Comparison

PixelHQ vs Codex Relay

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

Head to head
About

PixelHQ

Visualize your AI coding agent's activity in a retro pixel art office. See files read, terminal commands executed, and searches performed as animated characters on your device. Connects securely to a local bridge server for real-time insights into your coding sessions.

Highlights
  • Real-time pixel art visualization
  • AI coding agent activity
  • Retro office environment
  • Local network connection
  • Secure pairing
  • Demo mode
Features
Read full description

Watch your coding agents come to life. PixelHQ transforms your Claude Code sessions into a real-time pixel art office. Every file read, every terminal command, every search — animated as tiny characters working away at their desks in a retro startup office. It's the most fun way to see what your AI coding agent is actually doing. Connect PixelHQ to the lightweight bridge server running on your laptop, and your coding sessions instantly appear as live office activity. Characters read files at their desks, run to the terminal, huddle up for planning sessions, and head to the whiteboard when exploring your codebase. The busier your agent, the busier your office. How it works 1. Run the bridge server on your laptop (`npx pixelhq`). 2. Pair your iPhone with a one-time 6-digit code. 3. Start a Claude Code session and watch your office come alive. The bridge watches your Claude Code session files, extracts only the metadata needed for animations (like event type and tool category), and streams it to the app over your local Wi-Fi. Auto-discovery via Bonjour means no IP addresses to type in — just pair and go. Your code stays on your machine. Period. We take privacy seriously. Here's exactly what happens to your data: - The bridge strips everything sensitive before it ever reaches the app. No source code, no prompts, no AI responses, no file contents, no full file paths — none of it is transmitted. - File paths are reduced to just the filename (e.g. "auth.ts", never the full path). - All communication happens entirely over your local network. Nothing is sent to the cloud or to us. - Pairing is protected with a one-time passcode, and reconnection uses a secure token stored in your device's Keychain. - The only data that leaves your device is anonymous, aggregate usage analytics (app opened, session duration) through TelemetryDeck, a GDPR-compliant, privacy-first analytics provider that collects no personal identifiers. We built PixelHQ local-first by design, not as an afterthought. Your code is your business. Features - Real-time pixel art visualization of Claude Code activity - Automatic bridge discovery on your local network — no manual setup - Secure pairing with passcode protection - Multiple animation states driven by live coding events: file reads, writes, terminal commands, searches, planning, and more - Demo mode to preview the office without connecting to a live session Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://paper-swallow-130.notion.site/Privacy-Policy-2f7b6873ae248098b7ead558245be0bf

About

Codex Relay

Manage your Codex workflow remotely from your phone. Track active threads, send prompts, review output, and respond to requests. Designed for developers to stay connected to their work without being at their desk.

Highlights
  • Follow Codex conversations remotely
  • Send prompts and follow-up instructions
  • Respond to approval and input requests
  • Attach images for context
  • Review workspace and thread activity
  • Manage relay server state
  • Check usage statistics
Features
Read full description

Codex Relay brings your Codex workflow to your phone. Connect to your local Codex Relay server and keep track of active threads, responses, approvals, and workspace activity without staying at your desk. Send follow-up prompts, review assistant output, attach images for context, and respond when Codex needs input before it can continue. Built for developers who use Codex as part of real work, Codex Relay keeps the mobile experience focused, fast, and close to the terminal workflow. Key features: - Follow Codex conversations from your phone - Send prompts and follow-up instructions - Respond to approval and input requests - Attach images as context - Review workspace and thread activity - Manage connected relay server state - Check usage - Designed for local developer workflows Codex Relay requires a running Codex Relay server on your computer. Start the server with `npx codex-relay@latest`, then connect your device over your local network. GitHub: https://github.com/gronxb/codex-relay Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

PixelHQ3 screens
Codex Relay4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Codex Relay at 54 against PixelHQ's 2. Codex Relay also leads on rating (4.2 vs 4.0) and chart position (#110 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Codex Relay holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Codex Relay has 54 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
PixelHQ versus Codex Relay: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPixelHQCodex Relay
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (2 ratings)4.2 (54 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—70.6% of reviews
Number of ratings254 — better
Update frequency—Fortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank—#110 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.616.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB111 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperChun-Wei HsuKang Sungyu

Customer experience

PixelHQ

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%

Codex Relay

All ratings54 ratings
Positive79.6%
Neutral3.7%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive70.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative29.4%

In-app purchases

None

PixelHQ

No in-app purchases

None

Codex Relay

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PixelHQ free?
PixelHQ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Codex Relay free?
Codex Relay is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PixelHQ or Codex Relay?
Codex Relay is rated higher. PixelHQ averages 4.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Codex Relay averages 4.2 from 54 ratings.
Do PixelHQ or Codex Relay have ads?
Neither PixelHQ nor Codex Relay shows ads.

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