Comparison

Pixel art maker vs SimplePixels

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

About

SimplePixels

Read full description

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

Pixel art maker4 screens
SimplePixels4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on August 30, 2026 and August 20, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Pixel art maker versus SimplePixels: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPixel art makerSimplePixels
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (22 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings22 — better
Update frequencyFortnightlyFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS16.615.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size39 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRobert Filip Odrowaz-SypniewskiWen Hao Chong

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Pixel art maker

Subscriptions2
  • Inktica Pro (monthly)$1.191 Month
  • Inktica Pro (annual)$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Inktica Pro (lifetime)$19.99
2 purchases

SimplePixels

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription$0.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription$4.991 Year

Questions

Is Pixel art maker free?
Pixel art maker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SimplePixels free?
SimplePixels is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Pixel art maker or SimplePixels have ads?
Neither Pixel art maker nor SimplePixels shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pixel art maker or SimplePixels?
Pixel art maker ships an update fortnightly, and SimplePixels fortnightly. Most recently, Pixel art maker was updated on August 30, 2026 and SimplePixels on August 20, 2026.

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