# HalftonePix vs PIXEL86

The clearest difference is ads: HalftonePix at none against PIXEL86's shown. HalftonePix also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 18.0). PIXEL86's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 67%) and rating (4.6 vs 4.3). On price, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. HalftonePix sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and PIXEL86 sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PIXEL86 holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PIXEL86 has 42 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of HalftonePix's written reviews are positive against 100% of PIXEL86's.

HalftonePix ships an update fortnightly, PIXEL86 every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HalftonePix | PIXEL86 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/halftonepix/id1448103390/reviews) | **[4.6 (42 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel86-retro-media-editor/id1641007991/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 7 | **42** |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 17 MB | 87 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Aevica Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/1448103389) | [Peter Tretyakov](https://appshunter.io/developer/1072835768) |

## What reviewers say

### HalftonePix

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/halftonepix/id1448103390)

Apply unique artistic effects to your photos with a variety of dot, line, and wave patterns. Customize shapes and colors for a personalized look. Transform selfies or gallery images into memorable artwork.

**Highlights:** Halftone dot effects, Line and stripe effects, Wave patterns, Customizable shapes and colors, Apply to selfies or gallery photos

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Styles | $4.99 | one-time |


### PIXEL86

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel86-retro-media-editor/id1641007991)

Transform photos and videos with vintage pixel art aesthetics. Apply true black-and-white dithering, custom color palettes, and unique dithering styles to create retro media. Supports video editing and sharing your creations.

**Highlights:** True B/W dithering, Video editing support, Customizable color palettes, Three dithering styles (Natural, Pattern, Flat), Vintage-inspired aesthetics, Social media sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| License Discount | $9.99 | one-time |
| Perpetual License | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HalftonePix free?

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

### Is PIXEL86 free?

PIXEL86 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, HalftonePix or PIXEL86?

PIXEL86 is rated higher. HalftonePix averages 4.3 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while PIXEL86 averages 4.6 from 42 ratings.

### Do HalftonePix or PIXEL86 have ads?

PIXEL86 shows ads; HalftonePix does not.

### Which is updated more often, HalftonePix or PIXEL86?

HalftonePix ships an update fortnightly, and PIXEL86 every 5 days. Most recently, HalftonePix was updated on October 21, 2026 and PIXEL86 on October 27, 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.*