Draw & animate pixel art online — layers, frames, palettes, export as PNG or GIF
Last updated: March 2026
Auto-saves every 30s. Max 5 projects.
Whether you're creating your first pixel character or designing sprites for an indie game, this free pixel art maker has everything you need. The dark-themed editor makes your colors pop, while the intuitive tools let you focus on creating rather than learning complicated software.
Pick a 16x16 or 32x32 grid. Choose the PICO-8 or Game Boy palette to limit your colors. Sketch a simple shape — a heart, a potion, a small character. These constraints are what make pixel art approachable and fun. You'll be amazed at what you can create with just a few carefully placed pixels.
Silhouette first. Before adding color or detail, make sure your subject is recognizable from its outline alone. If the shape doesn't read clearly at the pixel level, no amount of shading will fix it.
Limit your palette. Professional pixel artists typically use 8-16 colors. Our palettes are designed by experts and used in real games. Pick one and stick with it for consistent, polished results.
Use symmetry wisely. The mirror tool lets you draw both sides of a character simultaneously. This ensures perfect symmetry for faces, bodies, and icons. Break the symmetry with small details to add personality.
| Size | Best For | Detail Level |
|---|---|---|
| 8x8 | Tiny icons, tile map tiles, minimalist art | Very limited — focus on shape |
| 16x16 | Game sprites, small icons, emojis | Low — basic features possible |
| 32x32 | Detailed sprites, portraits, favicons | Medium — room for shading and detail |
| 64x64 | Character art, scenes, detailed illustrations | High — full expressions and complex shapes |
Always export at 4x or 8x scale for sharing online. Social media platforms compress and blur small images, so larger exports ensure your pixels stay crisp. For game development, export at 1x and let your game engine handle scaling with nearest-neighbor interpolation.