# pixelcam vs SmartTub

The clearest difference is price: SmartTub at Free against pixelcam's $1.99. SmartTub also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.3) and update cadence (every 5 months vs every 17 months). pixelcam's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (79% vs 71%). On ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

SmartTub is free to download; pixelcam costs $1.99 up front. SmartTub sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. pixelcam asks for nothing beyond the download.

SmartTub holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 13 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 79% of pixelcam's written reviews are positive against 71% of SmartTub's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

pixelcam ships an update every 17 months, SmartTub every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | pixelcam | SmartTub |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.3 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixelcam/id431093404/reviews) | **[4.7 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smarttub/id435173941/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **16** | 13 |
| Positive reviews | **79.1% of reviews** | 70.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 17 months | **Every 5 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 5 MB | 77 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jesse Smith](https://appshunter.io/developer/1806003545) | [sorakaze Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1046448101) |

## What reviewers say

### pixelcam

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixelcam/id431093404)

Transform your photos into retro video game art. Apply pixelated effects with customizable shapes, sizes, and color schemes for a unique lo-fi aesthetic.

**Highlights:** Retro video game lens effect, Customizable pixel shapes (triangle, square, hexagon), Adjustable pixel size, Multiple color schemes, Color flattening, Pinch to resize pixels, Double-tap for color modes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### SmartTub

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smarttub/id435173941)

Experience a playful virtual bath with floating ducks. Interact with them by tilting your device, shaking to add more, flicking them around, or tapping to hear them quack. Enjoy a simple, interactive entertainment experience.

**Highlights:** Tilt to move ducks, Shake to add ducks, Flick ducks, Tap ducks to quack, Force Touch on Apple Watch to reset

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Extension Pack | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🦆 Cute rubber ducks
- 😌 Relaxing and calming
- 🧸 Good for children
- ✨ Simple and fun
- 💖 Highly recommended

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤷‍♀️ Lacks clear purpose
- 🥱 Becomes boring quickly
- 💸 In-app purchase expensive
- 🖱️ Limited interaction
- ❓ Confusing controls

**Reported bugs**

- Widget not working
- App not launching on Apple Watch SE
- App icon not appearing on screen

**Requested features**

- Add more toys and variations
- Implement a delete duck feature
- Add different colored ducks
- Allow water to react to touch
- Add a ripple effect


## Frequently asked questions

### Is pixelcam free?

pixelcam costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is SmartTub free?

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

### Which has better reviews, pixelcam or SmartTub?

SmartTub is rated higher. pixelcam averages 4.3 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while SmartTub averages 4.7 from 13 ratings.

### Do pixelcam or SmartTub have ads?

Neither pixelcam nor SmartTub shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, pixelcam or SmartTub?

pixelcam ships an update every 17 months, and SmartTub every 5 months. Most recently, pixelcam was updated on November 1, 2026 and SmartTub on November 6, 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.*