If your interested in making your own pixel art or games you’ll need a pixel editor to get started. We have a list of the best pixel editors for creating pixel art for graphics as well as games.
What is a Pixel Editor?
A pixel editor is special type of software used by artists to create 2D pixel art sprites and images. Once created these pixel art sprites can be used for several purposes such as images for social media and 2D sprites for video games.
Check our list of pixel software below:
Aseprite
Aseprite is a pixel editor widely recognized for its exceptional capabilities in creating and editing pixel art. With its specialized set of tools and an intuitive interface, Aseprite offers a seamless workflow for artists, designers, and game developers looking to craft intricate pixel-perfect graphics. From sprite animations to retro-style artwork, Aseprite provides a range of features including layers, customizable brushes, palette management, and animation timelines, enabling users to achieve precise control over every pixel. Its robust pixel manipulation options, such as color indexing and dithering, allow for the creation of visually stunning pixel art with depth and detail. Embraced by the pixel art community, Aseprite stands as a go-to software for anyone passionate about designing their own pixel art.
Editor Features:
- Full Featured Pixel Art Editor for Adding, Deleting and Painting Pixel Graphics
- Pixel-perfect scaling, preserving the integrity of pixel art when resizing or exporting to different resolutions
- Offers onion skinning, allowing artists to see previous and subsequent frames as ghosted images for precise animation control
- Advanced color palette management tools, including color cycling and indexing
- Simplified process of exporting pixel art animations as sprite sheets, optimizing workflow for game developers and animators
- Ability to customize keyboard shortcuts, enabling personalized and efficient workflows
- Supports various file types commonly used in the field of pixel art and animation, including GIF, PNG, BMP, JPEG, PSD and ASE
Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS, Ubuntu
Price: Free Trial (no save), $19.99
Installation Instructions: How to Install Aseprite
Want to create pixel art using Aseprite? Checkout out our free Aseprite Tutorials!
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is an industry-leading graphic design software that has become a popular choice for creating and designing pixel art. With its robust toolset and extensive capabilities, Photoshop offers unparalleled control over individual pixels, allowing for precise adjustments and enhancements when working with pixel artwork. Whether it’s retouching images, creating detailed pixel art, or designing graphics for various mediums, Photoshop provides a rich selection of pixel-oriented features, including layers, brushes, and selection tools. Its advanced pixel-based editing tools, such as the pencil tool, pixel grid alignment, and anti-aliasing options, empower pixel artists to achieve stunning results with meticulous precision. Supported by a vast user base and comprehensive resources, Photoshop has become an essential software for pixel editors seeking to bring their creative visions to life.
Editor Features:
- Professional Graphic Design Software with a full Featured Pixel Art Editor for designing pixel art
- Ability to manipulate individual pixels, such as adding and deleting, making it ideal for detailed pixel art creation
- Vast selection of customizable brushes, enabling pixel artists to achieve various textures and effects
- Comes with robust layer management, allowing pixel artists to work on different elements of their artwork separately, facilitating organization and easy editing
- Simplified process of exporting pixel art animations as sprite sheets, optimizing workflow for game developers and animators
- Smart filters offer non-destructive editing options, allowing pixel artists to apply filters and effects and edit them later
- Supports a wide range of file formats used in pixel art, including PNG, PSD, BMP, GIF, and JPEG
Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS
Price: Starts at $19.99/Month
Installation Instructions: How to Install Adobe Photoshop
Want to design pixel art using Adobe Photoshop? View our free Photoshop Tutorials!
Mega Voxels
Mega Voxels is a free pixel editor to create and edit pixel art. With this special pixel art editor you can design, color and export pixel art images. Unlike other tools however, Mega Voxels also allows you to make pixel art using a 3D version of pixels, known as voxels. It only takes a few minutes to learn and the tools such as pencil, paint and eraser are similar to other popular pixel art software such as Aseprite and Piskel. Whether you prefer to work with standard 2D pixel art or you want to experiment with 3D pixel art, you can switch between the pixel editor and voxel editor with ease. Mega Voxels is currently available for a variety of phones, tablets and computers.
Editor Features:
- Professional Pixel Software with a complete Pixel Art Editor for making pixel art
- Color Pixel Art using dozens of hand-picked color palettes directly inside of the editor
- Huge selection of tools including resizable brushes, eraser, bucket fill, and marquee select tools
- Comes with a layer management system, allowing pixel artists to work on different elements of their artwork individually
- Smart filters offer non-destructive editing options, allowing pixel artists to apply filters and effects and edit them later
- Supports a variety of file formats used in pixel art, including PNG, GIF, and JPEG
Supported Platforms: iOS, Android, macOS (Silicon), and ChromeOS
Price: Free w/ In-App Purchases
Get the Pixel Art Editor on Android: Mega Voxels on Google Play
Get the Pixel Art Editor on iOS: Mega Voxels on the App Store
Want to make pixel art using Mega Voxels? View our free Mega Voxels Tutorials!
Piskel
Piskel is a dedicated pixel editor, offering a straightforward and intuitive platform for creating pixel art and animations online. It offers a super simple interface and focused feature set that makes working with pixel artwork enjoyable. Piskel provides a streamlined experience for pixel artists of all skill levels. Its comprehensive toolset includes pixel-level drawing tools, animation frames, layer support, and a range of customization options, enabling users to craft detailed pixel art with ease. Piskel’s real-time preview and playback features allow artists to visualize and refine their animations as they work, ensuring smooth and fluid results. Embraced by the pixel art community, Piskel has become a popular choice for anyone looking to immerse themselves in the world of pixel editing and unleash their creativity.
