Pixel art software lets you place single pixels on a small grid, animate them frame by frame and export sprites for games, avatars or posters.
This guide ranks fourteen editors, from desktop programs to iPad apps and tile map tools, by what the first ninety days cost, what leaves the program on export, and who stands behind it.
Vendors can pay for more visibility on this website, for example a higher place in a ranking or more room on a page. Commercial relationships can also affect which products we feature and how prominently. Every vendor link is marked the same, whatever the arrangement behind it. How that works.
In short
What pixel art software does
Pixel art software is a drawing program built around a fixed pixel grid, with palettes, layers, animation timelines and sprite sheet export, used for game sprites, icons and animated loops.
Setup effort, true cost, data portability, exit options and buyer fit are the five tests, applied in that order to every pixel art tool here. The ranking then gives places 1 to 3 to challengers outside the best-known brands, if the category has such vendors, and the incumbents follow. The reasoning behind the five tests, and behind having no score out of ten, is set out on the how we work page.
Open source pixel editor with timeline, tile layers and bulk export
Ranked #1 of 14 in Best Pixel Art Software in 2026.
Open sourcePricing on requestElsewhere
Pixelorama earns the top slot on setup cost: the MIT licence and the name-your-own-price button on itch.io mean the first ninety days cost only the hours you spend learning it.
Timeline features cover layers, frames, onion skinning, audio sync and frame tags, and tile layers can be rectangular, isometric or hexagonal. Exports include PNG, animated PNG, spritesheets, GIFs and video, with command-line automation for bulk jobs. The trade-off is that no company, owner or country is stated.
What stands out
MIT licence
Name your own price
Runs in browser
Where it costs you
The page names no company or country, so there is nobody to hold to a support promise.
Android support is labelled experimental, which rules it out as the only tablet tool.
Right for
Hobbyists and small teams who want animation and tilemaps without paying first
Wrong for
Buyers needing a named vendor with a contract
Not stated by the vendorPay what you want on itch.io; MIT-licensed open source
Paid desktop sprite editor with cels, loops and command-line export
Ranked #2 of 14 in Best Pixel Art Software in 2026.
Pricing on requestElsewhere
Aseprite focuses on sprite work: frames and cels can be created, copied, moved, linked and dragged, and a section can loop forward, reverse or ping-pong. Animations leave as GIF, and sprite sheets as PNG with a JSON file describing them, so a game pipeline can read the result.
A command-line interface lets scripts do the exporting. It also lists crash recovery of sprites. Payment runs through Paddle or itch.io, with a Steam key as an alternative, and Igara Studio S.A. is named in the footer.
What stands out
Cels and linked frames
Sprite sheet PNG and JSON
Command-line pipeline
Where it costs you
The pages read show no prices, so the real cost is unknown until checkout.
The trial is linked but its length and terms are not shown.
Right for
Animators who need cels, loop modes and a scriptable export path
Wrong for
People who want a free tool to open today
Not stated by the vendorOne-off purchase through Paddle, itch.io or a Steam key; a trial version is linked
Polish desktop editor mixing pixel tools with node graphs
Ranked #3 of 14 in Best Pixel Art Software in 2026.
Free tierPublished pricingEurope
PixiEditor is the one entry that steps outside plain pixel grids: its node graphs generate procedural graphics, and a node-based brush engine shapes strokes. Next to that sit a dedicated pixel art toolset, advanced palette management, vector editing with snapping and frame-by-frame animation.
The software works offline and across platforms. Pixi Labs Sp. z o.o. is the named developer, and money is optional: monthly Open Collective tiers of 5, 10, 25 and 50 dollars, or one-time donations.
What stands out
Pixi Labs, Poland
Node-graph graphics
Palette management
Where it costs you
No licence is named on the page, so the exact reuse terms are unknown.
Only a desktop application is described, with no web version to try quickly.
Right for
Artists mixing pixel work with vector shapes and procedural brushes
Wrong for
Anyone who wants to draw in a browser tab
PolandFree to download; optional monthly support tiers and one-time donations via Open Collective
Isometric grids and a built-in tile map engine from cosmigo
Ranked #4 of 14 in Best Pixel Art Software in 2026.
Published pricingElsewhere
Pro Motion NG puts its prices on the front page, which few rivals here do: a limited edition at nothing that allows commercial use, the full version as a licence key at 19 dollars with free updates, and an upgrade from older versions at 10 dollars.
