Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

Head-to-head · Pixel Art Software

Pixelorama vs Pix2D

  • Updated Nov 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score Pixelorama #1 in Pixel Art Software 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Pixelorama
Pix2D #3 in Pixel Art Software 9.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 5 features Visit Pix2D

Pixelorama leads on 0 checks, Pix2D on 0, and 6 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scorePixelorama · 9.4/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresPixelorama · 5 of 5

Pixelorama scores higher on our rubric for pixel art software: 9.4 against 9.1 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #3.

Pixelorama is the better fit for free, open-source pixel art across many platforms. Pix2D is the better fit for open-source cross-platform artists.

  • Pixelorama fits best

    Free, open-source pixel art across many platforms

  • Pix2D fits best

    Open-source cross-platform artists

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Pixelorama 9.4/10 Visit ↗ Pix2D 9.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 9.1
Ranking #1 in Pixel Art Software #3 in Pixel Art Software
Best for Free, open-source pixel art across many platforms Open-source cross-platform artists
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price — Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop, Mobile Cloud, Desktop, Mobile
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
Support Docs Community, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market Solo, Small business
Features Pixelorama 5/5 · Pix2D 3/5
Animation timeline ✓ ✓
Indexed color tools ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Sprite-sheet export ✓ ✓
Onion skinning ✓ ✓
Tilemap tools ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Supported platforms Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, Web web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
Export formats PNG, animated PNG, spritesheets, GIF, video PNG, JPG, SVG, GIF, sprite sheet PNG + JSON, Aseprite JSON, Godot .tres, Unity .png.meta, libGDX .atlas, .pix2d
Our review
Pros
  • Free and open-source across Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and web
  • Animation, tilemap, palette, onion-skinning, and indexed-color tools
  • Non-destructive effects, clipping masks, video export, and CLI automation
  • Animation timeline with onion skinning and sprite-sheet export
  • Runs on web, Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android
  • Layers, palettes, artboards, grids, and blend modes in one editor
Cons
  • The Steam edition is limited to Windows and Linux
  • Steam Cloud, Achievements, and automatic updates require the Steam edition
  • Paid Steam access adds platform benefits rather than listed editing features
  • Support is centered on community channels and documentation
  • Native project files use the .pix2d format
  • Command-line batch export is optional rather than central
Our verdict

Pixelorama is an open-source pixel art editor for creating sprites, tiles, and frame-based animations. It is suited to artists, game developers, and hobbyists who want a free workflow across desktop, browser, and Android platforms. Its…

Read the review →

Pix2D is a free, open-source graphics editor for pixel art, game sprites, and animation. It suits solo artists and small teams that want one workspace across web, Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. The toolset covers pixel-perfect drawing…

Read the review →
  1. PixeloramaPixel Art Software 9.4Free plan
  2. Pix2DPixel Art Software 9.1Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Pixelorama — where it wins

    • Free and open-source across Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and web
    • Animation, tilemap, palette, onion-skinning, and indexed-color tools
    • Non-destructive effects, clipping masks, video export, and CLI automation

    Where it doesn't

    • The Steam edition is limited to Windows and Linux
    • Steam Cloud, Achievements, and automatic updates require the Steam edition
    • Paid Steam access adds platform benefits rather than listed editing features

  • Pix2D — where it wins

    • Animation timeline with onion skinning and sprite-sheet export
    • Runs on web, Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android
    • Layers, palettes, artboards, grids, and blend modes in one editor

    Where it doesn't

    • Support is centered on community channels and documentation
    • Native project files use the .pix2d format
    • Command-line batch export is optional rather than central

Pixelorama vs Pix2D: questions

Which is better for pixel art software, Pixelorama or Pix2D?

Pixelorama scores higher on our rubric for pixel art software: 9.4 against 9.1 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #3.

How do Pixelorama and Pix2D compare?

All 6 checks we put side by side come out level: neither leads on any.

Do Pixelorama and Pix2D have a free plan?

Pixelorama: Yes. Pix2D: Yes.

More comparisons

All pixel art software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026

Last updated · How we research and update