Comparison

Dot Style vs Pixel Art Effect

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

Head to head
About

Dot Style

Transform your photos into a retro pixel art style with this easy-to-use application. Adjust the pixel level for unique visual effects and save your creations. Access your camera or photo album to get started.

Highlights
  • Convert photos to pixel art
  • Adjustable pixel level
  • Camera and photo album access
  • Easy to use interface
  • Save pixel art creations
Features
Read full description

This app will convert your favorite photos to pixel arts style! It is very fun, and if you want retro photos, you should get this one! *** Features **** - Quickly convert to pixel arts! - Smooth/visual adjustments for the pixel level! - Access to camera/photo album! - Super Easy to Use! *** How to use it *** 1. You can choose photo album or using camera. 2. When you choose/take a photo, it will be read, and the converting button will be enabled. 3. If you tap the convert button, pixel arts will be made in a few seconds, then you can check the pixel level using a slider. 4. Of course, you can save the photo on the screen if you want.

About

Pixel Art Effect

Transform your photos into retro or modern pixel art with customizable effects. Adjust pixel size, edge thickness, and choose from various pixel shapes. Add text and crop images into different shapes before or after applying the pixel art effect.

Highlights
  • Convert photos to pixel art
  • Adjustable pixel amount
  • Customizable edge thickness
  • Multiple pixel designs (square, hexagon, triangle, torn)
  • Add text to photos
  • Crop photos into shapes
Features
Read full description

The Pixel Art Effect app lets you turn your photo into video game pixel art. The effect ranges from modern pixel art which has a more subtle pixelated effect (many small pixels) to retro pixel art which is made up of fewer larger pixels. You can control the amount of pixels you want. There 6 designs to choose from which differ in color etc. You can control the edge thickness. This is the outline of the artwork. There are also 4 pixel designs to choose from. These pixel designs are standard square, hexagon pixels, triangular pixels and torn pixels. See the screenshot for a visual example. No internet connection is required! Step 1: To convert your image to pixel art! Simply tap the "Add a Photo". You will be presented with the option of choosing a photo from your photo library or taking a picture with your camera! Step 2: Tap the "Apply Pixel Effect" button. Step 3: Save your pixel art to your photo library or share it to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, VK or any other social network, forum or site and set the picture as a profile picture, cover photo etc. As of version 2.2, Pixel Art Effect allows you to do a lot more with your photos! The effects are endless because you can mix and combine the features and effects. You can also add text to your photos before or after applying the pixel effect! Add the text before applying the pixel effect if you want the text to become pixelated as well! You can also crop your photos into various shapes. Choose from a circle, flag, heart, star, square or rectangle.

Screenshots

Dot Style4 screens
Pixel Art Effect4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Pixel Art Effect at 95% against Dot Style's 32%. Pixel Art Effect also leads on rating (4.7 vs 2.5) and ads (none vs shown). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

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. Dot Style sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Pixel Art Effect sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Pixel Art Effect holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pixel Art Effect has 103 ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 32% of Dot Style's written reviews are positive against 95% of Pixel Art Effect's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dot Style ships an update every 4 months, Pixel Art Effect every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Dot Style versus Pixel Art Effect: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDot StylePixel Art Effect
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.5 (16 ratings)4.7 (103 ratings) — better
Positive reviews32.4% of reviews95.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings16103 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.09.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB31 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperF-NET AppsDanny Pajevic

Customer experience

Dot Style

All ratings16 ratings
Positive37.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative62.5%
Written reviews37 reviews
Positive32.4%
Neutral2.7%
Negative64.9%

Pixel Art Effect

All ratings103 ratings
Positive93.2%
Neutral3.9%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews40 reviews
Positive95.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative5.0%

Bugs and requests

Dot Style

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Pixel Art Effect

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Radically alters original colors
  • Minimum/maximum pixel limits
  • Contrast goes super high, making pictures too bright
  • Filters are applied without an option to disable

Requested features

3 requests
  • Allow choosing pixel count for both length and width
  • Option to apply or not apply filters
  • More detailed customization options

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Dot Style

One-time1
  • [ Add Pixel of circles! ] new pixel type will be added.$0.99
1 purchases

Pixel Art Effect

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$1.99

Questions

Is Dot Style free?
Dot Style is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pixel Art Effect free?
Pixel Art Effect is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Dot Style or Pixel Art Effect?
Pixel Art Effect is rated higher. Dot Style averages 2.5 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Pixel Art Effect averages 4.7 from 103 ratings.
Do Dot Style or Pixel Art Effect have ads?
Dot Style shows ads; Pixel Art Effect does not.
Which is updated more often, Dot Style or Pixel Art Effect?
Dot Style ships an update every 4 months, and Pixel Art Effect every 5 weeks. Most recently, Dot Style was updated on October 4, 2026 and Pixel Art Effect on September 29, 2026.

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