Pixel Studio review
A free desktop editor with animation tools and sprite-sheet exports for Windows and Linux.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026
Pixel Studio is a desktop pixel-art and animation editor from Rockr Studio, suited to solo creators and small teams who want drawing, frame-based animation and export tools without paying or creating an account. The public Free edition is available for Windows and Linux x86_64, and it supports personal and commercial artwork. Its drawing tools include strokes, shapes, gradients and mirror painting, alongside selections and pixel-accurate transforms. Layers, groups and masks support organizing artwork, while palettes and hue, saturation and brightness adjustments provide color controls.
Animation is a central part of the editor: animation groups, a frame timeline, playback, individual frame timing and configurable onion skinning are included. Preview covers artwork, animation and tiled artwork. Export options include PNG, JPEG, GIF, animated WebP, MP4, BMP, TGA, QOI, Windows icon, animated PNG, sprite sheets, PNG sequences and the native .pxst format. This makes Pixel Studio relevant for creators who need sprite assets in several image or animation formats. However, previewing tiled artwork is not the same as tilemap editing; the listed category specifications do not include tilemap tools, so projects that depend on those tools call for another editor.
According to the published plan, Free is the available edition and requires no account, payment or license key. Pro is not currently on sale, and the official site labels feature sections “In development,” so buyers should weigh that status when deciding whether the current edition fits their workflow. Support channels include email and documentation. Pixel Studio is a practical fit for free desktop pixel-art animation on Windows or Linux, especially when sprite-sheet exports and frame controls matter. It is less suitable for macOS users, tilemap workflows or buyers seeking a currently available paid tier.
Pixel Studio pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Animation groups, frame timing and configurable onion skinning
- Layer groups, visibility controls and non-destructive masks
- Exports spritesheets, PNG sequences, GIF and animated WebP
- Where it doesn't
- No tilemap tools
- Available for Windows and Linux x86_64, not macOS
- The official site labels feature sections “In development”
Pixel Studio 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. 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.
Last updated · How we research and update