# pixiv vs 微博

The clearest difference is rating: pixiv at 4.5 against 微博's 2.3. pixiv also leads on review sentiment (43% vs 27%). 微博's advantage is chart position (#125 vs unranked) and device support (5 vs 2). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. pixiv sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and 微博 sells 13 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 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6.7K and 7.7K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of pixiv's written reviews are positive against 27% of 微博's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | pixiv | 微博 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (6.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixiv/id337248563/reviews)** | [2.3 (7.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id350962117/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 6.7K | **7.7K** |
| Positive reviews | **43.2% of reviews** | 26.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Best chart rank | — | **#125** |
| Size | 103 MB | 405 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [pixiv Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/337248566) | [SINA Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/291478092) |

## What reviewers say

### pixiv

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

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


### 微博

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id350962117)

**Currently charting:** #125 Top Free · Social Networking, #179 Top Grossing · Social Networking (US App Store)

Discover the world with our app, where you can stay updated on news, trends, and share your thoughts through text, photos, and videos. Join now to connect with people, explore various channels, and enjoy exclusive privileges!

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 连续包月会员 | $1.99 | per month |
| 按月订阅微博高级会员 | $3.99 | per month |
| 按月订阅微博高级会员 | $3.99 | per month |
| 连续季度会员 | $4.99 | per 3 months |
| 半年微博会员 | $8.99 | per 6 months |
| 连续包年会员 | $17.99 | per year |
| 微博问答一元围观 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 1个月微博会员 | $1.99 | one-time |
| 升级1个月微博会员 | $1.99 | one-time |
| 稀缺装扮1个 | $1.99 | one-time |
| 3个月微博会员 | $3.99 | one-time |
| 高级会员1个月 | $3.99 | one-time |
| 1年微博会员 | $17.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Entertaining and educational content
- 👍 User-friendly interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and inconsistent
- 💩 Excessive ads and monetization
- 🤫 Censorship and lack of transparency
- 🤬 Poor customer service and account management

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent crashes and freezes
- Unreliable login and verification process
- Inconsistent behavior across devices and platforms

**Requested features**

- Improved translation and language support
- Better content moderation and user control
- Enhanced privacy and data protection


## Frequently asked questions

### Is pixiv free?

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

### Is 微博 free?

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

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

pixiv is rated higher. pixiv averages 4.5 out of 5 from 6.7K ratings, while 微博 averages 2.3 from 7.7K ratings.

### Do pixiv or 微博 have ads?

Both pixiv and 微博 show ads.

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

pixiv ships an update weekly, and 微博 weekly. Most recently, pixiv was updated on October 29, 2026 and 微博 on October 29, 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.*