Comparison

SimplePixels vs Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas

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

Head to head
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

About

Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas

Features
Read full description

Create pixel art with ease. Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas is a pixel art editor that lets you draw on grids from 8x8 to 128x128. With 5 drawing tools, a 64-color palette, and up to 3 layers, you can create everything from retro game sprites to modern pixel art. FLEXIBLE CANVAS SIZES Choose from 8x8, 16x16, 32x32, 64x64, or 128x128 grids (128x128 is unlockable). Pick the right size for tiny icons or detailed pixel art. 5 DRAWING TOOLS Pencil, eraser, flood fill, line, and rectangle tools. Intuitive controls let you draw exactly what you envision. COLOR PALETTE 64 built-in colors plus custom color support. Find the perfect shade for your creations. LAYER SUPPORT Up to 3 layers for separating elements like backgrounds and characters. Enables professional pixel art workflows. SYMMETRY MODES Horizontal and vertical mirror modes for efficient symmetric designs. Perfect for characters and patterns. TRANSPARENT PNG EXPORT Export finished art as transparent PNG files with adjustable scale. Use them as stickers, icons, social media avatars, and more. REFERENCE IMAGE IMPORT Import images as underlays for tracing. Easily convert your favorite illustrations into pixel art. GALLERY MANAGEMENT Save your artwork to the gallery for easy access, editing, and sharing. PINCH ZOOM & PAN Two-finger zoom and pan for precise dot placement on any canvas size.

Screenshots

SimplePixels4 screens
Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: SimplePixels at none against Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas's shown. SimplePixels also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. SimplePixels sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SimplePixels ships an update fortnightly, Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences ยท 4 level
SimplePixels versus Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSimplePixelsPixel Art Maker PixelCanvas
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyFortnightly โ€” betterEvery 2 months
AdsNo โ€” betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 โ€” better16.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size1 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWen Hao ChongNotake Shoji

In-app purchases

2 purchases

SimplePixels

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

Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas

One-time1
  • Hide Ads & Support$1.99

Questions

Is SimplePixels free?
SimplePixels is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas free?
Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do SimplePixels or Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas have ads?
Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas shows ads; SimplePixels does not.
Which is updated more often, SimplePixels or Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas?
SimplePixels ships an update fortnightly, and Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas every 2 months. Most recently, SimplePixels was updated on September 15, 2026 and Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas on September 18, 2026.

Other comparisons