The currency is shown only as a dollar sign. Its grid options include isometric, octagon, box and 2x1 non-square pixels. The Tile Map Engine edits tiles in place, and image layers sit beside animation layers with a light table.
What stands out
Isometric grids
Tile Map Engine
Licence key sale
Where it costs you
The page we read names a contact email but no country or address.
No trial is offered, so the limited free edition is the only way to test it.
Right for
Retro-style developers who need odd pixel shapes and in-app level maps
Wrong for
Teams wanting a hosted or browser-based editor
Not stated by the vendorPublished: a limited free edition, one paid licence key with free updates, and a cheaper upgrade from older versions
Browser sprite animator with offline apps for three systems
Ranked #5 of 14 in Best Pixel Art Software in 2026.
Free tierPublished pricingElsewhere
Piskel is the quickest route from zero to an animated GIF in this list: open a browser tab, draw, and watch the preview loop beside the canvas, with the frame delay adjustable.
When a tab is not wanted, offline apps exist for three desktop systems and cost nothing. Output is an animated GIF or a spritesheet as PNG or ZIP. What the page leaves out matters for a team: it lists no paid tier, no licence name, no company and no country.
What stands out
Browser based
Live animation preview
GIF and ZIP export
Where it costs you
The page does not name a licence, only that the code is on GitHub.
No operator or country is given, so continuity of the free apps is unverifiable.
Right for
Learners and game-jam teams needing quick GIFs from a browser
Wrong for
Studios wanting palette, tile or layer-heavy pipelines
Not stated by the vendorFree online editor; free offline apps; no paid tiers listed
GPL-licensed sprite editor offered as download and online version
Ranked #6 of 14 in Best Pixel Art Software in 2026.
Open sourcePricing on requestElsewhere
LibreSprite offers little to verify beyond its licence, the GNU General Public License Version 2, which the page states outright. A Downloads section and an Online section show that both an installable program and a web version exist.
Everything else, from pricing to the vendor's identity, is silent on the page we read. That keeps it mid-table: the licence is a real advantage for policy reasons, but without a documented feature set a buyer carries the whole evaluation.
What stands out
GPL v2
Download and online
Thinly documented
Where it costs you
The page states no price, owner or country.
No feature list was readable, so capabilities must be tested by hand.
Right for
Teams whose policy requires a GPL-licensed editor they can install
Wrong for
Buyers who compare features from vendor documentation
Not stated by the vendorPrice not stated on the page; GPL v2 open source
iPad-only pixel animation app with a limited no-cost Intro plan
Ranked #7 of 14 in Best Pixel Art Software in 2026.
Free tierPublished pricingElsewhere
Pixaki treats the iPad as the whole product: the Intro plan carries no time limit or ads but allows 3 layers, 1 reference layer, 8 frames and a canvas up to 160 x 160 pixels.
Pro, sold through the App Store, removes the layer and frame limits and allows canvases up to 2 megapixels. Output covers sprite sheets, GIF, animated PNG, QuickTime movies and layered PSD. One solo developer, Luke, is behind it, which is both its charm and its continuity question.
What stands out
iPad only
Aseprite round trip
Intro plan limits
Where it costs you
It runs only on iPad and iPad Pro, so desktop users cannot open it.
The Intro plan stops at 8 animation frames and a 160 x 160 pixel canvas.
Right for
iPad artists who move work to and from Aseprite
Wrong for
Anyone drawing on Windows, Mac or an iPhone
Not stated by the vendorFree Intro plan with no time limit or ads; Pro unlocked through the App Store, price not listed
iPad and iPhone pixel app with tilemaps and Aseprite file support
Ranked #8 of 14 in Best Pixel Art Software in 2026.
Pricing on requestElsewhere
Pixquare packs a long feature list into an Apple-only app: an advanced layers and timeline system, a tileset and tilemap system, indexed mode, custom brushes and a symmetry tool with unlimited axes.
It reads Aseprite files and loads colour palettes from Lospec, which eases moving work between devices. The developer is named as Son Nguyen, and contact runs through an email address, a feedback page and a Discord server. Money terms stay hidden until you open the App Store.
What stands out
Apple devices
Symmetry axes
Lospec palettes
Where it costs you
No imprint, terms or privacy page is linked from the site.
The page lists no plans, prices or trial terms to compare.
