Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Aseprite VS Piskel

Compare Aseprite VS Piskel and see what are their differences

Aseprite logo Aseprite

Aseprite is an art program dedicated to the creation of pixel art.

Piskel logo Piskel

Piskel is a website where designers online create sprites or pixel art.
  • Aseprite Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-12-23
  • Piskel Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-06-24

Aseprite features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Aseprite features an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface that is accessible for beginners and efficient for experienced users.
  • Specialized for Pixel Art
    Designed specifically for pixel art, Aseprite offers a range of tools and features tailored to creating detailed pixel-based graphics.
  • Animation Support
    Aseprite supports frame-by-frame animation, allowing users to create animated sprites with ease and export them in various formats.
  • Layer Management
    The software includes robust layer management features, such as blending modes, opacity settings, and layer groups, which enhance workflow for complex projects.
  • Customizable Brushes
    Users can create and customize brushes, which can save time and improve the precision and creativity of their artwork.
  • Cross-Platform
    Aseprite is available on multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
  • Community Support
    There is an active community of Aseprite users that share tutorials, extensions, and plugins, providing robust support and continuous improvement.
  • Color Palette Management
    The software offers advanced color palette management features, such as palette organization and color indexing, which are critical for pixel art.

Possible disadvantages of Aseprite

  • Paid Software
    Aseprite is not free; users must purchase a license to access the full version, which can be a barrier for some potential users.
  • Limited to Pixel Art
    The software is heavily specialized for pixel art, which might be limiting for artists wanting more versatility for other types of digital art.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While the basic interface is user-friendly, mastering some of Aseprite's more advanced features may require a significant learning commitment.
  • Performance Issues with Large Files
    The application can become slow or unresponsive when working with exceptionally large files or animations, which can be frustrating.
  • Limited File Format Support
    Aseprite supports a limited range of file formats, which might require users to convert their files to use them in other software.

Piskel features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Piskel offers a simple and intuitive interface that is easy to navigate, making it accessible for beginners.
  • Online Access
    As a web-based tool, Piskel can be accessed from any device with an internet connection, allowing for flexible usage without the need for installation.
  • Real-Time Preview
    Piskel provides a real-time preview of animations, allowing users to see immediate results of their edits and adjustments.
  • Free to Use
    Piskel is entirely free to use, which makes it an attractive option for individuals and educators with limited budgets.
  • Export Options
    The application supports multiple export formats including GIFs and spritesheets, making it versatile for various use cases.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source project, Piskel allows users to contribute to its development and customize the tool to better fit their needs.

Possible disadvantages of Piskel

  • Limited Advanced Features
    Piskel lacks some advanced features that professional pixel artists might require, such as layer effects and complex animation timelines.
  • Dependence on Internet
    Being an online application, Piskel's use is constrained by internet availability and speed, which can be a limitation for users with unstable connections.
  • Performance Issues
    For larger projects with numerous frames or high resolutions, Piskel can experience performance lags and slowdowns.
  • No Mobile App
    While Piskel can be accessed from mobile browsers, it does not have a dedicated mobile app, which can affect usability on smaller screens.
  • Basic Drawing Tools
    The drawing tools are relatively basic compared to other professional graphic design software, which may limit creative options.
  • Privacy Concerns
    As an online tool, there may be concerns around data privacy and the security of stored projects or exported files.

Aseprite videos

5 Reasons to use Aseprite (Pixel Art Software for PC)

More videos:

  • Review - Aseprite -- Sprite Editor and Animation Tool
  • Review - Aseprite vs Pyxel Edit - Pixel Art Animation & Tile Tool Comparison

Piskel videos

How to Create Pixel Art and Animations with Piskel Tutorial 1 - What is Piskel?

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Aseprite and Piskel)
Digital Drawing And Painting
Graphic Design Software
58 58%
42% 42
Art Tools
61 61%
39% 39
Photos & Graphics
53 53%
47% 47

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Aseprite and Piskel

Aseprite Reviews

68 Best Painting Apps and Softwares
Why Aseprite? – Aseprite has some exceptional features that help it stand out, like Pixel Perfect, where the problem of rounded edges is solved while working with pixels, and Ghosting of Frames, through which high quality sprite sheets can be created.

Piskel Reviews

We have no reviews of Piskel yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Piskel seems to be a lot more popular than Aseprite. While we know about 13 links to Piskel, we've tracked only 1 mention of Aseprite. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Aseprite mentions (1)

  • I've been adding more directions to Coco's animations
    I use Aseprite. You can see a timelapse of me drawing it in this video. Source: almost 3 years ago

Piskel mentions (13)

  • My Eye of Cthulhu and Twins resprites.
    I use Aseprite. If you're looking for a free tool to get into pixel art, I recommend piskelapp.com, as it's what I used for something like five years. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Does anyone know a free resource for thousands of 2D assets?
    You could use piskel and import that image as a spritesheet, tell it each asset size and export each one individually, not sure how other do this there's probably a better way. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Made a Vaporwave-esc background for a w.i.p game, thought I'd share here
    I don't use sprite, but I did use a tool for the transition of colors. I use a site known as piskel where they have a built in dithering tool. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Bit Screens | Edition 1
    Each NFT is 1/50 and were created live on stream at twitch.tv/Jomigloy. These were created using a combination of piskelapp.com and Aseprite. Each NFT is 132 frames and I had a blast making them. With this project I'm trying to evoke feelings of nostalgia with the machine base, and the screen allows me to convey a message. In this case, I'm spreading Loopring hype on these screens. The last few weeks collecting L2... Source: over 2 years ago
  • I'm in need of your strongest potions
    Ooh, what website? I know piskelapp.com (I love that site) lets you save to keep working on it later or export to create a video file, but if you're using another one I'd love to check it out! Source: over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Aseprite and Piskel, you can also consider the following products

Pyxel Edit - Welcome! Pyxel Edit is a pixel art editor designed to make it fun and easy to make tilesets, levels and animations. Twitter. Tweets av @PyxelEdit. Share.

Grafx2 - GrafX2 is a bitmap paint program inspired by the Amiga programs Deluxe Paint and Brilliance.

Pixen - Pixen is a professional pixel art editor designed for working with low-resolution raster art, such as those 8-bit sprites found in old-school video games.

Pixelorama - Free and open source sprite editor and animator, ideal for pixel art.

Cosmigo Pro Motion - Pro Motion is a drawing and animation software for Windows designed similar to the famous Amiga...

VistaCreate - The VistaCreate is a free and global digital platform which is known for sharing, searching, finding, and creating great art.