Comparison

Wax vs Pixel Map

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

Head to head
About

Wax

Features
Read full description

Make 3D props, characters and scenes on iPhone and iPad. Start with a shape, import a model, or open one of five editable examples. MODEL Edit vertices, edges and faces. Extrude faces, inset details, bevel edges and add loop cuts. Mirror, Subdivision Surface, Array and Smooth modifiers stay editable. SCULPT AND PAINT Push, pull and smooth a mesh with brushes, symmetry and masks. Paint colors onto the mesh, add image textures, and place reference images in your scene. Apple Pencil pressure can control brush size and strength. ANIMATE Keyframe position, rotation and scale. Adjust timing on the timeline and motion in the curve editor. Add cameras to frame your scene. KEEP YOUR PROJECT EDITABLE Save and share .waxproject files with the full scene, including materials, textures, modifiers and animation. Open them on another device to keep working. Older .wax projects still open, and importing a project creates a separate copy. Import OBJ and self-contained GLB or glTF models. GLB/glTF files must contain their own mesh data and textures; separate buffer and image files are not supported. Model import does not bring in animation. Use Wax project files to transfer an editable Wax scene. FREE TO USE Modeling, sculpting, painting, animation, modifiers, model import and unlimited projects are free. Export editable Wax projects, OBJ, STL, SDS and PNG images without buying Pro. WAX PRO • Combine shapes, cut holes and find intersections with booleans. • Rebuild a mesh for sculpting with voxel remesh. • Export animations and turntables as MP4 videos. • Export GLB files with materials and animation for use in other 3D apps, games and the web. • Export USDZ files to view your models in AR. Wax Pro is a one-time purchase with Family Sharing. No subscription. LEARN BY EDITING Open a robot, spacecraft, painted creature, speaker or animated example and change it yourself. A guided tour, gesture help, keyboard shortcuts and a left-handed layout are included. No account is required. Projects are stored on your device and are available in Files.

About

Pixel Map

Transform your photos into unique abstract pixel art. Sample pixels from your images and create custom color palettes to recolor your creations. Export your pixel maps for further use.

Highlights
  • Sample pixels from photos
  • Create custom color palettes
  • AI-powered color suggestions
  • Recolor pixel maps
  • Export pixel maps
  • Identify pixels by row/column
Features
Read full description

The central idea of Pixel Map is that you can take samples with different pixel sizes from your own photographs, and subsequently that you can compose one or two different color palettes to select which colors are used to recolor your pixel map. In Pixel Map you can select one of your own photos as the basis for a pixel map. Also, you can select the number of pixels to be used for your Pixel map (the app generates pixel map samples based on the original colors and the aspect ratio of your photo), and you can compose your own palettes by selecting colours from two separate sets of color patches. You can define your color palettes based either on the colors from your pixel sample, or from a fresh set of color patches. One set of color patches is based on the original pixel sample by employing Artificial Intelligence techniques. The other set of color patches contains a predefined set of several grey values, skin tones and general colors. The proces of recoloring your images also employs Artificial Intelligence techniques. Only a small thumbnail and of course the pixel maps and their palettes are stored locally on your device. The app supports manually copying your pixel map to an external canvas. You can also export your pixel map by email. To ease the process of copying, a detail view can identify each pixel by a row- and column number.

Screenshots

Wax4 screens
Pixel Map4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Wax at Free against Pixel Map's $0.99. Pixel Map's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On 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

Wax is free to download; Pixel Map costs $0.99 up front. Wax sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Pixel Map asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard3 real differences · 5 level
Wax versus Pixel Map: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWaxPixel Map
PriceFree — better$0.99
Rating—4.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Paid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJohn HaasRob Duell PhD

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Wax

One-time1
  • Wax Pro$14.99
None

Pixel Map

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Wax free?
Wax is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pixel Map free?
Pixel Map costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Wax or Pixel Map have ads?
Neither Wax nor Pixel Map shows ads.

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