# pixiv vs Self

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Self at none against pixiv's 12. Self also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). pixiv's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and chart position (#169 vs unranked). On price 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. Self asks for nothing beyond the download.

pixiv ships an update weekly, Self every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and May 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | pixiv | Self |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (6.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixiv/id337248563/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **6.7K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 43.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Best chart rank | **#169** | — |
| Size | 95 MB | 66 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [pixiv Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/337248566) | [Coding Minds, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1480612283) |

## What reviewers say

### pixiv

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

**Currently charting:** #169 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


### Self

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/self-gen/id6747273729)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is pixiv free?

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

### Is Self free?

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

### Do pixiv or Self have ads?

pixiv shows ads; Self does not.

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

pixiv ships an update weekly, and Self every 2 months. Most recently, pixiv was updated on October 17, 2026 and Self on May 18, 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.*