Right for
Phone and tablet artists wanting tilemaps, symmetry and Lospec palettes
Wrong for
Desktop-only workflows or buyers needing a legal entity
Not stated by the vendorApp Store download; the page lists no plans, prices or trial terms
Pixel art and tileset editor where one tile edit updates all copies
Ranked #9 of 14 in Best Pixel Art Software in 2026.
Pricing on requestElsewhere
Pyxel Edit is built around reuse: tile instances can be rotated and flipped while pointing at one tile's data, so an edit appears everywhere at once. You can import a tileset image or a mock-up and let it find the unique tiles.
Tilemaps leave as XML, JSON or plain text, with sprite sheets and animated GIFs alongside. The page names a Twitter handle and a 2026 copyright line, and nothing else about who sells it.
What stands out
Shared tile data
Tilemap XML and JSON
Tileset import
Where it costs you
The home page lists no plans, prices, licence, owner or country.
A mention of a beta and a free version leaves unclear which one is current.
Right for
Tilemap designers who want one tile edit to ripple through a level
Wrong for
Buyers who need a published price and owner first
Not stated by the vendorNo plans or prices on the page read; it mentions a beta and a no-cost version
Windows freeware for pixel animation, icons and animated cursors
Ranked #10 of 14 in Best Pixel Art Software in 2026.
Free tierPublished pricingElsewhere
GraphicsGale is an older tool that shows its Windows roots: besides GIF animation it creates and edits Windows icons and cursors, including .ani animated cursors.
Multi-layer editing, onion skinning and a real-time preview come with it, and AVI export, batch file conversion and TWAIN scanner import extend its reach. The vendor notice from 2017 says it became freeware, yet the copyright line runs to 2026, which suggests the site is maintained even if prices are not listed.
What stands out
Windows only
Icons and cursors
AVI export
Where it costs you
It runs on Windows only, which excludes Mac and Linux artists.
The page is in Japanese and gives no country for HUMANBALANCE Ltd.
Right for
Windows users making GIFs, icons or animated cursors on a no-cost tool
Wrong for
Mac, Linux or tablet artists
Not stated by the vendorFreeware download after a 2017 notice; no plans or prices listed
Browser pixel editor that loads Lospec palettes, no longer developed
Ranked #11 of 14 in Best Pixel Art Software in 2026.
Free tierPublished pricingElsewhere
Lospec Pixel Editor keeps to six basic tools: pencil, eraser, fill, pan, eyedropper and zoom. Its one distinctive link is to the Lospec Palette List, from which colours can be taken.
The GPL-3 code on GitHub means anyone could fork it, which partly offsets the warning on the page that the project is no longer being developed. We would use it for sketching with a palette, then continue in a maintained editor.
What stands out
GPL-3 code
Lospec palettes
No longer developed
Where it costs you
The page announces that development has stopped and bugs may remain.
It works only in desktop browsers such as Firefox or Chrome.
Right for
Trying a palette from the Lospec list in a single sitting
Wrong for
Long projects, mobile use or animation work
Not stated by the vendorFree in the browser; no paid tiers; GPL-3 code on GitHub
Freeware browser doodle editor with galleries and shareable templates
Ranked #12 of 14 in Best Pixel Art Software in 2026.
Free tierPublished pricingElsewhere
Pixel Art Maker works as a small community canvas: work is saved with a title, description and pixel size, marked private or posted to a gallery channel, and channels with names of two or more words can be password-locked.
A saved piece can also produce a link that lets others edit it as a template. It needs an internet connection throughout. That sharing focus suits classroom or social use, while PNG-only export holds back production work.
What stands out
HTML5 browser app
Gallery channels
PNG export
Where it costs you
PNG is the only export format listed, so animations cannot leave as GIF.
The pages read name no operator or country.
Right for
Quick pixel doodles shared by link, with no installation
Wrong for
Game assets that need sheets, layers or timelines
Not stated by the vendorFreeware in the browser; no paid tiers or prices shown
Tileset maker with auto-compositing and direct game engine export
Ranked #13 of 14 in Best Pixel Art Software in 2026.
Free tierPublished pricingElsewhere
Tilesetter solves one problem well: keeping a tileset consistent. Smart tilesets update automatically, Automatic Compositing builds the whole set, and tiles are corrected while you draw. Direct export reaches Defold Tilemaps, GameMaker Studio 2 Rooms, Godot Tilemaps and Unity Tilemaps.
Lite costs nothing and covers basics, while Full is listed at 12.99 dollars with the currency implied by the sign. It does not pretend to be a general pixel editor, and neither should a buyer.
