# Pixel Painter vs Ricalko

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pixel Painter | Ricalko |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-painter/id1579334726/reviews)** | [4.1 (83 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ricalko-camera-lucida-artwork/id1632440242/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **83** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **11.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 3 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.1 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [光建 张](https://appshunter.io/developer/955099719) | [GENOVA Softworks](https://appshunter.io/developer/954347533) |

## What reviewers say

### Pixel Painter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-painter/id1579334726)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Size Limits Removal | $1.99 | one-time |


### Ricalko

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ricalko-camera-lucida-artwork/id1632440242)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Unlock | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Ricalko 1 Month | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium Ricalko for 1 Year | $19.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*