Tool profile
Pixquare: cost, fit and limits
Pixquare is a pixel art editor for iPad, iPhone and macOS that offers layers, frames, tilemaps, Aseprite file compatibility and Lospec palette access under a one-time license, and states that it has no ads, no subscriptions and no AI.
What to know first
Pixquare is free to download on the App Store, and its FAQ says a one-time license unlocks all features and updates stay free. The iPhone-only License costs $7.99 and the All-device License $24.99, which the FAQ says covers iPad, iPhone and macOS, with a first-time download discount to $19.99 during the first three days. Updates are free. Android is not planned.
Pixquare at a glance
| Maker | Son Nguyen (copyright holder on the site; company not stated), Not stated on the vendor pages |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Free trial only |
| Entry price | $7.99 |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Pixel Art Software in 2026, rank 6 of 11 |
| Website | pixquare.art |
Who Pixquare is best for
iPad and iPhone pixel artists
A touch-first app with symmetry, custom brushes and onion skin lets someone sketch sprites on a commute and keep working on the same files later.
Artists handing files to Aseprite users
Aseprite file compatibility reduces conversion steps between a tablet draft and a desktop animation or export pipeline, so a sketch started on an iPad can continue on a computer.
Buyers who dislike subscriptions
The FAQ states a one-time purchase with free updates, so the cost is a known number rather than a recurring bill.
Pixquare plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free download | Free | Free to download on the App Store. The FAQ says the license unlocks all features. |
| iPhone-only License | $7.99 | All features included and free updates for life, per the FAQ, for people who only draw on an iPhone and never need iPad or Mac. |
| All-device License | $24.99 (discount to $19.99 in the first 3 days) | Covers iPad, iPhone and macOS with all features and free updates, according to the FAQ. |
Checked November 2026.
What Pixquare does
- Layers and frames panel
- Layers and frames share one panel, with layer grouping, alpha lock, linked cels, frame tagging and onion skin for animation work on a small screen.
- Tilesets and tilemaps
- A tileset and tilemap system with a dedicated tilemap layer supports level art made from repeating blocks, which makes the app usable for game maps and not only for single sprites.
- Aseprite compatibility and indexed mode
- The home page names Aseprite file compatibility and an indexed color mode, plus time-lapse recording of a drawing session that can be shared as a short clip of how the sprite was made.
- Symmetry and custom brushes
- A symmetry tool offers unlimited axes, which helps with mandalas, tiles and characters, and custom brushes expand what a single stroke can do on a small touch screen.
- Themes and palettes
- A custom theme system allows shareable interface themes, and color palettes from Lospec can be loaded as color sets, which saves time when a project follows a published palette.
How Pixquare handles your data
Pixquare is a local app on Apple devices, and the FAQ states no ads, no subscriptions and no AI. The pages we read did not describe whether the app collects analytics, whether files sync through iCloud, how long any data is retained or where servers sit, and no certifications are named. The copyright holder is named as an individual on the site rather than a company. Because purchases run through the App Store, Apple's terms apply to the transaction. Ask the developer about telemetry before using the app with client work.
Where Pixquare falls short in practice
- Apple devices only. The FAQ says Pixquare runs on iPad, iPhone and macOS and that no Android version is planned, so Windows or Linux artists cannot use it.
- Two license tiers to compare. The iPhone-only $7.99 license does not cover other devices, and the $24.99 license is required for iPad and macOS, so buy according to where you draw.
- Individual maker, no company details. The site shows a copyright holder name but no company, address or support commitment, which a studio procurement process or a school may find too thin to approve.
Works with
Alternatives to Pixquare
Pixquare: common questions
How much does Pixquare cost?
The FAQ describes a one-time purchase: $7.99 for an iPhone-only license and $24.99 for the all-device license, with a first-time download discount to $19.99 in the first three days. The app is free to download. Prices are as of November 2026 and may vary by App Store region.
Can Pixquare open Aseprite files?
The home page names Aseprite file compatibility, which lets artists move work between a tablet and a desktop pipeline. The pages we read did not list which Aseprite features survive the round trip, so test one animated file with tags and layers before depending on it.
Does Pixquare have AI features?
No. The FAQ says no ads, no subscriptions, no AI. It is a hand-drawing editor with layers, frames, tilemaps, symmetry and themes. Anyone wanting generated sprites would need another service, and would then import the result as ordinary image files.
Does Pixquare work on Android or Windows?
No. The FAQ states that Pixquare covers iPad, iPhone and macOS and that no Android version is planned. Windows is not named either on the pages we read. Artists on those platforms should look at Aseprite or Pixelorama, which both offer desktop downloads.
Do I get updates after paying once?
Yes, according to the FAQ, which says the iPhone-only license includes free updates for life and the all-device license includes free updates. It does not define what happens if the developer stops releasing new versions, so keep exported copies of finished work.