Comparison

Pixel Art Maker vs NiBoard

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

Head to head
About

Pixel Art Maker

Create unique 8-bit retro digital art with various shapes and color palettes. This app allows you to design minimalist images, characters, and typography, then export your creations as high-resolution PNG files.

Highlights
  • Draw with 4 pixel shapes (squares, circles, diamonds, triangles)
  • Adjustable canvas background (black/white)
  • Darken and lighten buttons for shading
  • Triangle rotation for unique patterns
  • Create typography and greeting cards
  • Export high-res PNG files to camera roll
Features
Read full description

QIXEL - Pixel Art Painter is an original and creative drawing app that makes it super-easy for pixel-lovers, designers and retro gamers to make unique 'qixel art' then export your designs to your iPad and iPhone. Qixels come in 4 shapes with our unique 3d effect. Create minimalist images, retro characters and typography with a limited number of qixels and colour palette. Make art or just use it to chill out - it's the digital equivalent of popping bubblewrap! We look forward to seeing your artwork on the Facebook Qixel gallery! Facebook.com/qixelgallery Here's what you can do with Qixel HD: - Draw pictures with 4 different pixel types: Squares, Circles, Diamonds and Triangles. - The canvas background button flips between black or white. This has a very different effect on your qixels. - Use the darken and lighten buttons to add shade and depth to your art. - The triangle setting has an extra button: Rotation. Try rotating your triangles 90 degrees to make strange patterns and origami-style art. - Use Qixel to make quirky typography. - Write simple messages and greeting cards to send to friends. - Make cool patterns and abstract backgrounds for websites. - Create retro game graphics, and then export frames in stages to make animation. - experiment with colour: great for artists and colour therapy teachers. ALLOW The PHOTO PERMISSION - Qixel HD will ask you to permission to access your photos. Clicking 'OK' will allow you to save high res PNG files to your device's Camera Roll. - The Photo button saves a high-res PNG screenshot to your iPad's camera roll. Make sure you allow the Photo permission in your iOS device's restrictions. Go to Settings > General > Restrictions > Privacy > Photos > Switch Qixel HD on. iOS 12: Settings > Screen Time > Content and Privacy Restrictions > Photos > Switch Qixel HD on. hese aren't just Pixels... these are Qixels!

About

NiBoard

This app provides an infinite canvas for drawing, sketching, and taking notes. It offers a clean interface with Apple Pencil support, making it ideal for visual thinking and creative expression for users of all ages.

Highlights
  • Infinite canvas
  • Freehand drawing
  • Apple Pencil support
  • Save and share drawings
  • Customizable colors
  • Drawing tools (line, arrow, shapes, text)
  • Guided drawing styles
Features
Read full description

NiBoard is a simple whiteboard app for drawing, sketching, notes, and ideas. Whether you’re a student, teacher, creator, or just want a clean space to think visually, NiBoard helps you capture ideas quickly with an easy-to-use canvas, Apple Pencil support, drawing tools, editable objects, and boards for keeping your work organized. Why You’ll Love NiBoard • Simple from the first tap: Open a board and start drawing without setup. • Great for Notes, Lessons, and Ideas: Use NiBoard for quick explanations, visual thinking, planning, and sketches. • Organized Workspace: Keep different notes, sketches, lessons, and ideas in separate boards. • Apple Pencil Support: Draw with your finger, Apple Pencil, or both for precise control. • Clean, Minimal Interface: Focus on your ideas without distractions. Key Features • Pen & Highlighter: Draw naturally and highlight important notes, diagrams, and ideas. • Lines, Arrows, Shapes & Text: Create simple diagrams, organize ideas, and add clear labels. • Editable Objects: Select lines, arrows, and shapes to move, resize, recolor, and customize borders with three size options. • Shape Fill: Fill supported shapes with color for cleaner diagrams and visual notes. • Boards: Create, rename, duplicate, and pin boards to keep your ideas and projects organized. • Infinite Canvas: Expand your canvas and keep drawing without running out of space. • Canvas Styles: Use Blank, Grid, Dotted, and Lined canvas styles for cleaner sketches and notes. • Custom Color Palette: Create your own color palette with the full color picker. • Easy Editing: Use Undo/Redo, Eraser, and Zoom for quick fixes and detailed work. • Export: Export your boards as PNG or PDF. • Save & Share: Save your drawings or share them with others. • Dark Mode: Enjoy a comfortable drawing experience in any lighting. • Autosave: Your work is saved automatically. A subscription is required to unlock full access to the app. Terms of Service https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Pixel Art Maker4 screens
NiBoard4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: NiBoard at Free against Pixel Art Maker's $1.99. NiBoard also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.5) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 16 months). Pixel Art Maker's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and chart position (#125 vs unranked). On review sentiment, ads 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

NiBoard is free to download; Pixel Art Maker costs $1.99 up front. NiBoard sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Pixel Art Maker asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NiBoard holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NiBoard has 486 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Pixel Art Maker's written reviews are positive against 81% of NiBoard's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pixel Art Maker ships an update every 16 months, NiBoard every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Pixel Art Maker versus NiBoard: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPixel Art MakerNiBoard
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating3.5 (6 ratings)4.6 (486 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews80.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings6486 — better
Update frequencyEvery 16 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid — betterSubscription
Best chart rank#125 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB55 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFrosby Designs Ltd.Enid Hadaj

Customer experience

Pixel Art Maker

All ratings6 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

NiBoard

All ratings485 ratings
Positive89.7%
Neutral3.3%
Negative7.0%
Written reviews264 reviews
Positive80.7%
Neutral6.1%
Negative13.3%

Bugs and requests

Pixel Art Maker

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

NiBoard

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Drawings get distorted or lost when rotating the device
  • Exported PDFs sometimes cut off content
  • Occasional app crashes or freezes

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add text editing with font and size options
  • Implement multiple pages or an infinite canvas
  • Improve erasing functionality and precision
  • Allow for inserting and annotating images
  • Provide more pen thickness and color options

In-app purchases

None

Pixel Art Maker

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

NiBoard

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly3 Days trial$1.997 Days
  • Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Yearly$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$79.99

Questions

Is Pixel Art Maker free?
Pixel Art Maker costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is NiBoard free?
NiBoard is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Pixel Art Maker or NiBoard?
NiBoard is rated higher. Pixel Art Maker averages 3.5 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while NiBoard averages 4.6 from 486 ratings.
Do Pixel Art Maker or NiBoard have ads?
Neither Pixel Art Maker nor NiBoard shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pixel Art Maker or NiBoard?
Pixel Art Maker ships an update every 16 months, and NiBoard every 9 days. Most recently, Pixel Art Maker was updated on November 1, 2026 and NiBoard on October 29, 2026.

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