# Pixcell vs Area

The clearest difference is rating: Pixcell at 5.0 against Area's 4.3. Pixcell also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 9 days). Area's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pixcell sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Area asks for nothing beyond the download.

Pixcell holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 4 respectively.

Pixcell ships an update every 2 days, Area every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pixcell | Area |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixcell/id1637454572/reviews)** | [4.3 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/area-pixel-place/id6444089987/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **4** |
| Positive reviews | — | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Every 9 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 19 MB | 121 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sean Bailis](https://appshunter.io/developer/1575075007) | [Bart van Zeist](https://appshunter.io/developer/1231953143) |

## What reviewers say

### Pixcell

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixcell/id1637454572)

Collaborate with others to alter the color of individual pixels, contributing to a larger, evolving digital artwork. Join a community effort to create a shared visual experience.

**Highlights:** Change pixel colors, Contribute to a larger image, Community-driven art, Real-time collaboration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reset Timer | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| Become a Pixcell Patron | $4.99 | one-time |
| Add Pixcells | $24.99 | one-time |


### Area

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/area-pixel-place/id6444089987)

Collaborate with users worldwide to create pixel art on a shared canvas. Design together in public spaces or create private areas for friends. A widget lets you view ongoing creations.

**Highlights:** Collaborative pixel art creation, Global shared canvas, Private creation spaces, Real-time pixel placement, Widget for viewing creations

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pixcell free?

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

### Is Area free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Pixcell or Area?

Pixcell is rated higher. Pixcell averages 5.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Area averages 4.3 from 4 ratings.

### Do Pixcell or Area have ads?

Both Pixcell and Area show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pixcell or Area?

Pixcell ships an update every 2 days, and Area every 9 days. Most recently, Pixcell was updated on October 3, 2026 and Area on October 15, 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.*