Our verdict: Aseprite is the go-to editor for pixel art and game sprites, with tools built around tiny canvases, palettes and frame animation. A single US$19.99 payment covers all platforms and updates through the 1.x series. The free trial is only for testing, because it cannot save files.
About Aseprite
Aseprite is developed by Igara Studio. Its source code is public on GitHub, but it is not open source: the EULA lets you compile and modify it only for your own personal use or to propose contributions, and you may not redistribute builds. The ready-made Windows installer, macOS app and Linux packages come with a purchase.
The official trial runs every tool, but saving is disabled, so it is useful only to check whether the workflow suits you. Buying costs US$19.99 once and includes a Windows installer and portable ZIP, macOS and Ubuntu builds, a Steam key for automatic updates, and updates up to version 1.9. One purchase covers all of your own computers.
What it does well
- Frame animation. Timeline with layers, frames, cels, tags and ping-pong playback.
- Onion skin. Shows previous and next frames while you animate.
- Pixel-perfect drawing. Pixel Perfect strokes, shading ink, custom brushes and RotSprite rotation.
- Palette control. Indexed color, alpha in palette entries and color harmony wheel.
- Sprite sheets. Exports animated GIFs, PNG sequences and sprite sheets with JSON data.
Who it is for
Good fit
Indie game developers and pixel artists who animate characters, tiles and UI sprites.
Look elsewhere
High-resolution painting or photo editing, and anyone who wants a free editor that can save.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Tools designed specifically for pixel art
- Low one-time price for all platforms
- Command-line interface for asset pipelines
- Source code is public
Cons
- Trial cannot save files
- Not open source despite the public code
- Interface takes time to learn for non-pixel artists
How to install Aseprite
The Windows trial is a portable ZIP: extract it and run Aseprite.exe, no installer is involved. Remember that the trial cannot save. After buying, download the installer from your purchase link or redeem the included Steam key to get automatic updates.
Questions about Aseprite
Is Aseprite free?
No. The official trial is free but cannot save. The full version costs US$19.99 once and includes updates up to version 1.9.
Is Aseprite open source?
No. The source code is public, but the EULA only allows compiling and modifying it for your own personal use or to contribute, and forbids distributing copies.
Can I install Aseprite on several computers?
Yes, on your own computers with one purchase. Companies need one license per user.
