Comparison

Pixel Painter vs Ricalko

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Pixel Painter

Create pixel art with a variety of tools and export options. Customize your creations with different pixel styles and built-in color palettes. The app features a scrollable canvas for easy pattern creation and selection tools for precise editing.

Highlights
  • Basic drawing and editing tools
  • Apply various pixel export styles
  • Erase mode for clearing colors
  • Selection and cropping tools
  • Scrollable canvas for patterns
  • Customizable color palettes
  • Downsample/Upsample pixel resolution
Features
Read full description

Create pixel art with various pixel styles.  Pixel Painter is an easy to use pixel art editor, with these main features: • Basic Tools: pencil tool, block tool, color bucket tool, selection tool, eyedropper tool, scroll tool. • Pixel Styles: apply a style to pixels when export, such as perler, circle, square. • Erase Mode: in this mode, pencil, block tool and color bucket tool are used to clear colors. • Selection: crop to selection, duplicate selected pixels, or remove selected pixels. • Scrollable Canvas: the canvas is scrollable, which allow you create repeatedly patterns more easier. • Color Palette: select a builtin color palette, then customize it if you like. • Downsample/Upsample pixels to get less/more pixels. If you have any questions, please contact me at email: arrowgraphics@icloud.com

About

Ricalko

Transform photos into traceable art projections using your device's camera. Ideal for both aspiring artists and experienced creators, this tool offers features like layer separation and perspective correction to help you achieve stunning results on any surface.

Highlights
  • Project photos for tracing
  • Layer separation for detailed drawing
  • Perspective mode for angled projection
  • Augmented reality tracing with markers
  • Creative filters for art styles
  • Zoom for precision drawing
Features
Read full description

Ricalko lets you create incredible artwork, see how your drawings take shape, like magic! It is great for beginners who want to learn drawing and it is perfect for advanced users who want to improve even more! Ricalko has many smart features that let you achieve the results your aiming to, but in few words it is able to virtually project photos, so you can trace them on a paper sheet, an easel or on any other surface! You don't have to be a professional artist to reach amazing results.  How is it able to do that? In normal mode you have to put your device onto a stand (DIY works too, like a simple glass), with the camera pointing to a sheet of paper below for example. On your screen an overlay will be shown and you will be able to see both the photo and your hand below so you can trace it! See below for more details... CRAFT REALISTIC ARTWORK FROM ANY PHOTO You can choose any photo and then create art from it. Pencil and paper? Brush and watercolours? You choose! LEARN TO DRAW AND SEPARATE LAYERS Split photos to different layers, in colors or grayscale, see them one by one individually and trace them on your art to create the final result. Perfect for learning! CREATIVE FILTERS Turn your photo into a drawing, a comic or apply a posterisation, Ricalko filters are great for creativity. PERSPECTIVE MODE You don't have to keep your device perpendicularly if you don't have a stand, you can also keep it angled, perspective mode will remove any distortion and you will be able to create your artworks without any particular effort. You just have to set it with the guidelines helper image! AR MODE Don't like keeping your device still? You don't have to with the augmented reality. You can select a marker, the app will recognise it and place your photo virtually next to it, so you can trace it! USE ANY CAMERA You can use any camera on your device, wide angle, zoom lens, ultra wide angle or even the front camera, this one with the perspective mode and a reflector (to be purchased in online stores, such as OSMO and not included). ZOOM TO BE PRECISE After you have setup your environment you can zoom on the area where you are drawing to see even more clearly, with natural gestures like pinch to zoom or by moving your device closer in AR Mode. PREMIUM CUSTOMER SUPPORT Need help? Have a suggestion? See it included in future releases and drop an email to support@genovasoftworks.com REQUIREMENTS Ricalko does not have any particular requirement since supports iOS 14+ devices only. If you can download it, it will work on your device. A printer is suggested in order to print markers for AR Mode and the guidelines image for Perspective mode, even if they could also be displayed on an additional supporting device. A subscription is required. Terms and Privacy Policy can be found at https://www.genovasoftworks.com/terms.php. For any question or help drop an email to support@genovasoftworks.com.

Screenshots

Pixel Painter4 screens
Ricalko4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Pixel Painter at free with in-app purchases against Ricalko's subscription. Pixel Painter also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 5 months) and rating (4.3 vs 4.1). Ricalko's advantage is ratings volume (83 vs 3) and review sentiment (11% vs 0%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Pixel Painter sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Ricalko sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Pixel Painter holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ricalko has 83 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 0% of Pixel Painter's written reviews are positive against 11% of Ricalko's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pixel Painter ships an update every 4 days, Ricalko every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on June 4, 2026 and September 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Pixel Painter versus Ricalko: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPixel PainterRicalko
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (3 ratings) — better4.1 (83 ratings)
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews11.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings383 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.114.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB40 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer光建 张GENOVA Softworks

Customer experience

Pixel Painter

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Ricalko

All ratings83 ratings
Positive79.5%
Neutral3.6%
Negative16.9%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive11.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative88.9%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Pixel Painter

One-time1
  • Size Limits Removal$1.99
3 purchases

Ricalko

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly Unlock3 Days trial$2.997 Days
  • Premium Ricalko 1 Month$4.991 Month
  • Premium Ricalko for 1 Year$19.991 Year

Questions

Is Pixel Painter free?
Pixel Painter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Ricalko free?
Ricalko is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Pixel Painter or Ricalko?
Pixel Painter is rated higher. Pixel Painter averages 4.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Ricalko averages 4.1 from 83 ratings.
Do Pixel Painter or Ricalko have ads?
Neither Pixel Painter nor Ricalko shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pixel Painter or Ricalko?
Pixel Painter ships an update every 4 days, and Ricalko every 5 months. Most recently, Pixel Painter was updated on June 4, 2026 and Ricalko on September 7, 2026.

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