What stands out
Automatic Compositing
Engine tilemap export
Lite and Full
Where it costs you
The free Lite version does not include every feature of the Full version.
Only the developer name Led appears, with no country.
Right for
Game developers building autotiling sets for Godot, Unity or GameMaker
Wrong for
Artists wanting to draw characters or animations
Not stated by the vendorFree Lite version and a paid Full version, both listed on the page
Free tile map editor for level layout, not for painting pixels
Ranked #14 of 14 in Best Pixel Art Software in 2026.
Free tierPublished pricingElsewhere
Tiled belongs near this list only as a neighbour. It arranges tiles into orthogonal, isometric or hexagonal maps, handles infinite maps and groups several maps into a world. JavaScript extensions add file formats, actions, tools and automation, and export targets include JSON, Lua, GameMaker, Defold and tBIN.
A donation request funds development, and Thorbjørn Lindeijer is the copyright holder alongside many contributors. Draw your tiles in Pixelorama, Aseprite or PixiEditor, then lay them out here.
What stands out
Map editor
Isometric and hexagonal maps
JavaScript extensions
Where it costs you
It is a map editor, and its listed strengths contain no drawing or animation tools.
The page names no licence, company or country.
Right for
Level designers assembling maps from tiles drawn elsewhere
Wrong for
Anyone who needs to paint or animate sprites
Not stated by the vendorFree to use; the page asks for donations to fund development
Pixel art software is a drawing program built around a fixed pixel grid, with palettes, layers, animation timelines and sprite sheet export, used for game sprites, icons and animated loops. Feature lists look alike, so we would settle these points one at a time instead.
01
Work out how much a sales call is worth to you
The split is 9 published against 5 quoted. If you want to compare numbers first, start with PixiEditor, Pro Motion NG, Piskel, Pixaki, GraphicsGale, Lospec Pixel Editor, Pixel Art Maker, Tilesetter, Tiled.
02
Look at where the vendor sits
Look at the contracting entity: these 14 vendors sit in 2 countries, split by region as Elsewhere 13, Europe 1. The servers can be anywhere; the legal obligations follow the company.
03
Consider whether you want the source
Source code is available for Pixelorama, LibreSprite. Running it yourself swaps the licence fee for your own upkeep.
Pixel art software: sprite editor, tile tool or iPad app?
The first decision is the kind of work, because the fourteen programs here are not interchangeable. Aseprite, Pixelorama and PixiEditor are general editors for drawing and animating sprites. Pyxel Edit and Tilesetter exist for tilesets, where one tile feeds a whole level, and Tiled only arranges tiles into maps.
Pixaki and Pixquare are built for Apple touch screens, and Pixaki is limited to iPad. Piskel and Pixel Art Maker work in a browser tab. Buyers who pick a map tool when they need a sprite editor, or the reverse, lose the first week. Write down what leaves the program at the end: a GIF, a sprite sheet or a tilemap. That one line usually cuts the shortlist from fourteen to four.
State whether the output is a sprite, a tileset or a level map
Confirm your device: Windows, Mac, Linux, iPad or a browser only
Test one real asset before you commit to a workflow
What pixel art software costs: from name-your-own-price to a licence key
Price models in this market range from nothing to a one-off key, and some vendors say very little. Pixelorama asks you to name your own price on itch.io, PixiEditor is free to download with optional monthly support tiers, and Pro Motion NG publishes a free limited edition plus a paid licence key.
Aseprite is a paid purchase, but the pages we read show no amounts, and Pyxel Edit lists none either. Pixaki gives a free Intro plan capped at 8 frames, while Tilesetter splits Lite from Full. A missing price is a reason to ask before you plan a team purchase, and a cap on frames or canvas size is a reason to test the limited tier on a real project first.
Ask for the final price in your currency before buying
Check what a free or limited tier removes, such as frames or layers
Prefer vendors that state whether updates cost extra
Pixel art export: sprite sheets, GIFs and engine formats
What matters after drawing is what the engine or the client can open. Aseprite exports sprite sheets as PNG with a JSON file and offers a command-line interface, and Pixelorama adds command-line automation for bulk exports. Piskel produces GIFs and spritesheets as PNG or ZIP, Pixaki writes layered PSD and QuickTime movies, and Pyxel Edit exports tilemaps as XML, JSON or text.
