Pixaki review
A capable iPad pixel-art editor with strong animation and layered-file support.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Pixaki is an iPad-exclusive pixel art editor for artists, animators, and game creators who want drawing, frame-based animation, and export tools in one workspace. Its feature set covers pixel-perfect painting, dithering brushes, palette management, layers, selections, masking, transformations, reference layers, and sprite-sheet export. The free Intro edition provides pixel art creation, frame-based animation, and basic import and export, while the paid Pro edition targets more demanding projects.
Animation is one of Pixaki’s clearest strengths. The layer-based workflow includes a scrubbable timeline, unlimited animation frames in Pro, and onion skinning with configurable opacity, tint, and adjacent frames. Artists can also export animated PNG, GIF, QuickTime movie, and other listed formats, alongside sprite sheets with configurable columns. These tools make Pixaki a focused choice for creating and reviewing animated pixel assets rather than only static sprites.
File compatibility gives Pixaki a useful place in workflows that include Aseprite, Adobe Photoshop, Pixelmator, Procreate, iCloud Drive, or Files. Pro adds unlimited layers and references, advanced import and export, plus Aseprite and layered Photoshop PSD support. Export options also include PNG, TIFF, JPEG-2000, and .pixaki files. Choose Pixaki if iPad is your primary platform and layered assets or animation matter; choose another tool if you need desktop or cross-platform access, or require tilemap tools.
Pixaki pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Pixel-perfect painting, dithering brushes, palettes, and reference layers
- Frame animation with scrubbable timeline and configurable onion skinning
- Imports and exports Aseprite files and layered Photoshop PSDs
- Where it doesn't
- Available exclusively on iPad and iPad Pro
- Intro limits canvas size, layers, and animation frames
- No verified tilemap tools are listed
Pixaki fact sheet, pricing and score →
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