pixemboss vs Roxel

Pixemboss is a browser-based editor for turning 2D pixel art into low-poly 3D models for games. Its 2D workspace includes shapes, layers, frames, per-pixel depth, stamps and palettes; the voxel editor adds sculpting, voxel layers, baked ambient occlusion, emissive and metallic materials, and dynamic lights. Models can be rigged and animated, with animation clips exported in GLB. The editor exports 3D formats including GLB, FBX, OBJ, DAE, STL, VOX and glTF, as well as sprite sheets, PNG, GIF and WebM. One-click import kits are available for Godot and Unity, and the Godot guide describes a plugin with a live-link workflow. Per-pixel depth ranges from 1 to 8, while unpainted pixels add no geometry. Some export details matter: cone lights and fog are viewport-only, and emissive or metallic properties reach GLB only with Palette texture colour mode active and Unlit off. Rigged exports use one plain material, so those colours appear flat. Pixemboss is free in the browser and can be started without installing anything or creating an account.

Roxel is a free, open-source desktop voxel editor for hobbyists and indie creators, available for Windows and macOS. Its tools include brush, erase, recolor, eyedrop, select, move, and shape drawing. Rectangles, ellipses, and lines can be drawn on a build plane or extruded into 3D forms. An open-world grid allows painting across X/Z and upward as far as memory permits. Roxel includes built-in palettes, user palette management, and Adobe Swatch Exchange import and export. It opens MagicaVoxel .vox, Qubicle .qb, and Goxel .gox files, and exports .vox, .gox, .obj, .fbx, .glb, .png, and .svg. Projects use the .rox format; the maker says .glb exports are ready for Unity and Godot. Light, Dark, and System themes include customizable canvas and floor colors. The MIT license permits use, forks, and building on the project. Its itch.io page marks it in development and lists version 0.7.1 downloads. The maker says macOS builds are self-signed and not notarized, and Windows builds are unsigned.