Pixel art maker vs SimplePixels
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Pixel art maker
Create retro-style pixel art and game textures with a comprehensive set of tools. Supports Aseprite files, layers, animation with onion skinning, and various export formats. Offers color palettes from retro consoles and Lospec.
- Aseprite file import/export
- Pixel-perfect drawing tools
- Layers and animation with onion skinning
- Retro and Lospec color palettes
- Multiple export formats (PNG, GIF, Aseprite, etc.)
- Image upscaling
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Inktica is a powerful and easy-to-use pixel art maker and texture maker, perfect for creating retro-style pixel art and game textures. Whether you're designing sprites, game assets, or detailed textures, Inktica provides the tools you need. Aseprite File Support Seamlessly edit your Aseprite (.aseprite, .ase) files on the go! Inktica allows both importing and exporting Aseprite files, so you can work across multiple platforms. (Note: Some Aseprite features may not be available.) Pixel-Perfect Tools for Pixel Art & Texture Editing · Inktica offers an extensive toolset tailored for pixel art and texture creation, including: · Brush (Pixel-Perfect Mode) – Draw clean, single-pixel-wide lines. · Eraser, Flood-Fill, Gradient, Line, Rectangle, Ellipse, Pipette – All designed for pixel precision. · Selection Tool – Copy, cut, move, rotate, and flip parts of your pixel art. Layers & Animation Features · Organize your pixel art using layers for better editing control. · Create animations with onion skinning, making frame-by-frame pixel animations easier. Color Palettes & References · Use color palettes from retro consoles like the Atari 2600, NES, and Game Boy. · Import Lospec palettes for even more color variety. · Open a reference image from your gallery to compare while drawing. Export & Share Your Pixel Art · Save in PNG, JPEG, GIF, MP4, Aseprite, Sprite sheet and more. · Upscale images to maintain clarity on modern displays. · Share your pixel art directly on social media. With Inktica, your pixel art and texture making process becomes smooth, efficient, and fun! Art in screenshots by Pikurā Privacy policy: https://inktica.com/privacy-policy.html Terms of use: https://inktica.com/terms-of-use.html
SimplePixels
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A casual pixel art app for all. Create simple pixel art and export as an image or GIF. Step #1: Create a new project - Choose a frame size between 8 and 16 pixels Step #2: Draw a frame - Tap to draw or import an image Step #3: Repeat and export - Duplicate and draw up to 15 frames - Export a single frame as an image, or all frames as a GIF Step #4: Showcase your favorite - Showcase your favorite project on the home screen Subscribe to SimplePixels Pro for all features: 1. Predefined color palettes 2. More board sizes 3. Two-finger pinch/swipe to zoom in and move around for large boards 4. Swipe to draw Even more coming soon Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.logicui.com/simplepixels/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
Pixel art maker and SimplePixels are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Pixel art maker sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.19 per month and SimplePixels sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on August 30, 2026 and August 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Pixel art maker | SimplePixels |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (22 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 22 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Fortnightly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | 15.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 39 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Robert Filip Odrowaz-Sypniewski | Wen Hao Chong |
In-app purchases
Pixel art maker
- Inktica Pro (monthly)$1.191 Month
- Inktica Pro (annual)$9.991 Year
- Inktica Pro (lifetime)$19.99
SimplePixels
- Monthly Subscription$0.991 Month
- Yearly Subscription$4.991 Year
Questions
Is Pixel art maker free?
Is SimplePixels free?
Do Pixel art maker or SimplePixels have ads?
Which is updated more often, Pixel art maker or SimplePixels?
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