# Clip Studio Paint vs Pixel Designer Pro

The clearest difference is rating: Clip Studio Paint at 4.7 against Pixel Designer Pro's 3.3. Clip Studio Paint also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 24 months) and ratings volume (14K vs 3). Pixel Designer Pro's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 11) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Clip Studio Paint sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $4.89 per month. Pixel Designer Pro asks for nothing beyond the download.

Clip Studio Paint holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Clip Studio Paint has 14K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of Clip Studio Paint's written reviews are positive against 38% of Pixel Designer Pro's.

Clip Studio Paint ships an update every 3 weeks, Pixel Designer Pro every 24 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and June 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Clip Studio Paint | Pixel Designer Pro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (14K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clip-studio-paint/id1262985592/reviews)** | [3.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-designer-pro/id1485016367/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **14K** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **45.7% of reviews** | 38.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 24 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 583 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPad | **iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CELSYS,Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/291038364) | [Infinite Token](https://appshunter.io/developer/1445595230) |

## What reviewers say

### Clip Studio Paint

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clip-studio-paint/id1262985592)

Create digital art with a vast array of brushes, textures, and colors. This app offers tools for drawing, painting, comic creation, and animation, with features like 3D models for reference and advanced layer options. It provides a free trial and subscription plans for full access.

**Highlights:** Unlimited custom brushes, Realistic color mixing, Artist-made materials, 3D model references, Comic creation tools, Animation features, Advanced layer editing

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PRO Monthly | $4.89 | per month |
| PRO Monthly Single-Device Plan | $4.89 | per month |
| PRO Monthly Single-Device Plan | $4.89 | per month |
| PRO Monthly Dual-Device Plan | $7.99 | per month |
| EX Monthly | $9.69 | per month |
| EX Monthly Single-Device Plan | $9.69 | per month |
| EX Monthly Single-Device Plan | $9.69 | per month |
| EX Monthly Dual-Device Plan | $13.49 | per month |
| PRO Annual | $28.90 | per year |
| PRO Annual Single-Device Plan | $28.90 | per year |
| PRO Annual Single-Device Plan | $28.90 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Best drawing software for iPad
- 🎨 Powerful features like vector layers
- 💻 Seamless transition from desktop to iPad
- 👍 Great for comics and illustrations
- 🎨 Diverse brushes and materials

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔍 Confusing interface for beginners
- 🔒 Requires internet connection to save
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 💻 Lacks full desktop feature parity

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to save work without subscription
- Laggy performance with large files
- Unreliable auto-save and recovery
- Issues with brush and tool responsiveness

**Requested features**

- One-time purchase option
- Improved file management and cloud integration
- Simplified interface for casual users
- More animation and 3D tools


### Pixel Designer Pro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-designer-pro/id1485016367)

Create pixel art, animations, and game assets with a professional editor. Features include multiple drawing modes, advanced layers, custom palettes, and precision tools. Seamlessly work across devices with cross-platform sync.

**Highlights:** Multiple Drawing Modes (Frame, Tile, Tileset, Sheet), Advanced Layer System, Custom Color Palettes, Animation Tools with Real-time Preview, Precision Drawing Tools, Mirror Drawing, Flexible Grid Options, Professional Export Options (PNG, GIF, etc.)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Clip Studio Paint free?

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

### Is Pixel Designer Pro free?

Pixel Designer Pro is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Clip Studio Paint or Pixel Designer Pro?

Clip Studio Paint is rated higher. Clip Studio Paint averages 4.7 out of 5 from 14K ratings, while Pixel Designer Pro averages 3.3 from 3 ratings.

### Do Clip Studio Paint or Pixel Designer Pro have ads?

Neither Clip Studio Paint nor Pixel Designer Pro shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Clip Studio Paint or Pixel Designer Pro?

Clip Studio Paint ships an update every 3 weeks, and Pixel Designer Pro every 24 months. Most recently, Clip Studio Paint was updated on September 25, 2026 and Pixel Designer Pro on June 5, 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.*