Side by side
Hexcalibur vs Pix2D
Both stand on pixel art software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxMacWeb+1
Pick Hexcalibur for browser-based voxel texture work that needs a 3D preview, pack workflow, animation, tilemaps, or engine-aware exports. Look elsewhere if you need phone support or more than eight assets and one pack on the free plan.
Visit Hexcalibur
Free plan AndroidLinuxMac+2
Pix2D brings pixel-art tools, animation, and a range of export formats to browser, desktop, and Android versions. Be aware that macOS may display a Gatekeeper warning, and the public APIs and plugin system are not yet complete.
Visit Pix2DThe facts
| Hexcalibur | Pix2D | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Web, Windows | Android, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Price being re-checked | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 4 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | axidus.io | pix2d.com |
| On pixel art software | #7 of 70 | #11 of 70 |
Hexcalibur: what it does well
- 3D preview checks textures on cube and L-stack shapes.
- Packs share a palette across grouped textures and references.
- Animation supports onion-skinning, named tags, GIF, APNG, and sprite sheets.
- Presets include Minecraft, Tiled, and several game engines.
- Free plan stores art in the browser without uploading it.
What to know first
- Free plan is limited to one pack and eight assets.
- Free plan offers a single-cube preview and five animation frames.
- Designed for desktop; phones are unsupported.
- Using the editor requires a free Axidus account.
Pix2D: what it does well
- Includes an animation timeline and onion skinning.
- Exports sprite sheets and multiple art formats.
- Browser version requires no installation.
- Free and open source under the MIT License.
What to know first
- A free trial is not offered.
- Public APIs and plugins are still under development.
- macOS Gatekeeper may warn on first launch.
Alternatives to Hexcalibur Alternatives to Pix2D The whole list