# Sandbox vs Pixel Buddy

The clearest difference is monetization model: Pixel Buddy at free with in-app purchases against Sandbox's subscription. Pixel Buddy also leads on review sentiment (93% vs 71%) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). Sandbox's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (978K vs 39). On price, rating, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sandbox sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Pixel Buddy sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. 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 Sandbox against 4.7 for Pixel Buddy. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sandbox has 978K ratings behind it against 39, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 71% of Sandbox's written reviews are positive against 93% of Pixel Buddy's.

Sandbox ships an update every 2 days, Pixel Buddy every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sandbox | Pixel Buddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (978K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sandbox-pixel-art-coloring/id1237405816/reviews)** | [4.7 (39 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-buddy-coloring-book/id6451399345/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **978K** | 39 |
| Positive reviews | 70.8% of reviews | **92.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Every 10 days |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 10 MB | 152 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Alexey Grigorkin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1023358977) | [Chunky Tofu Studios LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1032660756) |

## What reviewers say

### Sandbox

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sandbox-pixel-art-coloring/id1237405816)

Engage in a pixel art coloring experience with a vast library of images. This app offers a fun and educational activity for children and families, promoting creativity and skill development. Turn your own photos into pixel art or explore a free drawing mode.

**Highlights:** Pixel art coloring by number, Photo to pixel art conversion, Free drawing mode, Searchable art library, Magic Round Button for similar art, Art collections, Hints for interesting art

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gorgeous Sandbox | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Sandbox. | $3.49 | per month |
| Pandy's Sandbox | $7.99 | per month |
| Annual Sandbox. | $19.49 | per year |
| Handsome Sandbox | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Relaxing and addictive
- 👍 Wide variety of pictures
- 👍 No ads
- 👍 Animated pictures
- 👍 Ability to create own drawings

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Many good pictures locked behind paywall
- 🐛 Issues with color palette not showing completed colors
- 🐛 Glitches with zooming and panning
- 🔋 Battery drain

**Reported bugs**

- Palette not showing completed colors correctly
- Zooming and panning issues
- Offline mode issues

**Requested features**

- Add search bar to find specific pictures
- Separate completed pictures from unfinished ones
- Ability to import and color own photos
- Progressive difficulty levels
- Collaborative coloring with friends


### Pixel Buddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-buddy-coloring-book/id6451399345)

Engage in a relaxing pixel art coloring experience with a vast collection of cute and simple drawings. Transform photos into pixel art, explore various categories, and even paint masterpieces by famous artists. Share your creations and enjoy a stress-free creative outlet.

**Highlights:** Vast collection of pixel art drawings, Transform photos into pixel art, Explore artworks by category, Paint masterpieces by famous artists, Share time-lapse videos of coloring process, New paintings added weekly

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pixel Buddy Premium (weekly) | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Pixel Buddy Premium (weekly) | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Pixel Buddy Premium (monthly) | $2.99 | per month |
| Pixel Buddy Premium (monthly) | $5.99 | per month |
| Pixel Buddy Premium (yearly) | $17.99 | per year |
| Pixel Buddy Premium (yearly) | $34.99 | per year |
| 20 Canvases | $1.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads Permanently | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sandbox free?

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

### Is Pixel Buddy free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Sandbox or Pixel Buddy?

Sandbox is rated higher. Sandbox averages 4.7 out of 5 from 978K ratings, while Pixel Buddy averages 4.7 from 39 ratings.

### Do Sandbox or Pixel Buddy have ads?

Pixel Buddy shows ads; Sandbox does not.

### Which is updated more often, Sandbox or Pixel Buddy?

Sandbox ships an update every 2 days, and Pixel Buddy every 10 days. Most recently, Sandbox was updated on November 5, 2026 and Pixel Buddy on November 3, 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.*