# Pixel Pets vs Petopia

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Pixel Pets at 5.1K against Petopia's 11. Pixel Pets also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). Petopia's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and update cadence (every 8 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 Petopia sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Petopia holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pixel Pets has 5.1K ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Pixel Pets ships an update every 3 weeks, Petopia every 8 days. Both last shipped on November 9, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pixel Pets | Petopia |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (5.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-pets-cute-widget-app/id6444085825/reviews) | **[5.0 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/petopia-pixel-pets-and-widgets/id6759053024/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **5.1K** | 11 |
| Positive reviews | 56.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 150 MB | 67 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Twinstar Creatives](https://appshunter.io/developer/1378171714) | [Shogo Shibuya](https://appshunter.io/developer/1671795647) |

## 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


### Petopia

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/petopia-pixel-pets-and-widgets/id6759053024)

Bring a charming pixelated companion to your device's Lock Screen and Home Screen widgets. Interact with your chosen pet, dress it up, and enjoy daily surprises and seasonal events. This app offers a peaceful, ad-free experience with a variety of adorable creatures to collect.

**Highlights:** Lock Screen and Home Screen widgets, Dynamic Island integration, 42 collectible pixel pets, Extensive dress-up options, Daily joys and seasonal events, Pixel dollhouse customization

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100 Candies | $0.99 | one-time |
| Welcome Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| 350 Candies | $2.99 | one-time |
| 800 Candies | $5.99 | one-time |
| 2500 Candies | $14.99 | one-time |
| 6000 Candies | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pixel Pets free?

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

### Is Petopia free?

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

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

Petopia is rated higher. Pixel Pets averages 4.7 out of 5 from 5.1K ratings, while Petopia averages 5.0 from 11 ratings.

### Do Pixel Pets or Petopia have ads?

Neither Pixel Pets nor Petopia shows ads.

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

Pixel Pets ships an update every 3 weeks, and Petopia every 8 days. Most recently, Pixel Pets was updated on November 9, 2026 and Petopia on November 9, 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.*