Dixel review
A focused pixel-art editor with reference layers, indexed color, and a free tier.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Dixel is a native Android editor for creating pixel art such as sprites, icons, and retro-style graphics. Its phone, tablet, and foldable layouts make it a fit for Android artists who want pixel-specific tools rather than a general illustration workspace. Drawing options include pencil, eraser, fill, line, rectangle, ellipse, and eyedropper, alongside selections and transforms. Stylus input works as touch input, so it does not provide pressure-sensitive control.
The pixel-art workflow has useful depth: artists can work in RGBA or indexed color, use built-in or custom palettes, and keep source imagery nearby with a reference window or in-project reference layers. Layers include opacity, visibility, locking, alpha-lock, and blend modes. Pixel-perfect mode targets clean diagonal strokes. Projects autosave and have crash recovery, while optional Google Drive backup complements local storage in the app as .dxl files. This combination suits sprite or icon work that benefits from palette control and visual reference, but not animation; animation tools are not part of the feature set.
The free plan has no ads and exports PNG. Pro is a one-time purchase according to the Google Play listing, and adds canvas sizes up to 1024×1024, up to 32 layers, JPG export, scaled output, and Lospec palette import. For artists who need those larger canvases or export options, Pro addresses concrete limits; casual pixel-art work can start free. Choose another app if animation or pressure-sensitive drawing is central, or if cloud sync is a requirement: Dixel lists optional Drive backup, not cloud sync.
Dixel pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Reference window and in-project reference layers support image-guided work.
- Indexed color, built-in palettes, and custom palettes suit pixel-art workflows.
- Autosave and crash recovery protect locally stored projects.
- Where it doesn't
- No animation tools for artists making moving sprites.
- No pressure sensitivity; stylus input works as touch input.
- Google Drive backup is optional, while projects are stored locally by default.
Dixel fact sheet, pricing and score →
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. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update