# Pixelfed vs Popsicle

Pixelfed and Popsicle are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pixelfed | Popsicle |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (546 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixelfed/id1632519816/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **546** | — |
| Positive reviews | 48.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 26 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Daniel Supernault](https://appshunter.io/developer/1632519818) | [Alexandre Laurin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1464453623) |

## What reviewers say

### Pixelfed

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixelfed/id1632519816)

Share your photography with a community that values creativity, authenticity, and privacy. This app offers an ethical alternative to mainstream social media, giving users control over their content and data.

**Highlights:** Ad-free photo sharing, Privacy-focused, User content control, Authentic community, Ethical social media alternative

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 🔒 Decentralized and privacy-focused
- 👍 Clean, simple, and familiar interface
- 👍 Chronological feed without algorithms
- 👍 Ad-free experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy performance
- 🐛 Inability to edit bio and profile
- 🐛 Inconsistent slideshow and media handling
- 🐛 Slow server response times
- 🐛 Logging out issues

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to post photos or send DMs
- Inconsistent heart/like behavior
- Crashes and freezes on app launch
- Incompatibility with certain servers

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Video support
- Improved collections/albums management
- Seamless onboarding and server selection
- Better notifications and interaction tracking


### Popsicle

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/popsicle/id6446209878)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pixelfed free?

Pixelfed is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Popsicle free?

Popsicle is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Pixelfed or Popsicle have ads?

Neither Pixelfed nor Popsicle shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pixelfed or Popsicle?

Pixelfed ships an update every 3 weeks, and Popsicle every 3 weeks. Most recently, Pixelfed was updated on September 22, 2026 and Popsicle on September 21, 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.*