Comparison

CRASTiPIX vs DotMatrix Studio

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

Head to head
About

CRASTiPIX

Features
Read full description

Title: CRASTiPIX - Retro Pixel Studio Subtitle: Video & Photo to Pixel Art Description: Turn any photo or video into stunning pixel art β€” instantly, 100% on your device. Import your media and watch it transform into authentic retro aesthetics in seconds. Export as MP4, GIF, or PNG β€” ready to share. WHAT MAKES CRASTiPIX DIFFERENT Unlike standard filters, CRASTiPIX converts real videos into pixel art animations with a full timeline editor, audio synchronization, and high-quality MP4 export. Professional pixel art tools, right in your pocket. MAIN FEATURES β€’ Photo & Video Import: Instant high-fidelity pixel art conversion. β€’ Animation Timeline: Multi-frame editing for precise results. β€’ Audio Sync: Integrated audio mixer to keep your soundtrack perfectly aligned with the preview. β€’ Artist Collection: Access curated loops and references for inspiration. β€’ Pro Export: Save as MP4, GIF, PNG, or Sprite Sheets for game development. β€’ Retro Palettes: 40+ presets inspired by classic 8-bit and 16-bit consoles (Handheld, Home Console, Legacy PC styles). β€’ Advanced Dithering: Professional Floyd-Steinberg and ordered dithering algorithms. β€’ Magic Effects: Scanlines, bloom, RGB shift, and vignette for that authentic CRT feel. β€’ 100% Local: Your files never leave your device. Privacy by design. PERFECT FOR β€’ Content Creators: Unique retro aesthetic for Social Media. β€’ Game Devs: Quick sprite references and asset prototyping. β€’ Digital Artists: Exploring pixel art styles from real-world footage. ONE DEVELOPER. NO ADS. NO TRACKING. CRASTiPIX is a passion project. No data mining, no annoying banners, no cloud required. Pure creativity.

About

DotMatrix Studio

Features
Read full description

Your photos, run through a monitoring terminal. DotMatrix Studio turns anything you shoot or import into a 1-bit artifact β€” the dot-matrix look of VFD displays, old newsprint and station monitors. There is no preset carousel to scroll past: you dial the look in yourself and watch it render live. SHOOT IN 1-BIT A live dithered viewfinder shows you the look before the shutter, not after. Toggle between DOTMATRIX and NORMAL if you would rather frame with the plain camera first, adjust pixel size and palette on the rail, and flip between front and back cameras. THREE FILM STOCKS NEWSPRINT β€” Floyd–Steinberg error diffusion, the fine scattered grain of a printed photograph. MATRIX β€” Bayer 8x8 ordered dithering, the regular weave of a hardware display. HALFTONE β€” real circular dots on a grid, with an adjustable cell size. All three are written by hand for this app and tuned by eye, not borrowed from a library. FOUR PALETTES OXBLOOD, PAPER, PHOSPHOR and AMBER. Each is a two-colour stock with its own accent, from warm terminal red to green phosphor glow. THE DIALS Virtual resolution, 80 to 480 pixels wide, is the chunkiness itself: drop it and the image breaks into big honest dots, raise it and the detail creeps back. Contrast runs -50 to +50. Halftone cell size is adjustable. Scanlines darken every third row. Press and hold the preview to peek at the original underneath. TELEMETRY FRAMES Five frames β€” ACQUIRED, STATION, SPECIMEN, REC, or none β€” stamp your artifact with instrument chrome: dates, dither codes, resolution readouts, and a caption of your own. Frame text is drawn at full export resolution, so it is never a pixel-doubled smear. WALLPAPERS Render your artifact at your device's exact pixel size as a lock and home pair, then set it from the Photos app. A LIBRARY THAT STAYS EDITABLE Saved artifacts are parametric: the source photo and every setting are stored together, so reopening one restores the whole editing session. Change your mind about a palette a month later and nothing is lost. EXPORT PNG at 2048px on the long edge. Save to Photos, share anywhere, save as a wallpaper, or keep it in the library. Saving and sharing record the artifact automatically, so an exported image is never a dead end. COMPLETELY OFFLINE There is no network permission in this app at all. No account, no sign-in, no analytics, no ads, no location. Your photos never leave your device, because there is nowhere for them to go.

Screenshots

CRASTiPIX4 screens
DotMatrix Studio4 screens

Verdict

The call

CRASTiPIX and DotMatrix Studio are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters β€” price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them β€” neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
CRASTiPIX versus DotMatrix Studio: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCRASTiPIXDotMatrix Studio
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksβ€”
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details β€” not scored
Size5 MB24 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLUCA CASTAGNAJohn Darkwa

In-app purchases

None

CRASTiPIX

No in-app purchases

None

DotMatrix Studio

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CRASTiPIX free?
CRASTiPIX is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is DotMatrix Studio free?
DotMatrix Studio is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do CRASTiPIX or DotMatrix Studio have ads?
Neither CRASTiPIX nor DotMatrix Studio shows ads.

Other comparisons