# pixiv vs Weibo intl.

The clearest difference is rating: pixiv at 4.5 against Weibo intl.'s 3.2. pixiv also leads on review sentiment (43% vs 14%) and chart position (#164 vs unranked). Weibo intl.'s advantage is iOS requirement (13 vs 16.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. pixiv sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Weibo intl. sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

pixiv holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6.7K and 4.9K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of pixiv's written reviews are positive against 14% of Weibo intl.'s.

pixiv ships an update weekly, Weibo intl. every 10 days. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | pixiv | Weibo intl. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (6.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixiv/id337248563/reviews)** | [3.2 (4.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/weibo-intl/id1215210046/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **6.7K** | 4.9K |
| Positive reviews | **43.2% of reviews** | 13.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 10 days |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#164** | — |
| Size | 104 MB | 149 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [pixiv Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/337248566) | [Beijing Weimeng Internet Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1358216519) |

## What reviewers say

### pixiv

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixiv/id337248563)

**Currently charting:** #164 Top Grossing · Social Networking (US App Store)

Explore a vast collection of over 160 million illustrations, manga, and novels from Japan's largest creative community. Discover new artists, browse trending content, and share your own creations. Personalize your feed with recommendations based on your preferences.

**Highlights:** Browse illustrations, manga, and novels, Post and share your artwork, Discover recommended and trending works, Search by keywords, tags, and creators, Follow favorite artists, View browsing history (Premium)

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| pixiv Premium (no new users) | $4.99 | per month |
| pixiv Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| pixiv Premium | $13.49 | per 3 months |
| pixiv Premium | $24.99 | per 6 months |
| pixiv Premium | $45.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to navigate
- 👍 Diverse content
- 💡 Allows for creative expression
- 👍 Friendly community

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes
- 🔒 Concerning content moderation
- 💰 Excessive monetization
- 🚫 Restrictive features behind paywall

**Reported bugs**

- Blurry thumbnails on iPad
- Inability to copy text
- Pixiv links not opening in-app
- Inconsistent behavior when liking/following

**Requested features**

- Improved search and filtering options
- Ability to save animated images
- Sync bookmarks and settings across devices
- Better support for non-Japanese users


### Weibo intl.

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/weibo-intl/id1215210046)

Discover trending topics, connect with idols, and explore behind-the-scenes content. Share your thoughts, repost anything, and chat with new friends. Enjoy exclusive privileges with a VIP membership.

**Highlights:** Discover trending topics, Follow favorite idols, Explore behind-the-scenes content, Post and repost content, Chat and connect with friends, VIP membership for exclusive privileges

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 连续包月会员 | $1.99 | per month |
| 按月订阅尊享会员 | $2.99 | per month |
| 连续季度会员 | $3.99 | per 3 months |
| 按月订阅微博社交会员 | $3.99 | per month |
| 连续包季尊享会员 | $7.99 | per 3 months |
| 连续包年会员 | $17.99 | per year |
| VIP($1.99) | $1.99 | one-time |
| 升级一个月尊享会员 | $1.99 | one-time |
| 3个月微博会员 | $3.99 | one-time |
| 社交会员1个月 | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and clean interface
- 🚀 Faster than the original Weibo app
- 💡 Useful for following Chinese celebrities and content

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🔑 Difficult to create/log in to accounts
- 🔍 Lack of translation and localization options
- 📢 Intrusive and excessive advertisements
- 🤖 Forced account linking and following

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to view trending topics
- Disappearing likes and comments
- Inability to share content
- Inconsistent behavior across devices and OS versions

**Requested features**

- Easier account registration and recovery
- Full translation to English and other languages
- Option to disable advertisements
- Improved stability and performance


## Frequently asked questions

### Is pixiv free?

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

### Is Weibo intl. free?

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

### Which has better reviews, pixiv or Weibo intl.?

pixiv is rated higher. pixiv averages 4.5 out of 5 from 6.7K ratings, while Weibo intl. averages 3.2 from 4.9K ratings.

### Do pixiv or Weibo intl. have ads?

Both pixiv and Weibo intl. show ads.

### Which is updated more often, pixiv or Weibo intl.?

pixiv ships an update weekly, and Weibo intl. every 10 days. Most recently, pixiv was updated on November 6, 2026 and Weibo intl. on November 6, 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.*