# pixiv vs QQ

The clearest difference is rating: pixiv at 4.5 against QQ's 2.7. pixiv also leads on review sentiment (43% vs 18%). QQ's advantage is device support (4 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 QQ sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

pixiv holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6.7K and 9K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of pixiv's written reviews are positive against 18% of QQ's.

pixiv ships an update weekly, QQ every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | pixiv | QQ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (6.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixiv/id337248563/reviews)** | [2.7 (9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qq/id444934666/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 6.7K | **9K** |
| Positive reviews | **43.2% of reviews** | 18.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #163 | **#102** |
| Size | 95 MB | 834 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [pixiv Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/337248566) | [Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/292374531) |

## What reviewers say

### pixiv

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

**Currently charting:** #163 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


### QQ

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qq/id444934666)

**Currently charting:** #102 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

Connect with friends and family through instant messaging, voice, and video calls. Share files, stay updated on social feeds, and manage payments. Enjoy games and customize your profile with various themes and decorations.

**Highlights:** Instant messaging, Voice and video calls, File transfer, Social feed updates, Mobile payments, Gaming center, Profile customization

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1个月黄钻（自动续费） | $1.49 | per month |
| 超级会员 | $2.99 | per month |
| 6元金豆套餐 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 1个月黄钻 | $1.99 | one-time |
| 1个月超级会员 | $3.99 | one-time |
| 3个月超级会员 | $8.99 | one-time |
| 6个月超级会员 | $17.99 | one-time |
| 12个月QQ会员 | $17.99 | one-time |
| 会员158元宝石 | $22.99 | one-time |
| 1980秀币 | $29.99 | one-time |
| 12个月超级会员 | $34.99 | one-time |
| 会员288元宝石 | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💬 Good for communicating with friends in China
- 🤝 Useful for business connections
- 🔒 Robust privacy features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚫 Difficult to register with non-Chinese phone numbers
- 🤖 Excessive AI-driven features and notifications
- 💸 Intrusive advertising
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to send/receive images and files
- Inconsistent UI and UX across platforms
- Connectivity issues for overseas users

**Requested features**

- Add English language support
- Improve account recovery process
- Provide more customization options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is pixiv free?

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

### Is QQ free?

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

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

pixiv is rated higher. pixiv averages 4.5 out of 5 from 6.7K ratings, while QQ averages 2.7 from 9K ratings.

### Do pixiv or QQ have ads?

Both pixiv and QQ show ads.

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

pixiv ships an update weekly, and QQ every 2 weeks. Most recently, pixiv was updated on October 16, 2026 and QQ on October 17, 2026.

### Which is more popular, pixiv or QQ?

pixiv currently peaks at #163 in the App Store charts, and QQ at #102. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*