# pixiv vs iGIF

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: iGIF at none against pixiv's 12. iGIF also leads on ads (none vs shown). pixiv's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 weeks) and chart position (#190 vs unranked). On price, 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. iGIF asks for nothing beyond the download.

pixiv ships an update weekly, iGIF every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | pixiv | iGIF |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Best chart rank | **#190** | — |
| Size | 96 MB | 21 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [pixiv Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/337248566) | [璞 菅](https://appshunter.io/developer/1805856047) |

## What reviewers say

### pixiv

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

**Currently charting:** #190 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


### iGIF

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/igif/id6759003636)

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is pixiv free?

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

### Is iGIF free?

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

### Do pixiv or iGIF have ads?

pixiv shows ads; iGIF does not.

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

pixiv ships an update weekly, and iGIF every 2 weeks. Most recently, pixiv was updated on October 20, 2026 and iGIF on October 4, 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.*