# Atkinson vs PIXEL86

The clearest difference is rating: PIXEL86 at 4.7 against Atkinson's 3.3. PIXEL86 also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 71%) and update cadence (every 5 days vs monthly). Atkinson's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Atkinson sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month 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, 4.7 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PIXEL86 has 40 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of Atkinson's written reviews are positive against 100% of PIXEL86's.

Atkinson ships an update monthly, PIXEL86 every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on June 5, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Atkinson | PIXEL86 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/atkinson/id1569487124/reviews) | **[4.7 (40 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel86-retro-media-editor/id1641007991/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **40** |
| Positive reviews | 71.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 19 MB | 87 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tsutomu Koyachi](https://appshunter.io/developer/413497532) | [Peter Tretyakov](https://appshunter.io/developer/1072835768) |

## What reviewers say

### Atkinson

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/atkinson/id1569487124)

This app processes photos using the Atkinson dithering algorithm, originally used for black and white displays on old Macintosh computers. It creates small file-sized images with options for square cropping, rounded corners, and white borders, offering a real-time preview of the effect.

**Highlights:** Atkinson dithering algorithm processing, Square photo output, Toggleable rounded corners, White border option, Real-time preview

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Standard Month | $0.99 | per month |
| Standard Year | $9.99 | per year |


### 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 Atkinson free?

Atkinson 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, Atkinson or PIXEL86?

PIXEL86 is rated higher. Atkinson averages 3.3 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while PIXEL86 averages 4.7 from 40 ratings.

### Do Atkinson or PIXEL86 have ads?

Both Atkinson and PIXEL86 show ads.

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

Atkinson ships an update monthly, and PIXEL86 every 5 days. Most recently, Atkinson was updated on June 5, 2026 and PIXEL86 on September 11, 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.*