bolt 100% Free · No Account · Works Offline

The Free Browser-Based Pixel Art Studio for Game Developers

Layers, frame-by-frame animation, Onion Skin, Sprite Sheet export, transparent APNG, Screen Recorder — all running locally in your browser. No installation. No subscription.

palette Start Drawing Now
check_circle No account required check_circle Files never uploaded check_circle Works offline check_circle Touch & iPad ready
PixelPad Pro — editor.html
Ada Wong from Resident Evil in 8-bit pixel art style
Samara pixel art character sprite Anime girl pixel art sprite Jujutsu Kaisen pixel art character

Get Started in Seconds

How It Works

No setup required. Open the editor and you're drawing in under 10 seconds.

01

Choose Your Canvas

Pick a resolution — 16×16 for retro NES style, 32×32 for the SNES era, or any custom size up to 1000×1000 for detailed illustrations.

02

Draw & Animate

Use layers, the animation timeline, Onion Skin, symmetry tools, and 15+ brushes to build your sprites and frame-by-frame animations.

03

Export & Ship

Download as PNG, Sprite Sheet, transparent APNG, GIF, or WebM video. Import straight into Unity, Godot, GameMaker, or share on social media.

What's Inside

Everything You Need, Nothing You Don't

Most pixel art editors are either too simple or cost $20/month. PixelPad Pro gives you professional-grade features — layers, timeline, selection tools, exports — completely free, with your files always staying on your device.

layers

Multiple Layers

Create, duplicate, merge, reorder, and adjust opacity. Keep lineart, colors, and shading cleanly separated.

animation

Timeline & Onion Skin

Full frame-by-frame animation with per-frame delay control. Onion Skin shows ghost of the previous frame to guide your movements.

transform

Smart Transform

8-handle bounding box with live W×H label. Shift+scale locks aspect ratio. Shift+move snaps to 8px grid. Lossless rescaling.

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content_paste

Smart Paste & Import

Paste any image from the web with Ctrl+V. It lands centered on your canvas, scaled to fit, ready to transform.

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Auto-Save

Your session is silently saved every 30 seconds. If the tab closes unexpectedly, you'll be offered to restore it next time.

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smartphone

Touch & iPad Ready

Draw with one finger, pinch to zoom with two. Works on any tablet or touchscreen with a modern browser.

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Magic Wand & Lasso

Select contiguous color areas instantly or freehand-select complex shapes with the lasso tool.

align_horizontal_center

Mirror Symmetry

Draw perfectly symmetrical characters in real-time with horizontal and vertical mirror tools.

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Reference Window

Float a reference image anywhere. Zoom, pan, and pick colors from it without leaving the drawing tool.

find_replace

Color Replace

Swap every instance of a specific color across the entire active layer with a single click.

screen_record

Screen Recorder

Record your entire drawing process as a timelapse. Export as WebM to share your creative journey on social media.

sports_esports

Game Dev Exports

Sprite Sheet PNG, transparent APNG, GIF, WebM video — all exported client-side, instantly, with no queue.

aspect_ratio Best Resolutions

16×16, 32×32, or 64×64? Learn which canvas size fits your game style and how resolution affects your animation speed.

Read Guide →

error Top 5 Mistakes

Avoid pillow shading, jagged lines, and color banding — the most common errors that make beginner sprites look amateurish.

Read Guide →

compare Why Pixel Art?

Solo devs prefer pixel art for a reason. Discover how it slashes animation time and creates a cohesive visual identity fast.

Read More →

gif_box APNG vs GIF

Stop using GIFs. Learn why APNGs and Sprite Sheets are the modern standard for game engines and web portfolios.

Read More →

Speed Up Your Workflow

Keyboard Shortcuts

Every major tool has a shortcut. Keep your hand on the keyboard, not the toolbar.

keyboard Full Shortcuts Reference

PencilB
EraserE
Paint BucketF
EyedropperI
Magic WandW
Rect SelectM
LassoL
Free TransformShift+T
MoveV
ShapesU
PanH / Space
Grid toggleG
Brush size[ / ]
Undo / RedoCtrl+Z / Y
Copy / PasteCtrl+C / V
Commit floatEnter
Color pick (fast)Right Click
ZoomScroll Wheel

More Resources

Guides & Tutorials

From your first sprite to professional game assets — everything you need to level up.

palette

Retro Color Palettes

GameBoy, NES, Synthwave — load iconic palettes directly into the editor.

 directions_walk

Walk Cycle 101

Master the 4-frame loop and bring your game characters to life.

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Export for Unity & Godot

Exact settings to import your Sprite Sheets into game engines correctly.

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Full User Manual

Step-by-step guide covering every tool, layer, and animation feature.

Got Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PixelPad Pro really free?
Yes, completely. All features — layers, animation, all export formats, screen recorder — are free with no limits, no trial period, and no account required.
Are my files uploaded to any server?
Never. Everything runs client-side in your browser. Your drawings, layers, and project files never leave your device. Perfect for unreleased game assets.
Does it work on iPad or tablet?
Yes. The editor supports touch drawing with one finger and pinch-to-zoom with two. Any stylus that works with your tablet (including Apple Pencil) works here too.
Can I use it offline?
Once the page is loaded, drawing and exporting work without an internet connection. An auto-save feature also protects your work every 30 seconds in case you close the tab.
Can I use the art in commercial games?
Absolutely. You own 100% of the copyright to any art you create. Sell it, publish it, mint it — no royalties or attribution required.
What's the difference between APNG and GIF?
GIF doesn't support partial transparency, leaving white halos around your art. APNG supports full alpha transparency and is the correct format for game engines and Discord.
Is there a limit on canvas size or number of layers?
No hard limits. The editor supports custom canvases up to 1000×1000 pixels and as many layers and frames as your browser's memory allows.
How is this different from other online pixel art editors?
Most browser editors lack animation timelines, Onion Skin, or multi-layer support. PixelPad Pro includes all of these plus a Screen Recorder, Reference Window, Touch support, and Auto-Save — all free.

☕ Support a Solo Developer

PixelPad Pro is built and maintained by one person. If this tool saved you time or helped you ship your game, consider buying a coffee to keep the project alive!

local_cafe Support on Ko-fi