# pixiv vs HoYoLAB

The clearest difference is rating: pixiv at 4.5 against HoYoLAB's 3.9. pixiv also leads on chart position (#197 vs unranked) and update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly). HoYoLAB's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 12) and ads (none vs shown). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. pixiv sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. HoYoLAB asks for nothing beyond the download.

pixiv holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6.7K and 4K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 43% of pixiv's written reviews are positive against 45% of HoYoLAB's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

pixiv ships an update weekly, HoYoLAB fortnightly. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | pixiv | HoYoLAB |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (6.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixiv/id337248563/reviews)** | [3.9 (4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hoyolab/id1559483982/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **6.7K** | 4K |
| Positive reviews | 43.2% of reviews | **45.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#197** | — |
| Size | 103 MB | 179 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [pixiv Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/337248566) | [COGNOSPHERE PTE. LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1599719156) |

## What reviewers say

### pixiv

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

**Currently charting:** #197 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 (12)**

| 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 |
| 120 points | $0.99 | one-time |
| 160 points | $0.99 | one-time |
| 240 points | $1.99 | one-time |
| 320 points | $1.99 | one-time |
| 600 points | $4.99 | one-time |
| 800 points | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1,800 points | $9.99 | one-time |

**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


### HoYoLAB

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hoyolab/id1559483982)

Connect with fellow gamers, discover engaging content, and share your creativity. Get official game updates and access helpful tools to enhance your gameplay. Join a vibrant community for shared gaming experiences.

**Highlights:** Communicate and discuss with players, Discover recommended content, Share fan art and anecdotes, Get official game event information, Access practical gaming tools and guides

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient daily check-in
- 📊 Helpful interactive map
- 👍 Useful in-game information
- 💡 Ability to share fan art and memes
- 🤝 Decent community

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent network errors and bugs
- 🔍 Unclear moderation and rules
- 💬 Toxic and inappropriate community posts
- 📱 Not optimized for tablets
- 🔔 Unreliable notification system

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues and account linking problems
- Crashes and freezes
- Inconsistent behavior of certain features
- Delayed or missing daily check-in rewards

**Requested features**

- Ability to track in-game progress on the interactive map
- Option to disable specific community content
- Improved customer support and appeal process
- Tablet-optimized layout
- Resin/energy tracking widget


## Frequently asked questions

### Is pixiv free?

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

### Is HoYoLAB free?

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

### Which has better reviews, pixiv or HoYoLAB?

pixiv is rated higher. pixiv averages 4.5 out of 5 from 6.7K ratings, while HoYoLAB averages 3.9 from 4K ratings.

### Do pixiv or HoYoLAB have ads?

pixiv shows ads; HoYoLAB does not.

### Which is updated more often, pixiv or HoYoLAB?

pixiv ships an update weekly, and HoYoLAB fortnightly. Most recently, pixiv was updated on November 1, 2026 and HoYoLAB on November 1, 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.*