# pixiv vs Picdance

The clearest difference is rating: Picdance at 5.0 against pixiv's 4.5. Picdance also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 12) and ads (none vs shown). pixiv's advantage is ratings volume (6.7K vs 1) and chart position (#191 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

Picdance holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: pixiv has 6.7K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

pixiv ships an update weekly, Picdance every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | pixiv | Picdance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (6.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixiv/id337248563/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/picdance/id6475971582/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **6.7K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 43.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 11 days |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#191** | — |
| Size | 95 MB | 93 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [pixiv Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/337248566) | [建波 叶](https://appshunter.io/developer/1725320941) |

## What reviewers say

### pixiv

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

**Currently charting:** #191 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


### Picdance

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/picdance/id6475971582)

Create and share pixel art with friends using a unique smart pixel phone case. Explore a new world of pixel-style gameplay and connect with others through innovative features.

**Highlights:** Pixel art creation, Smart pixel phone case integration, New gameplay unlocking, Social sharing, Pixel-style world exploration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is pixiv free?

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

### Is Picdance free?

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

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

Picdance is rated higher. pixiv averages 4.5 out of 5 from 6.7K ratings, while Picdance averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do pixiv or Picdance have ads?

pixiv shows ads; Picdance does not.

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

pixiv ships an update weekly, and Picdance every 11 days. Most recently, pixiv was updated on October 14, 2026 and Picdance on October 2, 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.*