But times have changed since then. More and more artists are getting into the world of pixel art, and so can you – even if you’re not sitting at your computer. We recommend you try the best Pixel Art apps for Android and iPhone below to find the best pixel art app for you!
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1. Pixilart
Pixilart, the first choice of the best Pixel Art apps, is an app that probably brings the best approach to creating pixel art on mobile. Before Pixilart, programs made specifically for creating pixel art drew pixels onto the canvas as soon as your finger hit the screen. This can be difficult to control unless you are very zoomed in.
However, tapping and dragging in Pixilart only moves your cursor around. As long as you press the Draw button, a pixel will be placed at the cursor position on the screen (so you’ll probably have to use both hands at the same time).
This twist on the original design function quickly attracted users and slowly created one of today’s largest online communities specifically for pixel artists.
Since its redesign in 2023, it offers a simpler user interface and approach to drawing pixel art. With a blank canvas, there is no visible drawing pen on the canvas, just place your finger where you want and start drawing immediately. There is also a selection of ready-made color palettes to choose from.
To share your artwork with other users on the platform, you must create an account. If you don’t want to share your artwork, you don’t need to register. Simply launch the app, press the Draw button , and follow the instructions to create your first pixel art.
Pixilart is an all-ages forum, so you are not allowed to upload adult content.
There is also an in-browser editor for those who want to use Pixilart on a computer or laptop .
2. Pixel Studio
Creating Pixel Are on mobile devices and tablets was a dream come true a few years ago. Pixel Studio, the second best pixel art app, was one of the first pixel design apps to make this possible. This pixel art editor by Frida Yarolina has been downloaded more than five million times worldwide and has been translated into 25 languages.
Being one of the oldest apps on the market has its perks – for example, having plenty of time to add more features. In addition to all the usual tools, Pixel Studio supports layers as well as several image and editable file types.
Support for animations is also available, and you can add music directly within the app and download them as MP4. It is also compatible with both S-Pen and Apple Pencil.
If you are a big fan of the mobile app, you will be happy to know that this app is also available for download as a desktop app. Your artwork can be synced across multiple platforms with Google Drive. Although some features are only available for paid users.
Getting started with Pixel Studio is easy. No need to register. You are drawn directly to a blank canvas and can start creating artwork. And if you don’t know where to start, Pixel Studio includes links to video tutorials detailing how to use the program to create digital art .
Download link: Pixel Studio for Android iOS | Windows | Mac
Download link: Pixel Studio Pro for Android iOS
3. Dotpict
The third best pixel art apps option, Dotpict is a pixel art app and social platform that is probably created by developers who are also pixel artists themselves. Even the in-app interface has text and pixelated icons.
It is very similar in functionality to Pixilart. It also draws, has the essentials, and has built its own family-friendly community. This editor supports up to three layers and has animation capabilities.
However, what sets Dotpict apart from the rest is its auto-save and time-lapse features. Autosave ensures that even if the app crashes for some reason, you’ll never completely lose the art you’ve been creating. If you turn on the time-lapse function before you start drawing, you can save a GIF animation of your pixelation process from start to finish.
Signing up for a Dotpict account allows you to share your art and color palettes, participate in pixel art contests, and interact with other users’ artwork.
4. Pixaki
This one is for iPad users. The fourth best pixel art app , Pixaki is one of the best pixel art apps with glowing reviews. It has a multi-touch interface, adjustable palettes and Apple Pencil support.
There is support for up to 50 layers, animations and the most popular file types. Game developers like the ability to export sprite sheets, otherwise known as images, which show a frame-by-frame sequence of an animated sprite with adjustable columns.
It’s easy to turn a design into pixel art in Pixaki with Reference Layers . Often times, when resizing your designs to create pixel art on top of them, you lose a lot of the detail you originally had. Pixaki lets you import any image (or multiple images at once) from your photo library at full resolution, resize it, and resize it on the canvas.
The Lite version of the app (Pixaki 4 Intro) is free, but its functions are limited. You can only have three regular layers and one reference layer, as well as up to eight frames of animation and a maximum canvas size of 160×160.
Meanwhile, the full version of the app (Pixaki 4 Pro) allows you to have unlimited layers, references and animation frames. You can also have canvas sizes up to two megapixels and export to more advanced file types, including Photoshop PSD.
Download link: Pixaki 4 Intro for iOS
Download link: Pixaki 4 Pro for iOS ($27)
5. Procreate
Procreate, the fifth best Pixel Art app, was developed with the goal of making the most of the iPad’s artistic capabilities. This digital painting program (often cited as an alternative to Adobe Photoshop ) is more than capable of creating pixel art.
With its long resume of features, you will most likely have to work with the brush settings panel. You’ll want to make sure you’re only drawing with hard edges, by turning off anti-aliasing or limiting yourself to matte brushes.
The most useful and unique function that Procreate offers to pixel artists is Palette Capture . Instead of creating your own color palettes, you can import an image from the Photos app. Procreate then creates a custom palette of colors from that image.
There are three ways to create a color palette in Procreate . But if you need more inspiration, use dedicated apps to find the best color schemes, matches and palettes.
While they’re not features you’ll use often (or at all) for pixel art, Procreate also has a huge library of textured brushes, precise color controls, and plenty of stunning digital effects. . This app is compatible with Apple Pencil and is a one-time purchase.
Procreate has good reviews and is undoubtedly one of the best pixel art apps for iPad. Draw good pictures, and you can even start selling your art online for extra income .
Download link: Procreate for iOS ($12.99)
6. PixelMe
PixelMe, the ultimate selection of the best pixel art apps, is different from the other pixel art apps on this list. Unlike the previous options, this is not an app that you need to install if you want to draw pixel art manually. Instead, if you’re just a pixel art enthusiast and don’t know how to draw, this is the app to go for.
It helps you turn photos into pixel art with just one tap. From there, you can customize the generated pixel art to your liking.
Download link: PixelMe for Android iOS (free, subscription available)
Which Pixel Art app do you choose?
The indie gaming industry has seen a resurgence in pixel art games, and perhaps that’s partly because it’s easier to get started. Some graphics apps require fairly powerful hardware to run smoothly, but with these pixel art apps, all you need is your phone or tablet.