Is Pixelify really free to use?

Yes. Pixelify is free with no sign-up. All processing happens locally in your browser, so there are no upload limits tied to an account.

Are my photos uploaded to a server?

No. Pixelify processes images entirely client-side using the HTML canvas API. Your photo never leaves your device.

What is the difference between pixel size and color levels?

Pixel size controls how large each blocky square is, which determines how chunky the pixelation looks. Color levels (or a fixed console palette) control how many distinct colors remain in the image, which determines how retro or limited the color range looks.

What do the Game Boy, NES, CGA and C64 palettes do?

Each palette remaps every pixel block to the nearest color in that console's real, fixed color set, so the result looks like it came from that specific piece of retro hardware rather than a generic color reduction.

Can I export the pixelated image at full resolution?

Yes. Pixelify processes and exports at your source image's working resolution (up to 1600px on the longest side), not just the size shown in the preview.

Can I use Pixelify to anonymize faces or license plates?

You can increase the pixel size for a strong blocky effect over sensitive areas, but Pixelify pixelates the whole image rather than a selected region, so review the result carefully before sharing it publicly.