# Pixen vs Pixel Studio PRO

The clearest difference is price: Pixen at Free against Pixel Studio PRO's $12.99. Pixen also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.7 vs 4.5). Pixel Studio PRO's advantage is review sentiment (85% vs 67%) and chart position (#96 vs unranked). On ratings volume, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Pixen is free to download; Pixel Studio PRO costs $12.99 up front. Pixen sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Pixel Studio PRO 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'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 every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pixen | Pixel Studio PRO |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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-pixel-editor/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 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#96** |
| 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 PRO

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

**Currently charting:** #96 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 free?

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

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

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

### Do Pixen or Pixel Studio PRO have ads?

Pixel Studio PRO shows ads; Pixen does not.

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

Pixen ships an update monthly, and Pixel Studio PRO every 2 months. Most recently, Pixen was updated on November 11, 2026 and Pixel Studio PRO on November 13, 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.*