# Pixel Studio PRO vs PixelPencil

The clearest difference is price: PixelPencil at Free against Pixel Studio PRO's $12.99. PixelPencil also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). Pixel Studio PRO's advantage is chart position (#96 vs unranked). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

PixelPencil is free to download; Pixel Studio PRO costs $12.99 up front. Pixel Studio PRO sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and PixelPencil sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Pixel Studio PRO against 4.6 for PixelPencil. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 74 and 110 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 85% of Pixel Studio PRO's written reviews are positive against 79% of PixelPencil's.

Pixel Studio PRO ships an update every 2 months, PixelPencil every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pixel Studio PRO | PixelPencil |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $12.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.5 (74 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-studio-pro-pixel-editor/id1476932307/reviews) | **[4.6 (110 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixelpencil-pixel-art-editor/id1584616836/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 74 | **110** |
| Positive reviews | **84.6% of reviews** | 78.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#96** | — |
| Size | 144 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Farida Yarullina](https://appshunter.io/developer/846630437) | [Yosuke Seki](https://appshunter.io/developer/824851972) |

## What reviewers say

### Pixel Studio PRO

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-studio-pro-pixel-editor/id1476932307)

**Currently charting:** #96 Top Paid · Graphics & Design (US App Store)

This app is a powerful yet user-friendly pixel art editor designed for artists and game developers. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools for creating detailed pixel art, including support for layers, animations, and custom palettes. Seamlessly sync your work across devices and share your creations with a vibrant community.

**Highlights:** Layers for advanced editing, Frame-by-frame animation, MP4 video export with music, Google Drive sync, Customizable palettes, Cross-platform compatibility

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PREMIUM subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| PROMOTION IN PIXEL NETWORK | $0.99 | one-time |
| EXTRA STORAGE IN PIXEL NETWORK | $3.99 | one-time |
| PRO CROSS GIFT -50%! | $8.99 | one-time |
| PRO CROSS | $17.99 | one-time |


### PixelPencil

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixelpencil-pixel-art-editor/id1584616836)

Create pixel art with a robust set of tools, including layers, blend modes, and various brushes. Easily zoom, rotate, and manage multiple projects. Export your creations as animated GIFs.

**Highlights:** Layer editing with grouping and blend modes, Comprehensive set of drawing tools, Undo/Redo functionality, Animated GIF export, Color creation tools, Pinch-to-zoom and canvas rotation, Save multiple works with iCloud support

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove ads | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pixel Studio PRO free?

Pixel Studio PRO costs $12.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is PixelPencil free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Pixel Studio PRO or PixelPencil?

PixelPencil is rated higher. Pixel Studio PRO averages 4.5 out of 5 from 74 ratings, while PixelPencil averages 4.6 from 110 ratings.

### Do Pixel Studio PRO or PixelPencil have ads?

Both Pixel Studio PRO and PixelPencil show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pixel Studio PRO or PixelPencil?

Pixel Studio PRO ships an update every 2 months, and PixelPencil every 2 weeks. Most recently, Pixel Studio PRO was updated on November 13, 2026 and PixelPencil 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.*