# Pixen vs Pixel Studio PRO for pixel art

The clearest difference is price: Pixen at Free against Pixel Studio PRO for pixel art's $12.99. Pixen also leads on ads (none vs shown). Pixel Studio PRO for pixel art's advantage is review sentiment (85% vs 67%) and chart position (#63 vs unranked). On rating, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Pixen is free to download; Pixel Studio PRO for pixel art costs $12.99 up front. Pixen sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Pixel Studio PRO for pixel art sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Pixen holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 181 and 74 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of Pixen's written reviews are positive against 85% of Pixel Studio PRO for pixel art's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Pixen ships an update monthly, Pixel Studio PRO for pixel art every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pixen | Pixel Studio PRO for pixel art |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $12.99 |
| Rating | **[4.7 (181 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixen-pixel-art-editor/id1161880215/reviews)** | [4.5 (74 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-studio-pro-for-pixel-art/id1476932307/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **181** | 74 |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | **84.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#63** |
| Size | 13 MB | 133 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 PRO for pixel art

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-studio-pro-for-pixel-art/id1476932307)

**Currently charting:** #63 Top Paid · Graphics & Design (US App Store)

This app is a powerful yet user-friendly pixel art editor designed for artists and game developers. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools for creating detailed pixel art, including support for layers, animations, and custom palettes. Seamlessly sync your work across devices and share your creations with a vibrant community.

**Highlights:** Layers for advanced editing, Frame-by-frame animation, MP4 video export with music, Google Drive sync, Customizable palettes, Cross-platform compatibility

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PREMIUM subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| PROMOTION IN PIXEL NETWORK | $0.99 | one-time |
| EXTRA STORAGE IN PIXEL NETWORK | $3.99 | one-time |
| PRO CROSS GIFT -50%! | $8.99 | one-time |
| PRO CROSS | $17.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pixen free?

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

### Is Pixel Studio PRO for pixel art free?

Pixel Studio PRO for pixel art costs $12.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Pixen or Pixel Studio PRO for pixel art?

Pixen is rated higher. Pixen averages 4.7 out of 5 from 181 ratings, while Pixel Studio PRO for pixel art averages 4.5 from 74 ratings.

### Do Pixen or Pixel Studio PRO for pixel art have ads?

Pixel Studio PRO for pixel art shows ads; Pixen does not.

### Which is updated more often, Pixen or Pixel Studio PRO for pixel art?

Pixen ships an update monthly, and Pixel Studio PRO for pixel art every 6 weeks. Most recently, Pixen was updated on November 11, 2026 and Pixel Studio PRO for pixel art 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.*