Handpix vs Pixterra
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Handpix
Create intricate bead patterns with professional drawing tools, layer management, and realistic ironing previews. Easily convert photos to pixel art and export customizable designs for sharing or building.
- Professional drawing tools
- Multi-layer support
- Realistic ironing effect preview
- Photo to pixel art conversion
- Customizable pattern export
- iCloud cross-device sync
- Built-in pegboard for building
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Core Features: Professional Drawing Tools An eraser that removes by color block, a paint bucket with drag-to-fill, one-tap outlining, and line, rectangle, and ellipse tools that make every stroke effortless. The lasso tool lets you cut, copy, paste, select all, or invert a selection — and paste across layers or even across canvases. Vertical, horizontal, and diagonal symmetry axes mean you never have to draw a mirrored pattern twice. Layer Management Full multi-layer drawing with one-tap clear, duplicate, and focus mode for every layer. Handy Gestures Two-finger undo, three-finger redo, and the "Magic Cube" — a floating widget that toggles color codes and replays your creation process. Ironing-Effect Preview Preview six realistic ironing finishes: full melt (no-hole), bath-mitt texture, towel texture, coarse glitter, fine glitter, and linen. One-Tap Pixelization Turn photos and cartoon images into pixel art in a single tap, with your choice of style and target color count. All-in-One Share Image Studio Create social-media-ready images right inside the app — swap backgrounds, add pattern shadows, and more. Fully Customizable Pattern Export Major and minor grid lines, ruler colors, color card styles, signature and text watermarks, mirrored output, and export-by-color — tune everything until it's exactly how you want it. iCloud Cross-Device Creating Your work syncs in real time between iPad and iPhone via iCloud. Built-in Pegboard Import smart PDF patterns, .handpix files, or your in-app projects — then build bead by bead, sorted by color code or split into 5x5、10×10 sections. Who Is It For? - Pattern designers: draw efficiently, preview the finished look, export social covers, and share patterns in multiple formats. - Bead hobbyists: turn your avatar, pet, favorite artwork, or original characters into bead patterns. - Bead and craft shops: design, adjust, and deliver ready-to-build patterns for your customers. Supports Apple Pencil and touch. Long-press anywhere to discover 130+ features! Handpix — the professional pixel artist's choice. Privacy Policy: https://handpix.app/privacy/ Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Pixterra
Transform real-world locations into a collaborative pixel art canvas. Place pixels, create art from your current position, and explore global creations. Maintain, recolor, and reclaim areas to shape a constantly evolving, persistent world.
- Create pixel art from your current location
- Collaborative persistent world canvas
- Explore global pixel art creations
- Repair, recolor, and reclaim areas
- Publish and share your artwork
- Earn XP and level up as a creator
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The world is your canvas. Paint real places. Leave your mark. Watch the world evolve. Pixterra transforms the real world into a persistent pixel canvas shared by creators everywhere. Every pixel is placed by a real person, every artwork becomes part of the world’s history, and every location can be transformed into something unforgettable. Start where you stand, explore the creations of others, and help build a living world that never stops changing. CREATE FROM YOUR LOCATION Every creator begins somewhere. Use your location to establish a creation origin and unlock the surrounding area. Pick a color, place pixels one at a time, and slowly turn ordinary places into extraordinary pixel art. Design icons, characters, local landmarks, symbols, murals, or completely original creations. Every pixel you place becomes part of a persistent world shared by creators across the globe. Natural Paint regenerates over time, making every pixel a meaningful creative choice. BUILD A WORLD TOGETHER The map is never finished. Thousands of creators shape the same living canvas every day. New artworks appear, old ones evolve, colors change, and every visit reveals something different. Your creations become part of a world that is always growing. PUBLISH YOUR ARTWORK Turn any completed area into a public artwork. Give it a name, share it with the community, revisit it later, and watch its story continue as the surrounding world evolves. Build your own collection of creations and leave a lasting mark on places that matter to you. EXPLORE THE GLOBAL CANVAS Zoom across continents, countries, cities, and neighborhoods to discover what others have created. Find: • Beautiful community artworks • Active creators • Emerging hotspots • Hidden pixel masterpieces • New places waiting for inspiration Every location has a story waiting to be discovered. REPAIR, RECOLOR, AND RECLAIM A living world is constantly changing. Maintain your favorite creations, repair damaged pixels, refresh colors, and reclaim areas that have evolved over time. Every action is securely verified to keep the world fair, balanced, and shared by everyone. CREATE BEYOND HOME Creativity doesn’t stop when you travel. Travel Flags allow eligible creators to temporarily establish new creation areas beyond their usual origin, letting you leave pixel art wherever your adventures take you. Every journey can become a new canvas. GROW AS A CREATOR Every pixel counts. Earn XP, level up, publish more artworks, collect likes and favorites, and build a creator profile that reflects your artistic journey across the world. Whether you’re creating for fun, exploring new places, or becoming one of Pixterra’s most recognized artists, every contribution helps shape the global canvas. ONE PIXEL CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING Every masterpiece begins with a single pixel. Every creator starts with a single idea. Every place has the potential to become something extraordinary. The next pixel is yours. PREMIUM FEATURES Optional in-app purchases include: • Bonus Paint • Premium Creator Membership • Travel Flags Purchases are completely optional. Explore the world, discover community creations, and enjoy Pixterra without making any purchase. IMPORTANT • Location verification is required to create on the map. • An internet connection is required for live world updates and online interactions. • Sign in with Apple and Sign in with Google are supported. • Some features may vary by region or account status. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://pixterra.app/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Pixterra at every 3 days against Handpix's weekly. On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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
Both are free to download. Handpix sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Pixterra sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Handpix against 5.0 for Pixterra. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
Handpix ships an update weekly, Pixterra every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Handpix | Pixterra |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 35 MB | 50 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | 寻 刘 | 昆 杨 |
Customer experience
Handpix
Pixterra
In-app purchases
Handpix
- Handpix Pro 月度会员$0.991 Month
- Handpix Pro 永久会员$14.99
Pixterra
- Pixel Premium Monthly$2.991 Month
- Starter Paint Pack$0.99
- Single Travel Flag$0.99
- Small Paint Box$1.99
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- Travel Flag Pack$1.99
- Creator Flag Pack$3.99
- Standard Paint Box$4.99
- Explorer Flag Pack$4.99
- Large Paint Box$9.99
- Creator Paint Box$19.99