Tilesetter goes straight to Godot, Unity, GameMaker Studio 2 and Defold tilemaps. Pixel Art Maker lists PNG only. Pixaki and Pixquare both read Aseprite material, which makes a mixed iPad and desktop workflow possible without redrawing anything, provided you test the round trip with a layered file first.
Export a test sheet and load it into your game engine
Check that layers or cels survive a move between programs
Look for command-line export if you build assets in bulk
Will your pixel art software still be maintained next year?
Small tools disappear quietly, so check the signs of life. Lospec Pixel Editor says on its own page that it is no longer being developed. Piskel, LibreSprite and Pixel Art Maker name no operator or country on the pages we read, and LibreSprite documents little more than its GPL v2 licence.
GraphicsGale carries a 2026 copyright line but runs only on Windows, and its freeware notice dates from 2017. Pixaki rests on one named developer and Pixquare on another. Open code such as Pixelorama under MIT or Lospec under GPL-3 at least allows a fork, which a closed iPad app does not. Whatever you choose, keep the exported sheets and source files in your own storage.
Look for a named company or developer and a recent copyright year
Keep original source files in a format you can open elsewhere
Treat any page that announces the end of development as a stopgap
What goes wrong most often when buying pixel art software
Picking Tiled or Tilesetter as a drawing program, when both are built for tiles and maps rather than painting sprites.
Building a pipeline on Lospec Pixel Editor after its page has said it is no longer being developed.
Buying Aseprite or Pixaki Pro without finding the final price first, because the pages we read do not show it.
Choosing Pixaki or Pixquare for a team that works on Windows desktops, when both are Apple-only apps.
07
Frequently asked questions
7 answers
What is the best pixel art software in 2026?
Pixelorama leads our ranking of 14. Pixelorama is released under the MIT licence and offered on itch.io with a name-your-own-price button, so a team can start without a budget line.
It runs in a browser and on Windows, macOS and Linux, with an Android build aimed at tablets. The timeline holds layers, onion skinning and frame tags. The page names no company or country, and the Android build is labelled experimental.
Which pixel art tools publish their pricing?
The ones that do, with the model each states:
PixiEditor: Free to download; optional monthly support tiers and one-time donations via Open Collective.
Pro Motion NG: Published: a limited free edition, one paid licence key with free updates, and a cheaper upgrade from older versions.
Pixaki: Free Intro plan with no time limit or ads; Pro unlocked through the App Store, price not listed.
GraphicsGale: Freeware download after a 2017 notice; no plans or prices listed.
Lospec Pixel Editor: Free in the browser; no paid tiers; GPL-3 code on GitHub.
Pixel Art Maker: Freeware in the browser; no paid tiers or prices shown.
Tilesetter: Free Lite version and a paid Full version, both listed on the page.
Tiled: Free to use; the page asks for donations to fund development.
The other 5 quote per organisation.
Is there a free pixel art tool?
PixiEditor, Piskel, Pixaki, GraphicsGale, Lospec Pixel Editor, Pixel Art Maker, Tilesetter, Tiled have a free plan or free self-hosted edition.
Where are these pixel art software vendors established?
The headquarters are spread over 2 countries and 2 regions, Elsewhere 13, Europe 1:
Pixelorama: Not stated by the vendor.
Aseprite: Not stated by the vendor.
PixiEditor: Poland.
Pro Motion NG: Not stated by the vendor.
Piskel: Not stated by the vendor.
LibreSprite: Not stated by the vendor.
Pixaki: Not stated by the vendor.
Pixquare: Not stated by the vendor.
Pyxel Edit: Not stated by the vendor.
GraphicsGale: Not stated by the vendor.
Lospec Pixel Editor: Not stated by the vendor.
Pixel Art Maker: Not stated by the vendor.
Tilesetter: Not stated by the vendor.
Tiled: Not stated by the vendor.
Which pixel art tools are open source?
Pixelorama, LibreSprite.
What should you use instead of Pixelorama?
Second is Aseprite, which suits Animators who need cels, loop modes and a scriptable export path. Third is PixiEditor, which suits Artists mixing pixel work with vector shapes and procedural brushes.
Who should not buy Pixelorama?
Buyers needing a named vendor with a contract. The page names no company or country, so there is nobody to hold to a support promise..
Sell pixel art software and missing from the ranking? Send us a line on what the product does and who buys it. Whether it is added is our decision, though commercial arrangements can also affect it, and the terms of a listing sit on the software advice page.
