Comparison

Pixel Art Studio vs Dot Canvas

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

Head to head
About

Pixel Art Studio

Features
Read full description

Unleash your creativity with Pixel Art Maker, the simple and fun app for creating amazing pixel art! Whether you're a seasoned artist or a complete beginner, our intuitive tools make it easy to draw anything you can imagine. Best of all, you can instantly convert your favorite photos into incredible 8-bit style art with a single tap. Welcome to a world of creativity, one pixel at a time. 【 KEY FEATURES 】 ◆ Convert Photos to Pixel Art ◆ Instantly transform any photo from your library into pixel art. Turn your pet, a selfie, or a landscape into a charming, retro masterpiece. It's like magic! ◆ Easy & Intuitive Drawing Tools ◆ Simply choose a color and tap on the grid to draw. Our tap-to-fill mechanic is perfect for all ages. Zoom in for precise detail work and create with ease. ◆ Customizable Color Palette ◆ Save up to 16 of your favorite colors for quick access. Create consistent color schemes for your characters and projects without having to find the perfect shade every time. ◆ Background Image Tracing ◆ Load any image as a semi-transparent background to use as a guide. It's the perfect way to practice and learn by tracing your favorite characters or designs. 【 PERFECT FOR: 】 Creating unique avatars and icons for social media. Designing sprites and characters for game projects. Relaxing with a fun and creative hobby. Introducing the world of digital art. Making patterns for bead art or cross-stitch. Download Pixel Art Maker today and start creating your masterpiece

About

Dot Canvas

Features
Read full description

A simple and easy-to-use pixel art creation app. Color each square on a small canvas to create icons, avatars, game assets, retro-style pixel art, and more. With basic tools such as pen, eraser, fill, and eyedropper, you can easily draw pixel art by hand. You can also import a reference image, making it possible to create pixel art while using a photo or illustration as a guide. Your creations can be saved in the app and edited, duplicated, renamed, shared, or saved as images later. With support for transparent backgrounds and background color settings, this app is useful for creating social media icons, design materials, game sprites, and small illustrations. ● Main Features 【Easily Create Pixel Art】 ・Create a new canvas by choosing a canvas size ・Draw pixel art by coloring each square ・Use pen, eraser, and fill tools ・Pick colors from the canvas with the eyedropper ・Undo / Redo support ・Edit while viewing the grid 【A Clear and Easy-to-Use Editor】 ・Zoom in and out with pinch gestures ・Move the canvas freely in Move Mode ・Reset the view with Fit View ・Thick grid lines at regular intervals ・Left-right mirror drawing support ・Transparent background and background color settings 【Draw with a Reference Image】 ・Import photos or images as reference images ・Create pixel art while viewing the reference image ・Show or hide the reference image ・Adjust the reference image opacity ・Adjust the position and size of the reference image ・Create icons and avatars while using photos as a guide 【Manage Colors with My Palette】 ・Save frequently used colors to My Palette ・Reorder palette colors ・Long-press the current color to add it to My Palette ・Create with your own custom color set 【Save and Organize Your Work】 ・Save your pixel art in the app ・View saved works in a list ・Duplicate your works 【Save and Share as Images】 ・Save your pixel art as an image ・Export as transparent PNG ・Use your creations as social media icons, game assets, or illustration materials 【Easy-to-Use Settings】 ・Light Mode and Dark Mode support ・Show or hide the search field ・Turn Auto Save on or off 【No Login Required】 ・Start using the app without creating an account ・Your creations are managed on your device ・Enjoy creating pixel art anytime Perfect for creating social media icons, avatars, game assets, retro-style illustrations, and small pixel art. A simple pixel art creation app that lets you draw by hand while using reference images as a guide.

Screenshots

Pixel Art Studio1 screens
Dot Canvas4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Dot Canvas at every 3 days against Pixel Art Studio's every 5 weeks. On price, ads, 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

Pixel Art Studio ships an update every 5 weeks, Dot Canvas every 3 days. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 5 level
Pixel Art Studio versus Dot Canvas: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPixel Art StudioDot Canvas
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS16.6 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerhirokazu murabeMITSUKO MARGOT KUBOTA ONO

In-app purchases

None

Pixel Art Studio

No in-app purchases

None

Dot Canvas

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pixel Art Studio free?
Pixel Art Studio is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Dot Canvas free?
Dot Canvas is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Pixel Art Studio or Dot Canvas have ads?
Both Pixel Art Studio and Dot Canvas show ads.
Which is updated more often, Pixel Art Studio or Dot Canvas?
Pixel Art Studio ships an update every 5 weeks, and Dot Canvas every 3 days. Most recently, Pixel Art Studio was updated on November 5, 2026 and Dot Canvas on November 5, 2026.

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