# Pixel Studio for pixel art vs Clip Studio Paint for iPhone

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Pixel Studio for pixel art at 94% against Clip Studio Paint for iPhone's 36%. Pixel Studio for pixel art also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.4) and device support (3 vs 1). Clip Studio Paint for iPhone's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and chart position (#105 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pixel Studio for pixel art sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Clip Studio Paint for iPhone sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Pixel Studio for pixel art holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6.1K and 1.8K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 94% of Pixel Studio for pixel art's written reviews are positive against 36% of Clip Studio Paint for iPhone's.

Pixel Studio for pixel art ships an update every 4 weeks, Clip Studio Paint for iPhone every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pixel Studio for pixel art | Clip Studio Paint for iPhone |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (6.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-studio-for-pixel-art/id1404203859/reviews)** | [4.4 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clip-studio-paint-for-iphone/id1483037022/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **6.1K** | 1.8K |
| Positive reviews | **93.7% of reviews** | 35.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#105** |
| Size | 133 MB | 561 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Farida Yarullina](https://appshunter.io/developer/846630437) | [CELSYS,Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/291038364) |

## What reviewers say

### Pixel Studio for pixel art

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-studio-for-pixel-art/id1404203859)

This app is a powerful yet simple pixel art editor designed for artists and game developers. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools for creating detailed pixel art, including layers, animations, and advanced color manipulation. Sync your work across devices and share it with a vibrant community.

**Highlights:** Layers for advanced pixel art, Frame-by-frame animations, Export animations to GIF, MP4, or sprite sheets, Google Drive sync for cross-device use, Customizable palettes and color picker, Support for various popular image formats, Pixel art scaling and rotation tools

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PREMIUM subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| Sprite collection | $0.99 | one-time |
| PROMOTION IN PIXEL NETWORK | $0.99 | one-time |
| Disable Ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| PRO -50%! | $5.99 | one-time |
| PRO PROMO -50% | $5.99 | one-time |
| PRO CROSS -50%! | $8.99 | one-time |
| PRO CROSS GIFT -50%! | $8.99 | one-time |
| PRO | $12.99 | one-time |
| PRO CROSS | $17.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🎨 Great tools for pixel art
- 💡 Helpful tutorials
- 🔍 Detailed features
- 🌟 High-quality app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes
- 🔀 Confusing navigation
- 🔍 Difficult to find certain features
- 🖌️ Brush size issues
- 🎨 Limited color palette options

**Reported bugs**

- Exporting animations not working as expected
- Unexpected behavior when merging layers
- Inconsistent performance on larger canvases
- Glitches with the reference image feature

**Requested features**

- Add custom brush options
- Improve layer management
- Implement a color wheel
- Add canvas resizing capabilities
- Introduce mirroring/symmetry tools


### Clip Studio Paint for iPhone

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clip-studio-paint-for-iphone/id1483037022)

**Currently charting:** #105 Top Free · Graphics & Design, #193 Top Grossing · Graphics & Design (US App Store)

Create professional-quality digital art, comics, and animations with a vast array of brushes, materials, and editing tools. Offers features for beginners and pros, including 3D models for reference and advanced layer management.

**Highlights:** Unlimited brushes with realistic textures, Vast library of artist-made materials, Advanced coloring tools with Shading Assist, 3D models for anatomy and perspective reference, Comprehensive comic creation tools, Professional animation features, Non-destructive editing and layer management

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PRO Monthly Smartphone Plan | $0.99 | per month |
| EX Monthly Smartphone Plan | $2.49 | 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 |
| PRO Monthly Dual-Device Plan | $7.99 | 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 |
| EX Monthly Dual-Device Plan | $13.49 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Great for digital art
- 👍 Smooth drawing experience
- 💡 Useful 3D model integration
- 🎨 Powerful drawing tools

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏱️ Restrictive time limit for free users
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🤔 Confusing user interface
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs

**Reported bugs**

- Login and account issues
- Unresponsive brushes and tools
- Inability to access purchased content
- Drawings not saving properly

**Requested features**

- Ability to save and continue drawings across sessions
- More free brushes and tools
- Improved mobile optimization
- Perpetual license option for mobile


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pixel Studio for pixel art free?

Pixel Studio for pixel art is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Clip Studio Paint for iPhone free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Pixel Studio for pixel art or Clip Studio Paint for iPhone?

Pixel Studio for pixel art is rated higher. Pixel Studio for pixel art averages 4.7 out of 5 from 6.1K ratings, while Clip Studio Paint for iPhone averages 4.4 from 1.8K ratings.

### Do Pixel Studio for pixel art or Clip Studio Paint for iPhone have ads?

Pixel Studio for pixel art shows ads; Clip Studio Paint for iPhone does not.

### Which is updated more often, Pixel Studio for pixel art or Clip Studio Paint for iPhone?

Pixel Studio for pixel art ships an update every 4 weeks, and Clip Studio Paint for iPhone every 3 weeks. Most recently, Pixel Studio for pixel art was updated on November 4, 2026 and Clip Studio Paint for iPhone 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.*