# Pixel Pets vs SpritePals

The clearest difference is rating: Pixel Pets at 4.7 against SpritePals's 4.1. Pixel Pets also leads on ratings volume (5.1K vs 14) and review sentiment (57% vs 33%). SpritePals's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pixel Pets sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and SpritePals sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Pixel Pets holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pixel Pets has 5.1K ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 57% of Pixel Pets's written reviews are positive against 33% of SpritePals's.

Pixel Pets ships an update every 3 weeks, SpritePals every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pixel Pets | SpritePals |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (5.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-pets-cute-widget-app/id6444085825/reviews)** | [4.1 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spritepals-pixel-pet-widget/id6754703807/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5.1K** | 14 |
| Positive reviews | **56.9% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 150 MB | 96 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Twinstar Creatives](https://appshunter.io/developer/1378171714) | [Ivo van der Zee](https://appshunter.io/developer/1254451944) |

## What reviewers say

### Pixel Pets

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

Adopt and care for adorable pixelated pets that live on your phone's screen, including your Lock Screen and Dynamic Island. Feed, play, and interact with your virtual companions to keep them happy and see their emotions change throughout the day.

**Highlights:** Adopt and care for virtual pixel pets, Pets displayed on Lock Screen, Dynamic Island, and Live Notifications, Interactive feeding and exercise mechanics, Pets change emotions and expressions, Transparent home screen widgets, Unlockable exclusive pets and features

**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


### SpritePals

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spritepals-pixel-pet-widget/id6754703807)

Transform your pet into a retro pixel companion for your iPhone's Dynamic Island, Lock Screen, and Home Screen widgets. Feed, play, and care for your digital pal, or choose from a variety of pre-made pixel pets. Enjoy a charming and interactive experience with your unique screen-based friend.

**Highlights:** AI pixel pet creation from photos, Ready-made retro pixel pals, Dynamic Island integration, Lock Screen Live Activities, Home Screen widgets, Interactive pet care (feed, play)

**Features:** Apple Watch app, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 token | $0.99 | one-time |
| 3 tokens | $1.99 | one-time |
| 10 tokens | $3.99 | one-time |
| Pro (one-time) | $5.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pixel Pets free?

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

### Is SpritePals free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Pixel Pets or SpritePals?

Pixel Pets is rated higher. Pixel Pets averages 4.7 out of 5 from 5.1K ratings, while SpritePals averages 4.1 from 14 ratings.

### Do Pixel Pets or SpritePals have ads?

Neither Pixel Pets nor SpritePals shows ads.

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

Pixel Pets ships an update every 3 weeks, and SpritePals every 9 days. Most recently, Pixel Pets was updated on November 7, 2026 and SpritePals on November 5, 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.*