# 8bit Painter vs Pixilart

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pixilart at none against 8bit Painter's 1. Pixilart also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.6). 8bit Painter's advantage is review sentiment (85% vs 55%) and ratings volume (6.7K vs 2.2K). On price, rating, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. 8bit Painter sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Pixilart asks for nothing beyond the download.

8bit Painter holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6.7K and 2.2K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 85% of 8bit Painter's written reviews are positive against 55% of Pixilart's.

8bit Painter ships an update monthly, Pixilart fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 8bit Painter | Pixilart |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (6.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/8bit-painter-pixel-art/id894301273/reviews)** | [4.4 (2.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixilart/id1440580518/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **6.7K** | 2.2K |
| Positive reviews | **85.1% of reviews** | 54.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 30 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Takayuki Miyagawa](https://appshunter.io/developer/894301276) | [Bryan Ware](https://appshunter.io/developer/1440580517) |

## What reviewers say

### 8bit Painter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/8bit-painter-pixel-art/id894301273)

Create pixel art and 8-bit style illustrations with intuitive tools. Easily design social media icons, game skins, patterns, and even patterns for crafts like Perler beads. Import photos to convert them into pixel art, with options to remove backgrounds.

**Highlights:** Intuitive pixel art drawing tools, Photo import and conversion to pixel art, Background removal for imported images, Stylus support for precise drawing on iPad, Multiple canvas sizes, Export transparent PNG images, Artwork data import/export

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $5.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🥰 Fun and addictive
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🎨 Great for pixel art
- 💡 Helpful for crafting projects
- 🤩 Awesome app overall

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤬 Annoying ads
- 🔒 Limited canvas sizes
- 🎨 Lack of color customization
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing and crashing issues
- Distortion when importing images
- Inability to delete saved artworks

**Requested features**

- Custom canvas sizes
- More color options and palettes
- Ability to delete or rearrange colors
- Layers and animation support
- Copy/paste and selection tools


### Pixilart

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixilart/id1440580518)

Create and share pixel art with a vibrant community. Easily design pixel art, animate GIFs with layers, and connect with other artists. Upload your creations, receive feedback, and discover new art on the go.

**Highlights:** Easy-to-use pixel art drawing, GIF creation with layers and frames, Cloud profile for cross-device access, Public and private drawing uploads, Social sharing and feedback, Follow artists and activity feeds

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient mobile access
- 💡 Good for pixel art
- 👍 Chill community

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔍 Limited features compared to website
- 💰 Too many ads
- 🎨 Limited color palette and tools

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes on login
- Drawings not saving properly
- Buttons and tools not working as expected
- Inconsistent behavior when navigating

**Requested features**

- Add color wheel
- Increase canvas size options
- Implement undo/redo functionality
- Allow importing images
- Add layers and animation tools


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 8bit Painter free?

8bit Painter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Pixilart free?

Pixilart is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, 8bit Painter or Pixilart?

8bit Painter is rated higher. 8bit Painter averages 4.6 out of 5 from 6.7K ratings, while Pixilart averages 4.4 from 2.2K ratings.

### Do 8bit Painter or Pixilart have ads?

Both 8bit Painter and Pixilart show ads.

### Which is updated more often, 8bit Painter or Pixilart?

8bit Painter ships an update monthly, and Pixilart fortnightly. Most recently, 8bit Painter was updated on November 1, 2026 and Pixilart on November 2, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*