Editor Features:
- Dedicated Pixel Art Editor for creating pixel art with an online version and desktop version
- Offers a timeline interface specifically designed for creating smooth and seamless pixel art animations
- Provides a real-time preview of animations, allowing artists to see their creations come to life instantly
- Supports collaborative editing, enabling multiple users to work on the same pixel art project simultaneously
- Simplified process of exporting pixel art animations as sprite sheets, optimizing workflow for game developers and animators
- Simplified process of exporting animations as sprite sheets, making it ideal for game development
- Works primarily with the PISKEL file format, but exports to other common formats used in pixel art such as PNG and GIF
Supported Platforms: Browser Based (macOS, Windows, Linux)
Price (Desktop): Free
Get Piskel: Download Piskel
Want to learn how to create pixel art using Piskel? View our free Pixel Art Tutorials!
PixiEditor
PixiEditor is a versatile and powerful pixel editor that provides a comprehensive toolset for creating and editing pixel art. With its user-friendly interface, PixiEditor offers an intuitive platform for pixel artists to unleash their creativity. The software includes a wide range of pixel-specific features, including drawing tools, layer support, color palette customization, and advanced editing options. Whether you’re a seasoned pixel artist or a beginner, PixiEditor empowers users to create intricate pixel art with pixel-perfect precision. With its robust functionality and dedicated focus on pixel art, PixiEditor has become a go-to choice for artists looking to create their own pixel artwork.
Editor Features:
- Completely Open-Source Pixel Editor for making pixel artwork on Windows PCs
- Full list of pixel editing tools including pencil, eraser, shapes, marquee and more
- Support for separating and organizing pixel art using built in layers
- Unique features such as Reference layers that speed up the time it takes to design pixel images
- Ability to create custom color palettes
Supported Platforms: Windows
Price: Free
Get PixiEditor: Download PixiEditor
Krita
Krita is a graphic design software that has become an exceptional pixel editor because of its comprehensive features and powerful tools. Designed from the beginning with artists in mind, Krita offers an extensive toolset that are particularly tailored for creating and editing pixel art. With its customizable brushes, precise pixel-level control, and advanced layer management, artists can craft intricate pixel art with ease. Krita’s intuitive interface and seamless workflow allow for effortless navigation and efficient creation of detailed pixel-based designs. Its support for various file formats and flexible export options make it a go-to software for various projects. With a vibrant pixel art community, Krita stands as a leading software choice for artists seeking a versatile and powerful pixel editing tool.
Editor Features:
- Open-Source Graphics Editor with Extended support for creating and designing pixel art
- Essentially free to use forever for Personal and Commercial Pixel Art Projects
- Ability to create and use custom brushes when design pixel graphics
- Multiple Export Formats including commonly used pixel art file formats such as PNG and JPG
- Large Community of Graphic Designers and Pixel Artists For Support
Supported Platforms: macOS, Windows, Linux
Price: Free
Get Krita: Download Krita
Pro Motion
Pro Motion is a pixel editor and animation software designed by Cosmigo for making pixel art on Windows. Because Pro Motion was designed specifically for pixel art all tools and features in the program are pixel art related. This makes it perfect for artists and developers who don’t want the extra features of other software that are not pixel related. Pro Motion comes with awesome features including animation layers, tile map engine, onion skinning and tile drawing tools. Pro Motion is available for Free with a limited feature set or a one time price for all the features.
Software Features:
- Complete Pixel Art Editor Software for creating, editing and painting pixel art
- Tile Map Engine for making Level Maps
- Onion Skinning for Animation Creation
- Tile and Pattern Drawing Tools
Supported Platforms: Windows
Price: Free (Limited Features), $39.00 (Full Features)
Get Pro Motion: Download Pro Motion
GIMP
GIMP is a cross-platform image editor software available for macOS, Windows and Linux that has become a popular pixel editor for enthusiasts. Because it is free and open source it has become one of the community’s favorite software for making pixel art. GIMP is a great choice for pixel art creation because it includes the common tools for adding, erasing and coloring pixels. And best of all it free to use for personal and commercial projects. Whether you are a graphic designer, photographer, illustrator, GIMP provides you with advanced tools to get your projects done. You can also customize GIMP thanks to many customization options and 3rd party plugins.
Software Features:
- Full Fledged Pixel Art Software with the ability to Add, Edit, Delete and Paint pixels
- Huge feature set including instance cloning and delinking, non destructive rotation, translation, flipping, object alignment and snapping
- 256x256x256 Build Area
- Apple Pencil support with pressure sensitivity
- 240 Color swatches with individual alphas
- 24-bit RGB color with 8-bit transparency
Supported Platforms: iOS, macOS (coming soon)
Price: Free
Get GIMP: Download GIMP
Paint.NET
Paint.NET is an open source image and photo editing software for PCs that run Windows. Because of its large feature set, it makes it particulary fit for pixel art design making a great free pixel art editor. It features an intuitive and innovative user interface with support for layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and a wide variety of useful and powerful tools. Because of its open-source nature it fosters a active and growing online community that provides help, tutorials, and plugins. Best of all its free to download and use.
Software Features:
- Complete Pixel Art Editor for creating, editing and painting pixel art
- Open Source and Free to Use for Personal and Commercial Projects
- Large Community that provide tutorials, help and plugins
Supported Platforms: Windows
Price: Free
Get Paint.NET: Download Paint.NET
