# PIXEL86 vs Trichromy

The clearest difference is ads: Trichromy at none against PIXEL86's shown. Trichromy also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). PIXEL86's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 80%) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PIXEL86 sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Trichromy sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Trichromy holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PIXEL86 has 42 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of PIXEL86's written reviews are positive against 80% of Trichromy's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

PIXEL86 ships an update every 5 days, Trichromy every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PIXEL86 | Trichromy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (42 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel86-retro-media-editor/id1641007991/reviews) | **[5.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trichromy/id6448881187/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **42** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 80.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 87 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Peter Tretyakov](https://appshunter.io/developer/1072835768) | [Héliographe, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1784071997) |

## What reviewers say

### 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 |


### Trichromy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trichromy/id6448881187)

Explore trichromatic photography with this unique camera app. Capture stunning color images by layering three monochromatic exposures, offering a distinctive visual style. Experiment with different timings and capture orders for psychedelic or subtle effects.

**Highlights:** Trichromatic photography capture, Layering of 3 monochromatic images, Adjustable delay between exposures, Individual colored shutter controls, Straightforward user interface, Historical photographic process exploration

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| Full Unlock | $4.99 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $9.99 | one-time |
| Large Tip | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PIXEL86 free?

PIXEL86 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Trichromy free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PIXEL86 or Trichromy?

Trichromy is rated higher. PIXEL86 averages 4.6 out of 5 from 42 ratings, while Trichromy averages 5.0 from 8 ratings.

### Do PIXEL86 or Trichromy have ads?

PIXEL86 shows ads; Trichromy does not.

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

PIXEL86 ships an update every 5 days, and Trichromy every 3 weeks. Most recently, PIXEL86 was updated on October 27, 2026 and Trichromy on October 5, 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.*