Comparison

PxPad vs Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas

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

Head to head
About

PxPad

Create pixel art and game sprites with a powerful native editor for iOS. Offers a full suite of tools, layers, and export options for retro art enthusiasts and game developers.

Highlights
  • Brush, eraser, fill, select, move, eyedropper tools
  • Layers and undo/redo functionality
  • Zoom, pan, and rotate gestures
  • Image import and export (PNG, JPG, GIF, WebP, ICO, PX)
  • iCloud integration and Files app previews
  • Dark mode and left-handed mode
Read full description

Create stunning pixel art with PxPad, a powerful native sprite editor for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Perfect for game developers, artists, and retro art enthusiasts. Features • Brush, eraser, fill, select, move, and eyedropper tools • Undo / redo feature • Zoom / pan / rotate gestures • Layers • Multiple artboards in one document • Image imports • iCloud integration • Files app icon previews • Dark mode • Export PNG / JPG / GIF / WebP / ICO / PX • Export multiple artboards at once • Canvas resizing • Full color picker • Haptics • Apple Pencil support on compatible iPads • Left-handed mode • Sample files • 41 Languages Create retro art, game graphics and sprite sheets across iPhone, iPad and Mac, with iCloud integration, native sharing and file previews. Touch shortcuts and gestures • Double-tap with the brush to fill an area (enable in Settings). • Press and hold on the canvas while using the brush, eraser or fill tool to pick a color. • 2 finger tap: Undo • 3 finger tap: Redo • 2 finger pan: Pan view • 2 finger pinch: Zoom view • 2 finger rotate: Rotate canvas • Swipe gesture on folder previews, in the grid view, to cycle through previews. • Drag eyedropper onto canvas to activate with one gesture. Notes • When editing, an orange circle by the file name indicates the file is unsaved. Green briefly confirms a successful save. Red indicates a save error. • Import .px files by moving them into the PxPad folder (see Settings). If you like PxPad, please let me know in a review! Thank you, Andy (The Developer) License Agreement: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

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

PxPad4 screens
Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PxPad at none against Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas's 1. PxPad also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.5). On price 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. Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. PxPad asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PxPad ships an update fortnightly, Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
PxPad versus Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPxPadPixel Art Maker PixelCanvas
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.516.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAndrew MoloneyNotake Shoji

In-app purchases

None

PxPad

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas

One-time1
  • Hide Ads & Support$1.99

Questions

Is PxPad free?
PxPad is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas free?
Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do PxPad or Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas have ads?
Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas shows ads; PxPad does not.
Which is updated more often, PxPad or Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas?
PxPad ships an update fortnightly, and Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas every 2 months. Most recently, PxPad was updated on October 26, 2026 and Pixel Art Maker PixelCanvas on October 22, 2026.

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