Comparison

Pixquare vs Modulator

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

Head to head
About

Pixquare

This application is a comprehensive pixel art editor designed for both beginners and professionals. It offers a wide array of tools for creating game assets, animations, and digital art. The interface is intuitive and customizable, supporting various input methods and advanced features for detailed artwork.

Highlights
  • Intuitive and customizable UI
  • RGB and Indexed color modes
  • Tileset/Tilemap system
  • Timelapse recording
  • Apple Pencil support
  • Animation timeline panel
  • Aseprite file compatibility
Features
Read full description

Pixquare is the #1 pixel art editor, recommended by top pixel artists, game developers, and creators worldwide! Whether you're a beginner or a pro, its simple interface and rich toolset make pixel art creation easy and fun! Download now to create game assets, animate, or simply doodle pixel art! With feedback from thousands of artists, Pixquare is designed for your best pixel art experience ever! • HIGHLIGHTS: - Support both iPads & iPhones - Highly customizable and intuitive UI with left-hand mode available - RGB and Indexed mode - Tileset/Tilemap system - Timelapse recording - Apple Pencil support: gestures, sensitivity, touch rejection - Manual & auto-save modes - Shortcut options: keyboard, gesture pad, joystick - Custom themes • VERSATILE TOOLS: - Brush: spray, pixel perfect, pressure sensitivity, contour, dithering, custom brush, jumble, blur - Eraser: pixel perfect, pressure sensitivity, dithering - Move: transformation and snapping supported - Line: straight & curve mode, perfect angle - Shape: ellipse & rectangle mode, filled, perfect ratio - Selection: 5 types & 5 modes - Color: solid/gradient fill, contiguous/non-contiguous, and more - Color picker: 4 modes (HSV, HSL, Wheel, RGB), history, drag-to-fill - All tools offer shading - Additional tools: + Color replace + Color adjustment + Outline + Text with font import capability + Custom object • LAYER/TIMELINE PANEL: - Optimized for animation & organized layers - Multi-selection, layer grouping, frame tagging, and bulk operations - Visibility and editing-lock toggle - Supports reference layers - Frame duration and cel opacity - Linked cells, onion skin, and clipping mask • ADDITIONAL FEATURES: - Symmetry tool with unlimited axes - Reference images - Color palette: save/load from Lospec, import/export, color gradient generator - Blending modes, alpha lock - Preview with a separate animation loop - Canvas rotation, Finder-like file system - Guideline • FILE IMPORT/EXPORT: - Aseprite file compatibility (importing & exporting) - GIF importing with all frames - PNG, GIF, MOV, Sprite sheet export options (layers, frames, size, and animation) - Import Photos and files as reference layers and images ------------------------------- WHY ARTISTS LOVE PIXQUARE? "Genuinely the best pixel art app for the iPad that I would recommend anyone to get!" - Jon Davies, Pixel Artist on Super House of Dead Ninjas, Binding of Isaac. "Pixquare has more than meets the eye. A seemingly simple interface that has the intuitive control you look for. The gesture pad is comparable to a desktop keypad." - Michael, Pixel Artist, Author of Pixel Logic book "I've been sharing it with basically everyone I know with an iPad because I think it's one of the best software out there for creating pixels on the iPad." - CupOhJoe, Game Developer "This is one fine app to pixel on the iPad! You can tell there's a lot of love for the craft poured in here" - Ota Jaider, Pixel Artist ------------------------------- • SCREENSHOT ARTWORK AUTHORS: - FICO (@FicoPx) - Tofu (@tofupixel.bsky.social) - Mossy (@MossyPixe) - chili (@ryviolie) - Lesma (@pixe_lesma) - ue_voxel (@UeVoxel) - TransientCode (@TransientCode) - 08games (@the08games) - Rinspirit_art(@rinspiritart.bsky.social) - natalie (@cafeaunat) ------------------------------- SUPPORT: User guide: https://docs.pixquare.art Email: info@pixquare.art Twitter: https://twitter.com/pixquare_app Website: https://www.pixquare.art/ NO SUBSCRIPTION. BUY ONCE AND ENJOY FREE UPDATES FOREVER!

About

Modulator

Create designs using standard shapes or custom vector paths. Achieve complex effects with blend modes and organize your work with artboards. Export designs as images or vector files for further editing.

Highlights
  • Standard and custom vector path creation
  • Blend modes for complex effects
  • Artboards and pages for organization
  • Export as images or vector files
Features
Read full description

• Use standard shapes or custom vector paths to create simple designs • Take advantage of advanced features like blend modes to achieve complex effects • Organize your creations with artboards and pages • Export finished designs as images or vector files for further editing in other design software

Screenshots

Pixquare4 screens
Modulator3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Modulator at none against Pixquare's 7. Pixquare's advantage is ratings volume (3.3K vs 2) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, ads 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. Pixquare sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Modulator asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Modulator holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pixquare has 3.3K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Pixquare versus Modulator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPixquareModulator
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (3.3K ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews88.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings3.3K — better2
Update frequencyWeekly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Vision Pro — better
Requires iOS16.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size68 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSon NguyenLars Augustin

Bugs and requests

Pixquare

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Duplicate layers that cannot be removed
  • Drawn content disappearing from layers
  • Lack of save functionality

Requested features

8 requests
  • Ability to merge layers
  • Option to customize imported palette colors
  • Radial symmetry tool
  • Polyline tool
  • Separate layer and timeline sections
Show 3 more
  • Brush stabilizer
  • Ability to rotate symmetry lines
  • Higher canvas resolution

Modulator

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Pixquare

One-time6
  • Buy me a coffee$1.99
  • Full access for iPhones$7.99
  • Life-time full access$9.99
Show 3 more
  • Life-time full access$12.99
  • Life-time full access2 variants$19.99
  • Life-time full access$24.99
None

Modulator

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pixquare free?
Pixquare is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Modulator free?
Modulator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Pixquare or Modulator?
Modulator is rated higher. Pixquare averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.3K ratings, while Modulator averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Pixquare or Modulator have ads?
Neither Pixquare nor Modulator shows ads.

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