# Pixen vs Pixel Studio

The clearest difference is ads: Pixen at none against Pixel Studio's shown. Pixen also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). Pixel Studio's advantage is review sentiment (94% vs 67%) and ratings volume (6.1K vs 180). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pixen sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Pixel Studio sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Pixen against 4.7 for Pixel Studio. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pixel Studio has 6.1K ratings behind it against 180, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 67% of Pixen's written reviews are positive against 94% of Pixel Studio's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pixen | Pixel Studio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (180 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixen-pixel-art-editor/id1161880215/reviews) | **[4.7 (6.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-studio-pixel-art-editor/id1404203859/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 180 | **6.1K** |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | **93.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 13 MB | 144 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Furnace Creek Software LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/321189453) | [Farida Yarullina](https://appshunter.io/developer/846630437) |

## What reviewers say

### Pixen

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixen-pixel-art-editor/id1161880215)

Create detailed pixel art and animations with a comprehensive suite of tools. Manage projects, import/export various file formats, and utilize Apple Pencil features for precise drawing. Supports layers, color palettes, and pattern creation for advanced designs.

**Highlights:** Pixel art and animation creation, Extensive toolset (Pencil, Eraser, Fill, etc.), Apple Pencil support with gestures, Color palette management, Animation frame editing, Import/export various file formats, iCloud sync for macOS users

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro: One Time Purchase | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use for beginners
- 🚀 Great for pixel game art
- 💡 iCloud sync with Mac version
- ✨ No ads whatsoever
- 👍 Responsive developer

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Little buggy
- 🐛 More tapping in menus than necessary
- 🐛 Low quality export
- 🐛 Hard to navigate for beginners
- 🐛 Too much extra work for frame duplication

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes
- Cannot make anything else after one image
- Cannot export
- App crashes when exporting
- Export as JPG without transparent background

**Requested features**

- Undo gestures
- Gallery for artworks
- Redo button
- Keep animation preview screen up while working
- Option to choose background color


### Pixel Studio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-studio-pixel-art-editor/id1404203859)

Create pixel art, animated sprites, and game assets with a comprehensive suite of drawing, animation, and color tools. Supports layers, frame-by-frame animation, and various export formats. Offers Apple Pencil support and a customizable workspace for efficient design.

**Highlights:** Layer-based pixel art drawing, Frame-by-frame sprite animation, Onion skinning for animation, Customizable brushes and tools, Palette creation and management, Export as GIF, MP4, and sprite sheets, Apple Pencil support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PREMIUM subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| Sprite collection | $0.99 | one-time |
| PROMOTION IN PIXEL NETWORK | $0.99 | one-time |
| Disable Ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| PRO -50%! | $5.99 | one-time |
| PRO PROMO -50% | $5.99 | one-time |
| PRO CROSS -50%! | $8.99 | one-time |
| PRO CROSS GIFT -50%! | $8.99 | one-time |
| PRO | $12.99 | one-time |
| PRO CROSS | $17.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🎨 Great tools for pixel art
- 💡 Helpful tutorials
- 🔍 Detailed features
- 🌟 High-quality app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes
- 🔀 Confusing navigation
- 🔍 Difficult to find certain features
- 🖌️ Brush size issues
- 🎨 Limited color palette options

**Reported bugs**

- Exporting animations not working as expected
- Unexpected behavior when merging layers
- Inconsistent performance on larger canvases
- Glitches with the reference image feature

**Requested features**

- Add custom brush options
- Improve layer management
- Implement a color wheel
- Add canvas resizing capabilities
- Introduce mirroring/symmetry tools


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pixen free?

Pixen is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Pixel Studio free?

Pixel Studio is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Pixen or Pixel Studio?

Pixel Studio is rated higher. Pixen averages 4.7 out of 5 from 180 ratings, while Pixel Studio averages 4.7 from 6.1K ratings.

### Do Pixen or Pixel Studio have ads?

Pixel Studio shows ads; Pixen does not.

### Which is updated more often, Pixen or Pixel Studio?

Pixen ships an update monthly, and Pixel Studio monthly. Most recently, Pixen was updated on November 6, 2026 and Pixel Studio on November 7, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*