PixelPencil - Pixel art editor

At a glance

• Editor score
  5.3 / 10
• Pricing
  Free plan
• Best for
  Simple pixel-art editing on iPhone
• Free plan
  Yes
• Paid from
  $4.99 one-time
• Facts checked
  13 Oct 2026

• Where it wins

  • Layer controls include grouping, blend modes, transparency and ordering.
  • Exports animations as GIF or APNG, using layers as frames.
  • Saves multiple projects through the app file system or iCloud.

• Where it doesn't

  • Focused on pixel-art workflows rather than general-purpose drawing.
  • The free version includes advertisements.
  • Available for iOS, with no other platform listed.

Our verdict on PixelPencil - Pixel art editor

PixelPencil is a pixel-art editor for iPhone and iPad, aimed at people who want to draw and animate small pixel canvases on a mobile device. Its toolset covers common editing tasks such as drawing, filling, selecting, moving, flipping, rotating and scaling. Canvas sizes range from 5×5 to 512×512 pixels, and pinch gestures support zooming and rotation. This is a focused choice for solo creators and small projects built around pixel art, rather than a general drawing app for varied illustration styles.

Layer editing is central to the workflow: layers can be added, deleted, duplicated, reordered, hidden, grouped and adjusted for transparency or blending. For animation, each layer can serve as a frame, with export to animated GIF or APNG. Undo and redo are also available. Projects can be saved through the app file system or iCloud, giving users a way to keep multiple pieces in progress. These features make PixelPencil more than a single-canvas sketchpad, but the published feature set remains centered on basic pixel-art creation and animation.

The app is free to download, with a one-time $4.99 Remove ads purchase according to the US App Store listing; regional App Store prices may differ. The paid option removes advertisements, while the Free plan already includes pixel-art editing tools, layer editing and animation export. That keeps the purchase decision straightforward for users who want to try the editor before paying, but it does not add a separate suite of advanced capabilities. Choose PixelPencil for an iPhone-based pixel-art workflow with layer animation and iCloud saving; look elsewhere if you need a broader drawing tool or work outside iOS.

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PixelPencil - Pixel art editor pricing

All 2 PixelPencil - Pixel art editor plans and prices →

PixelPencil - Pixel art editor fact sheet

PixelPencil - Pixel art editor integrations

PixelPencil - Pixel art editor lists 1 integrations on its own site.

• iCloud

Alternatives to PixelPencil - Pixel art editor

• Clip Studio PaintDeep illustration, comic, and animation tooling with a low-cost mobile entry point.9.4
• Adobe FrescoA capable free canvas for iPhone artists who move between raster, live, and vector work.9.2
• ibisPaintA feature-rich drawing app with advanced brushes, color controls, and cross-device sync.9.0

See all PixelPencil - Pixel art editor alternatives →

Featured on iTechGuides

PixelPencil - Pixel art editor is listed in our Drawing Apps for iPhone directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 21 Oct 2026 · How we research and update