Aseprite vs Pixelc
Aseprite
aseprite.orgPixelc
github.comSide by side
| Figure | Aseprite | Pixelc |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $19.99/mo | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 3 |
| Spec score · Pixel Art Software | 8.5 (#7) | 8.7 (#6) |
| Animation | It supports layers, frames and cels, animation tags, playback modes, and onion skinning. | Frames support animated previews, per-frame timing, three blend modes and GIF export. |
| Export formats | PNG,GIF,JSON,Aseprite (.ase/.aseprite) | The documented save functions produce PNG images, animated GIF files and TAR project archives. |
| License | The FAQ says compiled versions cannot be redistributed, while creations made with Aseprite may be used in personal or commercial products. | The application and its assets are licensed under GPLv3, while the supporting framework is MIT licensed. |
| Purpose | Aseprite is desktop software for drawing animated graphics and pixel art. | Pixelc is an open source tile and sprite editor written in C using SDL2 and OpenGL. |
Plans
In their own words
Pixelc
Pixelc is a free, open-source tile and sprite editor written in C using SDL2 and OpenGL. The project targets touch devices such as smartphones and tablets, while also running on desktops, and provides a mobile-friendly web app. It supports animation frames and GIF export, as well as layers and onion skinning for frames and layers. Drawing tools include multiple modes, shading, selections, and custom brushes, kernels, and stamps; a tile mode supports tile work. Pixelc includes popular Lospec palettes and accepts custom palettes. The project says artwork is saved locally and nothing is sent to a server, with offline saving available in the browser app. Undo and redo are stated to remain available after an app reload. The app and assets use the GPLv3 license, and the README points users to documentation, a tutorial, and tooltips. A separate Android Premium edition is offered, with grayscale tools and background. The README warns that Samsung Internet Browser can render tiling incorrectly, with potential for other app corruption.