Comparison

PowerUp Camera vs Pixel

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

PowerUp Camera

Apply retro video game console filters to your photos in real-time. Choose from multiple classic systems, adjust contrast and saturation, and share your creations. Unlock additional systems to expand your retro aesthetic.

Highlights
  • Real-time retro video game console filters
  • Multiple system filter options
  • Adjustable contrast and saturation
  • Apply filters to existing photos
  • In-app photo sharing
  • Unlockable secret systems
Features
Read full description

** NOW YOU'RE PLAYING WITH POWERUP! ** Featuring the latest in Blast Processing Technology, PowerUp filters your camera in real-time so that you can take photos using the same resolution and color palette as your favorite retro video game systems! Choose from 2 initial systems with the option to buy 6 more! It doesn't stop there! You can also share your PowerUp photos on using the share dialog right from the app. Have an already existing photo? Go ahead and filter using any one of the systems available! Adjust the contrast and saturation to get your photo just right! Are you bad enough to unlock the secret systems?

About

Pixel

Transform your photos into 90s video game style pixel art with this retro-inspired camera. It focuses on creative play and nostalgic aesthetics over precision, offering authentic pixelation and vintage effects for a unique visual experience.

Highlights
  • 90s video game style pixel art
  • Live photo dithering
  • Import and apply retro effects
  • Pixelated distortion and grain
  • Analog-style noise and lofi textures
  • No internet or logins required
Features
Read full description

Pixel is a retro-inspired digital camera that transforms everyday photos into 90s video game style pixel art. This camera is not about precision. It's about rekindling the sense of play that gets lost in today’s world of overly perfect, sanitized photography. By stripping away resolution, Pixel lets you see everyday subjects in a new way. Shoot live photos with real dithering, crunchy low-res pixelation and vintage charm or import any picture from your library and instantly apply authentic retro effects. Transform selfies, pets, landscapes with pixelated distortion, nostalgic grain, analog-style noise, lofi textures and soft sharpening artifacts that feel genuinely 1990s (without exaggeration). Rediscover the joy of lo-fi photography: shoot in the moment or import existing images for dreamy aesthetic feeds, childhood nostalgia vibes, lo-fi social content or pure fun with friends. No internet required, no logins, no paywalls - just pure creative freedom wherever you go. Grab your phone, disappear into the 90s and dither away whenever inspiration strikes. The retro magic is always ready when you are. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

PowerUp Camera4 screens
Pixel4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Pixel at 5.0 against PowerUp Camera's 4.5. Pixel also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and review sentiment (100% vs 77%). PowerUp Camera's advantage is ratings volume (32 vs 9) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.1). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. PowerUp Camera sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Pixel asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Pixel holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 32 and 9 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of PowerUp Camera's written reviews are positive against 100% of Pixel's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PowerUp Camera ships an update every 2 weeks, Pixel every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
PowerUp Camera versus Pixel: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPowerUp CameraPixel
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (32 ratings)5.0 (9 ratings) — better
Positive reviews77.2% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings32 — better9
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 8 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB44 MB
Age rating4+4+
DevelopersushiGrassJohn Friday

Customer experience

PowerUp Camera

All ratings32 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews57 reviews
Positive77.2%
Neutral1.8%
Negative21.1%

Pixel

All ratings9 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

PowerUp Camera

Reported bugs

9 issues
  • Cannot restore purchases
  • Restore button does nothing
  • Photos not saving
  • App not saving photos to camera roll
  • App not saving settings
Show 4 more
  • Sounds keep turning back on
  • Converting existing pictures doesn't work
  • Not compatible with iOS 7
  • App is buggy

Requested features

7 requests
  • Add video support
  • Add more filters
  • Provide samples of additional filters before buying
  • Add different levels of pixelization
  • Add system-specific resolutions/ratios
Show 2 more
  • Allow saving settings between relaunches
  • Bundle all extensions for a lower price

Pixel

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

PowerUp Camera

One-time10
  • System Pack 2Free
  • SuperFree
  • GamemanFree
Show 7 more
  • GGearFree
  • TG-16Free
  • AtaryFree
  • MstrsysFree
  • Super/MstrSysFree
  • Gameman/GGearFree
  • Atary/TG-16Free
None

Pixel

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PowerUp Camera free?
PowerUp Camera is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pixel free?
Pixel is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PowerUp Camera or Pixel?
Pixel is rated higher. PowerUp Camera averages 4.5 out of 5 from 32 ratings, while Pixel averages 5.0 from 9 ratings.
Do PowerUp Camera or Pixel have ads?
Neither PowerUp Camera nor Pixel shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PowerUp Camera or Pixel?
PowerUp Camera ships an update every 2 weeks, and Pixel every 8 days. Most recently, PowerUp Camera was updated on October 17, 2026 and Pixel on October 5, 2026.

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