# Pixen vs Pixbit Studio

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Pixbit Studio at 100% against Pixen's 67%. Pixen's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.3) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pixen sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Pixbit Studio sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Pixen holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pixen has 180 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of Pixen's written reviews are positive against 100% of Pixbit Studio's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Pixen ships an update monthly, Pixbit Studio every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pixen | Pixbit Studio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (180 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixen-pixel-art-editor/id1161880215/reviews)** | [4.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixbit-studio-pixel-animator/id6752511330/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **180** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 13 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Furnace Creek Software LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/321189453) | [Luis Rosas](https://appshunter.io/developer/1460633627) |

## What reviewers say

### Pixen

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

This native pixel art editor offers a comprehensive suite of tools for creating low-resolution raster art and animations. It supports high zoom levels, custom color palettes, and seamless iCloud sync across iOS and macOS devices. Ideal for game sprites and retro art.

**Highlights:** Pixel art creation tools, Animation editing, Customizable color palettes, High zoom levels, iCloud sync, Multiple export formats, Apple Pencil support

**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


### Pixbit Studio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixbit-studio-pixel-animator/id6752511330)

Create pixel art and animate sprites with a comprehensive set of tools. Features include layers, onion skinning, and custom color palettes. Sync your work across devices and export in various formats for game development or retro graphics.

**Highlights:** Pixel-perfect drawing tools, Frame-by-frame animation, Onion skinning, Layer management, Customizable color palettes, Cross-device synchronization, Multiple export formats

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium - Unlimited Exports | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pixen free?

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

### Is Pixbit Studio free?

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

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

Pixen is rated higher. Pixen averages 4.7 out of 5 from 180 ratings, while Pixbit Studio averages 4.3 from 3 ratings.

### Do Pixen or Pixbit Studio have ads?

Neither Pixen nor Pixbit Studio shows ads.

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

Pixen ships an update monthly, and Pixbit Studio every 4 weeks. Most recently, Pixen was updated on November 4, 2026 and Pixbit Studio on October 30, 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.*