Comparison

Phocal vs PixelFriends

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

Head to head
About

Phocal

Personalize your device's home screen by displaying your favorite photos and stickers. Create custom photo walls with various templates, stickers, and outline options. Organize your creations with smart folders and choose widget sizes to fit your style.

Highlights
  • Display favorite photos on home screen
  • Customize photos and stickers
  • DIY photo wall creation
  • Adjustable widget sizes
  • Smart folder organization
  • Multiple border templates
  • Various sticker outline options
Features
Read full description

1.Don't let your photos just sit in the album - bring your favorites to the home screen. 2.Customize photos and stickers - decorate your screen with personality. 3.DIY photo wall - create your own personalized home screen. 4.Choose from large, medium, or small widgets - size is up to you. 5.Organize your photos and stickers with smart folders. 6.Multiple border templates - add style and texture to your photos. 7.Various sticker outline options - control every detail of the outline. 8.Massive library of materials - mix and match effortlessly. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://mtkangkang.github.io/phocal-privacy-policy/

About

PixelFriends

Features
Read full description

A tiny pixel friend lives in the Dynamic Island at the top of your phone. It keeps moving beside you while you use other apps, and stays with you on the Lock Screen too. ■ Your Own Pixel Friend Pick the friend you like and put it in the Island. Choose how it moves, too. ■ Grows the Longer It Stays Time in the Island adds up and levels it up. Snacks help it grow faster. ■ On the Lock Screen Too Your Lock Screen shows the little world your friend lives in, with a sky that changes through the day. ■ Make It Yours Switch themes to change the whole mood. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Phocal4 screens
PixelFriends4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Phocal at none against PixelFriends's shown. PixelFriends's advantage is update cadence (daily vs weekly). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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. Phocal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.00 per month and PixelFriends sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Phocal ships an update weekly, PixelFriends daily. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Phocal versus PixelFriends: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhocalPixelFriends
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyWeeklyDaily — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size104 MB69 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer兆康 张Nemo factory

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Phocal

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Membership$2.001 Month
  • Yearly Membership$8.001 Year
One-time1
  • 终身会员(永久)$12.00
10 purchases

PixelFriends

Subscriptions2
  • PixelFriends VIP · 1 month$2.991 Month
  • PixelFriends VIP · 1 year$24.991 Year
One-time8
  • Cookie$0.59
  • Rainbow Candy$0.99
  • Neon$1.99
Show 5 more
  • RPG Dialog$1.99
  • Arcade$1.99
  • Cake$1.99
  • Magic Juice$9.99
  • PixelFriends VIP · Lifetime$34.99

Questions

Is Phocal free?
Phocal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PixelFriends free?
PixelFriends is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Phocal or PixelFriends have ads?
PixelFriends shows ads; Phocal does not.
Which is updated more often, Phocal or PixelFriends?
Phocal ships an update weekly, and PixelFriends daily. Most recently, Phocal was updated on October 24, 2026 and PixelFriends on October 26, 2026.

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