Comparison

PxPad vs PixelPad

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

PixelPad

Features
Read full description

PixelPad is a focused pixel art and sprite animation studio for iPad and iPhone. Draw precise pixels with Apple Pencil or touch, build frame-by-frame animations, and export assets without leaving your device. DRAW WITH PRECISION • Work on crisp 8×8 to 128×128 canvases • Use Pencil, Eraser, Fill, Eyedropper, and Selection tools • Pan and zoom without losing the pixel grid • Undo and redo complete strokes ANIMATE FRAME BY FRAME • Add, duplicate, delete, and reorder frames • Set a project frame rate or tune timing per frame • Compare neighboring frames with color-coded onion skins • Preview animation with the same timing used for GIF export BUILD YOUR PALETTE • Add, remove, and reorder colors • Start with built-in palettes • Save reusable custom palette presets EXPORT GAME-READY ASSETS • Export transparent or solid-background PNGs • Create animated GIFs • Arrange sprite sheets by rows and columns • Control frame spacing and 1×, 2×, or 4× scale PRIVATE BY DEFAULT PixelPad currently works offline, requires no account, and stores projects on your device. Export through the standard share sheet whenever you are ready. The app starts in English. Korean is available at any time in Settings.

Screenshots

PxPad4 screens
PixelPad4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: PxPad at none against PixelPad's shown. On price, update cadence, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PxPad ships an update fortnightly, PixelPad every 9 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
PxPad versus PixelPad: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPxPadPixelPad
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 9 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.517.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAndrew MoloneyDAEHONG MIN

In-app purchases

None

PxPad

No in-app purchases

None

PixelPad

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PxPad free?
PxPad is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PixelPad free?
PixelPad is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do PxPad or PixelPad have ads?
PixelPad shows ads; PxPad does not.
Which is updated more often, PxPad or PixelPad?
PxPad ships an update fortnightly, and PixelPad every 9 days. Most recently, PxPad was updated on October 24, 2026 and PixelPad on October 24, 2026.

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