Pixelc

Pixelc is a pixel-art editor for sprites and tiles, designed primarily for phones and tablets while also running on desktop and the web. It suits artists who want animation tools and local artwork storage without paying for the core editor. Its main drawback is a reported tile-rendering problem in Samsung Internet Browser.

Overview

Built in C with SDL2 and OpenGL, Pixelc brings sprite drawing and tile editing into one editor. The touch-device focus makes it a natural fit for mobile workflows, while the desktop and browser versions broaden where it can be used. Its local-first approach is a meaningful choice for artists who prefer artwork to stay on their device, but it does not offer cloud syncing.

Key features

Drawing modes, shading, selections, and custom brushes, kernels, and stamps offer several ways to work at pixel level. Tile mode supports repeating artwork, and the editor includes tilemap tools. Lospec palettes provide familiar starting points, with custom palettes for projects that need their own colors.

For animation, Pixelc has a timeline, frames, layers, onion skinning, and GIF export. Sprite-sheet export and PNG, GIF, and TAR formats provide useful routes for moving finished work out of the editor. Undo and redo are designed to continue working after an app reload, which can help preserve continuity between sessions.

Pixelc saves artwork locally and says it sends nothing to a server. Its mobile-friendly web app can save offline in the browser, making it usable without a network connection. The trade-off is that local storage does not provide the convenience of cloud-based artwork synchronization.

Documentation, a tutorial, and tooltips give new users ways to learn the editor. The reported Samsung Internet Browser issue is more serious than a cosmetic glitch: tiling may render incorrectly and can lead to other app corruption, so users relying on that browser for tile work should choose another environment.

Pricing

The Pixelc plan costs nothing and is free and open source under GPLv3. It includes the core editor; there is no paid tier required for the documented animation, tile, palette, or export tools. The author also offers Pixelc Premium on Google Play to support the project, with grayscale tools and a background.

The free edition is the straightforward choice for artists who want a capable pixel-art editor without a subscription. Premium is for Android users who want those additional tools and wish to support the project; the core editor's open-source license remains GPLv3.

Platforms

Pixelc runs on Android, Linux, macOS, Windows, and the web. The browser app is mobile-friendly and can save offline. Samsung Internet Browser users should avoid tile work because of the reported rendering and corruption issue.

Who it's for

Pixelc is best suited to pixel artists making animated sprites, tile sets, or tilemaps who value touch-device support, local storage, and a free, open-source workflow. It is less suitable for anyone who depends on cloud synchronization or must use Samsung Internet Browser for tiling.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Sprite, animation, and tilemap tools share one free, open-source editor, reducing the need to switch between separate apps.
• Pros: Local saving and offline browser storage keep artwork on the device and make browser work possible without a connection.
• Pros: Timeline, onion skinning, sprite-sheet export, and PNG, GIF, and TAR support cover key stages from animation to export.
• Cons: There is no cloud syncing, so artists seeking synchronized artwork across devices will need another workflow.
• Cons: Samsung Internet Browser can render tiles incorrectly and may cause further app corruption, making it a poor choice for tile editing there.

Alternatives

Pixel art software covers the broader category. Consider Pixelorama for another free, open-source option across Android, desktop, and web. LibreSprite is a free, open-source alternative for desktop and Android. Pixel Studio may suit users who want Google Drive sync, dark theme, and other PRO features, though those features require PRO.

PixelWall offers a free studio with drawing, layers, groups, references, animation, scripting, API, CLI, tilemap editing, and frame exports. Pro Motion NG has a free edition that permits commercial use, as well as a full version at $19 a month. Manabit is another option, with a Pro plan at $5.99 a month via an auto-renewing PayPal subscription that requires a license. Pix2D and PixSplat are also free alternatives.

Verdict

Choose Pixelc if you want a free, open-source editor that brings sprite animation and tilemap work together, especially on a touch device or in an offline browser workflow. Local storage and a wide set of pixel-art tools make it a compelling starting point. Look elsewhere if cloud syncing is essential or if Samsung Internet Browser is your main environment for tile editing.