If you’re anything like me, then you love pixel art!
Pixel art is a form of digital art created by artists who use pixels to create images. Pixel art can be used for games, websites, art and other forms of digital media.
Pixel art is also a great way to add a personal touch to your game, business website, or other digital media project.
But sometimes it can be tough creating pixel art because of how time-consuming it is!
So, in this article, I’ve reviewed the best pixel art maker software and tools, so you can create pixel art in LESS time whether you’re a beginner or a PRO!
Top Pixel Art Makers (Summary)
If you’re short on time, here are the top 5 pixel art makers:
- Colorcinch – formerly known as Cartoonize (best overall)
- Pixilart (best community for sharing pixel art)
- Jasper Art (best AI generated pixel art)
- Pixel art maker (best free pixel maker)
- Pixel paint (best for pixel sprites)
What are the best pixel art makers?
As a designer or artist, you know that there are a million and one things that you can do with your time. But sometimes, you just want to sit down and relax with a good pixel art maker.
Fortunately, there are a ton of great tools out there!
So whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started, you’re sure to find a pixel art maker that’s perfect for you.
1. Colorcinch
Colorcinch (or also known as Cartoonize) is a refreshingly-to-use photo editor that comes with a free image pixelator.
You can pixelate a part of your image or convert any photo into beautiful pixel art that can be used for your NFTs.
It’s easy to use. You just upload your photo, apply the pixel effect to a part or all parts of the photo, then save your image with the pixel effect added.
You can do a lot more with Colorcinch. You can edit your photos, make their colors pop, cartoonize yourself, convert your images into paintings, and more!
2. Pixilart
Best community for sharing pixel art
Pixilart is a the best free pixel art maker for those who want a simple and straightforward interface. With Pixilart, you can quickly and easily create pixel art without any hassle.
What I like about Pixilart is that the Pixel Maker is free and it works from your web browser (so no software download required).
Also, another advantage is that if you get stuck, you can ask the Pixilart community for help. And when you create pixel art, you can also share it with the other 1.5 million users of the platform.
3. Jasper Art
Best AI art pixel image generator
Fastest way to create pixel art
Jasper art is my number one rated AI image generator if you’re looking to create pixel art in seconds with AI.
What I like about using Jasper art is that you can create ANY kind of pixel art you can imagine by typing in some text into the AI image generator tool.
The downside is that you don’t get a lot of control over the pixel art the artificial intelligence creates and the quality isn’t always great. So it may or may not be the right fit for you. You’ll need to test it out for yourself to know for sure.
Here are a few examples of using Jasper art to create a “Dog in pixel art style”:
See also: How to create a custom dog portrait
4. Pixel Art Maker
Pixel Art Maker is another excellent free pixel art maker for those who want to create pixel art without any fuss. With its simple interface, you can quickly and easily create pixel art without any hassle.
What I like about this software compared to other Pixel art software is that it doesn’t require any downloads. In fact, you don’t even need to register for an account. You can start creating pixel art straight away!
Another advantage is that you can upload images and it will turn the image into pixel art for you automatically!
5. Pixel Paint
Pixel Paint Online is a great pixel art maker for those who want to create pixel art without any fuss. With its simple interface, you can quickly and easily create pixel art without any hassle.
What I like about Pixel Paint Online is that its pixels are much larger than other pixel makers, which makes it easier when creating precise pixel art. This makes it great for creating Pixel art sprites.
However, it’s not the best option if you want to create larger pixel art files.
6. Piskel
Piskel is a great free pixel maker which allows you to create both pixel art and pixel-animated images.
What I like about Pixel is that it also works well on your iPad / tablet or iPhone / mobile device. It gives a lot of paid tools a run for its money!
7. Pixelator
Pixelator is a little bit different to most other pixel-maker software. Pixelator allows you to easily convert any image into pixel art for free at the click of a few buttons.
As you can see the results are very impressive from these examples:
This is a good pixel art tool if you’re already good with using other digital art software and you’re looking to convert it into a pixel format.
8. Asprite
Asprite is a professional animated sprite editor and pixel art tool. What I like about Asprite is how easy it is to use for beginners. But at the same time, it has a lot of advanced features for pros.
Check out the trailer below for a quick demo of what’s possible:
There’s a lot of potential with this pixel-maker software if you are working on both small and big pixel art projects.
9. Pyxel Edit
Pyxel edit is a NEW pixel art editor specifically designed for video game makers. So, if you’re looking for a good pixel art editor for making games, Pyxel is a great choice!
The only thing I don’t like about Pyxel is that it’s still in development so it might be a bit buggy or not have all the features you’d like yet.
However, it does show a lot of potential!
10. Cosmigo pixel animation software
Cosmigo Pro Motion NG is pixel animation software for business professionals who create pixel art for their clients or other creative projects.
What I like about Cosmigo is that they have a free version of their software available (with limited features) so you can try them out before purchasing the full version.
If you’re looking for a professional solution to creating pixel art, then this is a good option to look at.
The Benefits of Creating Pixel Art
Pixel art is a great way to get creative and have fun while making something that can be used in video games, websites, or even as artwork.
Not only is pixel art a great way to express your creativity, but it can also help you to improve your artistic skills.
Creating pixel art can help you to:
- Improve your attention to detail
- Develop your patience
- Enhance your sense of color
- Improve your ability to plan and organize.
- Learn to use different software programs
Pixel Art FAQs
Ashley Davis (or ‘Ash’ for short) is the CEO & Founder of Skyline Social. For over 15 years, he has been helping business owners with lead generation. Ash specializes in helping businesses get high-quality leads, appointments and clients each month in an automated, scalable and profitable way. You can watch his free Masterclass training to learn more.
