Pixelc

Overview

Pixelc is an open-source pixel-art editor for sprites and tiles, built in C with SDL2 and OpenGL. It is best suited to artists who want a touch-oriented workflow that also reaches desktop and browser devices. Its broad animation and tile toolset is compelling for a free editor, although Samsung Internet users should avoid the web app because of a reported rendering and corruption issue.

Key features

Pixelc brings sprite drawing and tile work together, making it relevant both to character art and repeating game graphics. Multiple drawing modes, shading, selections, and custom brushes, kernels, and stamps give artists varied ways to shape a piece. Popular Lospec palettes offer a useful starting point, while custom palettes allow more controlled color choices.

Animation includes frames, a timeline, layers, and onion skinning across frames and layers, with GIF export for sharing motion. Tile mode and tilemap tools extend the editor beyond standalone sprites. PNG, GIF, and TAR exports, along with sprite-sheet export, cover several practical ways to move finished work elsewhere. Undo and redo are designed to persist after an app reload, a helpful feature for work that spans sessions.

Artwork stays local: Pixelc says it sends nothing to a server, and the browser version can save offline in the browser. That is a clear fit for artists who prefer local storage, but those wanting cloud syncing will need another workflow. Documentation, a tutorial, and tooltips provide ways to learn the editor.

Pricing

Pixelc is free and open source under GPLv3, with the core plan listed as free. There is no paid tier required for the listed editor features. The author also offers Pixelc Premium on Google Play as a separate way to support the project; it adds grayscale tools and a background.

The free edition is the straightforward choice for artists who want the core editor without a subscription. Those who specifically want the Premium additions can consider that purchase, but should weigh its unstated price before buying.

Platforms

Pixelc runs on Android, Linux, macOS, Windows, and the web. Its mobile-friendly web app is compiled with Emscripten, extending the touch-device focus to a browser workflow. The Samsung Internet Browser issue is a meaningful caveat: tiling may render incorrectly and can lead to other app corruption, so users of that browser should choose a different platform or editor.

Who it's for

Pixelc suits pixel artists who work on phones or tablets and want the option to continue on desktop or in a browser. Its frames, onion skinning, tilemap tools, and sprite-sheet export make it especially relevant to artists moving between animation and game tiles. It is less suitable for anyone who depends on cloud-synced artwork or plans to use its web app in Samsung Internet.

Pros and cons

• Pros: A free, GPLv3 editor combines animation, tilemap work, and sprite drawing across mobile, desktop, and web platforms.
• Pros: Local saving and offline browser storage keep artwork on the user's device rather than sending it to a server.
• Pros: Persistent undo and redo after reload, plus documentation, a tutorial, and tooltips, support ongoing work and learning.
• Cons: The reported Samsung Internet tiling issue can produce incorrect tiles and further corruption.
• Cons: Local storage does not provide cloud syncing, so moving work between devices requires another method.
• Cons: The separate Premium purchase price is unstated, making its cost harder to weigh.

Alternatives

Compare pixel art software if you want to weigh editors by category. Choose Pixelorama for another free and open-source option spanning Android, desktop, and web. Pixel Studio is another freemium option, with a one-time PRO plan at $12.99, paid once; its free plan contains ads and some features require PRO. For an MIT-licensed free editor available as a Godot addon or standalone application, consider PixelPen.

PixelWall is another freemium option with drawing, layers, animation, scripting, API and CLI access, and tilemap editing. Pro Motion NG offers a free limited edition allowing commercial use, alongside a full plan priced at $19 a month. Choose LibreSprite for a free, GPLv2 pixel-art editor, or Pixilart for a web and mobile option with a free plan and a $4.99 a month PRO plan. Manabit is another freemium alternative, with a $5.99 a month Pro plan requiring a Manabit license.

Verdict

Pixelc is a strong choice for touch-device artists who want a free editor with animation, tilemap work, local artwork storage, and desktop or browser access. Its practical breadth is the main reason to choose it; the lack of cloud syncing and the Samsung Internet bug are good reasons to look elsewhere if either matters to your workflow.