  • Hide Ads & Support$1.99

Questions

Is Swift Pixels free?
Swift Pixels costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas free?
Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Swift Pixels or Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas have ads?
Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas shows ads; Swift Pixels does not.
Which is updated more often, Swift Pixels or Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas?
Swift Pixels ships an update every 5 months, and Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas every 2 months. Most recently, Swift Pixels was updated on October 2, 2026 and Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas on October 5, 2026.

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