# Pixel Pets vs CXIA

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CXIA at none against Pixel Pets's 9. On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pixel Pets sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. CXIA asks for nothing beyond the download.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and May 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pixel Pets | CXIA |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-pets-cute-widget-app/id6444085825/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **5K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 57.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 116 MB | 42 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Twinstar Creatives](https://appshunter.io/developer/1378171714) | [CXIA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1790263751) |

## What reviewers say

### Pixel Pets

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-pets-cute-widget-app/id6444085825)

Bring adorable animated pets to your iPhone's Lock Screen, Dynamic Island, and home screen widgets. Care for your virtual companions by feeding and playing with them, and watch their emotions change throughout the day. Unlock a variety of cute animals to keep you company.

**Highlights:** Animated pets on Lock Screen, Dynamic Island, and widgets, Interactive pet care: feeding and exercise, Pets display changing emotions, Transparent home screen widgets, Variety of eight unlockable pets, Daily interaction and care

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pixel Pets+ (Discount Monthly) | $5.99 | per month |
| Premium | $9.99 | per month |
| Pixel Pets+ (Discount Monthly) | $29.99 | per 6 months |
| Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| 150 Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| 300 Coins | $3.99 | one-time |
| 450 Coins | $5.99 | one-time |
| 650 Coins | $7.99 | one-time |
| Premium | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🐱 Cute pixel pets
- 🎨 Aesthetic widget designs
- 🔓 Some free content
- 🕰️ Useful dynamic island integration

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Many features locked behind paywall
- 📚 Unwanted religious content
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔒 Limited free options

**Reported bugs**

- Widgets not working as expected
- Pets not showing up on dynamic island
- Purchases not registering properly
- Frequent crashes and app instability

**Requested features**

- More free pet and background options
- Ability to customize or remove daily quotes
- Improved widget functionality and customization
- Tamagotchi-style mini-games and interactions


### CXIA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cxia/id6740498595)

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pixel Pets free?

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

### Is CXIA free?

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

### Do Pixel Pets or CXIA have ads?

Neither Pixel Pets nor CXIA shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pixel Pets or CXIA?

Pixel Pets ships an update every 3 weeks, and CXIA every 3 weeks. Most recently, Pixel Pets was updated on September 25, 2026 and CXIA on May 18, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*