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Head-to-head · Pixel Art Software

Pixelorama vs Pixquare

  • 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
Pixquare #14 in Pixel Art Software 7.8/10 Paid ✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Pixquare

Pixelorama leads on 1 check, Pixquare on 0, and 5 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 planonly Pixelorama

Pixelorama scores higher on our rubric for pixel art software: 9.4 against 7.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #14.

Pixelorama offers free plan; Pixquare doesn't.

Pixelorama is the better fit for free, open-source pixel art across many platforms. Pixquare is the better fit for apple users needing tilemap-capable pixel art.

  • Pixelorama fits best

    Free, open-source pixel art across many platforms

  • Pixquare fits best

    Apple users needing tilemap-capable pixel art

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Side by side

Feature Pixelorama 9.4/10 Visit ↗ Pixquare 7.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 7.8
Ranking #1 in Pixel Art Software #14 in Pixel Art Software
Best for Free, open-source pixel art across many platforms Apple users needing tilemap-capable pixel art
Pricing model Free plan + paid Paid
Starting price — $7.99 one-time
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop, Mobile Desktop, Mobile
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android macOS, iOS
Support Docs Email, Community, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market Solo, Small business
Features Pixelorama 5/5 · Pixquare 5/5
Animation timeline ✓ ✓
Indexed color tools ✓ ✓
Sprite-sheet export ✓ ✓
Onion skinning ✓ ✓
Tilemap tools ✓ ✓
Specs
Supported platforms Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, Web iOS, macOS
Export formats PNG, animated PNG, spritesheets, GIF, video PNG, BMP, JPEG, GIF, MOV, sprite sheet, ASEPRITE, PSD, timelapse
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
  • Tilemap, tileset, and sprite-sheet tools support game-asset workflows
  • Indexed color, palettes, layers, linked cels, and reference layers
  • Animation timeline, onion skinning, and timelapse recording included
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
  • Available on iOS and macOS only
  • Requires a paid license with no free plan
  • The broad feature set may exceed simple pixel-editing needs
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 →

Pixquare is a pixel art editor for iPhone, iPad, and compatible Mac computers. It is designed for pixel artists, animators, and game-asset creators who need more than basic drawing tools. The feature set covers frame-based animation, onion…

Read the review →
  1. PixeloramaPixel Art Software 9.4Free plan
  2. PixquarePixel Art Software 7.8Paid

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

  • Pixquare — where it wins

    • Tilemap, tileset, and sprite-sheet tools support game-asset workflows
    • Indexed color, palettes, layers, linked cels, and reference layers
    • Animation timeline, onion skinning, and timelapse recording included

    Where it doesn't

    • Available on iOS and macOS only
    • Requires a paid license with no free plan
    • The broad feature set may exceed simple pixel-editing needs

Pixelorama vs Pixquare: questions

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

Pixelorama scores higher on our rubric for pixel art software: 9.4 against 7.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #14.

How do Pixelorama and Pixquare compare?

Of the 6 checks we put side by side, Pixelorama leads on 1, Pixquare on none, and 5 are level. Free plan only on Pixelorama.

Do Pixelorama and Pixquare have a free plan?

Pixelorama: Yes. Pixquare: No.

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