# Pixel Pets vs SpritePals

The clearest difference is monetization model: SpritePals at free with in-app purchases against Pixel Pets's subscription. Pixel Pets's advantage is review sentiment (74% vs 50%) and rating (4.4 vs 4.1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pixel Pets sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and SpritePals sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Pixel Pets holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pixel Pets has 152 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 74% of Pixel Pets's written reviews are positive against 50% of SpritePals's.

Pixel Pets ships an update every 2 weeks, SpritePals every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pixel Pets | SpritePals |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (152 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-pets-homescreen-widget/id1660283848/reviews)** | [4.1 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spritepals-pixel-pet-widget/id6754703807/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **152** | 11 |
| Positive reviews | **73.7% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 59 MB | 96 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PassiFlora Technologies](https://appshunter.io/developer/1586581422) | [Ivo van der Zee](https://appshunter.io/developer/1254451944) |

## What reviewers say

### Pixel Pets

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-pets-homescreen-widget/id1660283848)

Bring your home and lock screens to life with animated pixel pets. These adorable companions will move, play, and interact with you, making your device more fun and lively. Customize their backgrounds and care for them to strengthen your bond.

**Highlights:** Animated pets on home/lock screen, Interactive pet activities (ball, wand), Pet care (feeding, cleaning), Customizable widget backgrounds, Variety of pet types, Bond system with heart progression

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| Life Time | $48.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Cute pets
- 📱 Customizable home screen widgets
- 🎨 Ability to interact with pets
- 🤗 Teaches kids responsibility

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Limited free pets, need to pay for more
- ⏱️ Waiting time between pet interactions
- 🔍 Difficulty finding/adding pets to home screen

**Reported bugs**

- Pet disappearing when leaving the app
- Crashes or freezes on some devices

**Requested features**

- More free pet options
- Ability to customize pet appearance
- Live events or activities for pets
- Compatibility with older devices


### SpritePals

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spritepals-pixel-pet-widget/id6754703807)

Transform your pet into a retro pixel companion for your iPhone's Dynamic Island, Lock Screen, and Home Screen widgets. Feed, play, and care for your digital pal, or choose from a variety of pre-made pixel pets. Enjoy a charming and interactive experience with your unique screen-based friend.

**Highlights:** AI pixel pet creation from photos, Ready-made retro pixel pals, Dynamic Island integration, Lock Screen Live Activities, Home Screen widgets, Interactive pet care (feed, play)

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 token | $0.99 | one-time |
| 3 tokens | $1.99 | one-time |
| 5 tokens | $2.99 | one-time |
| 10 tokens | $3.99 | one-time |
| Pro (one-time) | $5.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pixel Pets free?

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

### Is SpritePals free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Pixel Pets or SpritePals?

Pixel Pets is rated higher. Pixel Pets averages 4.4 out of 5 from 152 ratings, while SpritePals averages 4.1 from 11 ratings.

### Do Pixel Pets or SpritePals have ads?

Neither Pixel Pets nor SpritePals shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pixel Pets or SpritePals?

Pixel Pets ships an update every 2 weeks, and SpritePals every 9 days. Most recently, Pixel Pets was updated on October 24, 2026 and SpritePals on October 25, 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.*