Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Spectacle App VS Pixie

Compare Spectacle App VS Pixie and see what are their differences

Spectacle App logo Spectacle App

Move and resize windows with ease.

Pixie logo Pixie

Pixie is a free, open source web application that will help you quickly create your own website. Many people refer to this type of software as a content management system (cms), we prefer to call it a small, simple, website maker.
  • Spectacle App Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-18

Important note: Spectacle is no longer being actively maintained

  • Pixie Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-12-03

Spectacle App features and specs

  • User-Friendliness
    Spectacle App offers an intuitive and easy-to-use interface, which allows users to quickly understand and navigate through its features without a steep learning curve.
  • Efficiency
    The app provides keyboard shortcuts for managing window sizes and positions, enhancing workflow efficiency and minimizing the time spent on window management.
  • Customization
    Users can customize the keyboard shortcuts according to their preferences, making the app versatile and adaptable to different working styles.
  • Free to Use
    Spectacle App is available at no cost, providing powerful window management features without any financial barriers.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source project, Spectacle App allows users to contribute to its development and modifications, promoting community collaboration and transparency.

Possible disadvantages of Spectacle App

  • Limited Development
    The app is no longer actively maintained, which may result in compatibility issues with newer operating systems or a lack of new features over time.
  • Basic Functionality
    While effective, Spectacle App offers relatively basic functionality compared to some commercial window management tools, which may have more advanced features.
  • No Multi-Monitor Support
    Spectacle App lacks robust support for managing windows across multiple monitors, which can be a limitation for users with complex setups.
  • Potential Bugs
    As an open-source project without ongoing maintenance, users might encounter bugs or glitches that will not be addressed through official updates.

Pixie features and specs

  • Lightweight
    Pixie is a small and lightweight color picker tool which ensures minimal system resource usage.
  • Portable
    Pixie is a portable application which does not require installation. Users can run it directly from a USB drive.
  • Easy to Use
    Pixie has a very simple and user-friendly interface which makes it easy for both novice and experienced users to operate.
  • Real-time Color Information
    Pixie dynamically displays color information such as HEX, RGB, HTML, and CMYK values as you move the cursor around the screen.
  • Precision
    Pixie enables precise color picking by allowing users to magnify the screen view.
  • Freeware
    Pixie is free to download and use, which makes it accessible to a wide range of users.

Possible disadvantages of Pixie

  • Limited Features
    Pixie is focused solely on color picking, and lacks additional features found in more comprehensive graphic design tools.
  • No Mac or Linux Support
    Pixie is only available for Windows, which limits its usability for users on Mac or Linux operating systems.
  • No Support for Color History
    Pixie does not offer a way to save or store previously picked colors, requiring users to manually note down important color information.
  • No Integrations
    Pixie does not integrate with other software tools, which may hinder workflows that rely on seamless integration between applications.
  • No Active Development
    Pixie has not been actively updated or developed in recent years, which may mean it lacks compatibility with newer software and hardware.
  • Basic Functionality
    While Pixie is efficient for basic color picking tasks, it does not cater to advanced users requiring more detailed color analysis and manipulation tools.

Analysis of Pixie

Overall verdict

  • Pixie is a well-regarded tool for its intended use, especially for those who frequently work with digital graphics and need to determine and replicate colors accurately. It's a valuable tool for anyone who needs a quick and efficient way to capture color codes.

Why this product is good

  • Pixie, developed by Nattyware, is a lightweight and handy color picker tool that allows users to easily identify and work with colors on their screen. It's particularly useful for designers, developers, and digital artists who need precise control over color selection in their projects. Pixie is praised for its simplicity, ease of use, and speed, as it provides the exact color code of any pixel just by hovering over it.

Recommended for

  • Graphic designers
  • Web developers
  • UI/UX designers
  • Digital artists
  • Anyone who frequently works with color palettes

Spectacle App videos

Demo of Spectacle App for Mac

More videos:

  • Review - Spectacle App Showcase: Window Management, Manipulation, & Organization for Mac (2017)

Pixie videos

Nespresso Pixie Review plus FAQ

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Spectacle App and Pixie)
Screenshot Annotation
89 89%
11% 11
Color Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Window Manager
100 100%
0% 0
Color Picker
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Spectacle App and Pixie

Spectacle App Reviews

Moom vs Magnet vs Spectacle
While custom sizes can only be done with Moom, the predefined window sizes are provided by Magnet and Spectacle out of the box, but can also be configured manually with Moom. Itโ€™s also possible to assign keyboard shortcuts. So, in this case, if you want all the features, Moom can do them all.
Source: medium.com

Pixie Reviews

We have no reviews of Pixie yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Spectacle App seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 4 times since March 2021. 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.

Spectacle App mentions (4)

Pixie mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Pixie yet. Tracking of Pixie recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Spectacle App and Pixie, you can also consider the following products

Greenshot - Greenshot is a free and open source screenshot tool that allows annotation and highlighting using the built-in image editor.

Just Color Picker - Free portable colour picker and colour editor for web designers, photographers, graphic designers and digital artists. Supports Windows and macOS.

ShareX - ShareX is a free and open source program that lets you capture or record any area of your screen...

gpick - A color picker and color scheme creation tool.

FastStone Capture - A powerful, lightweight, yet full-featured screen capture tool that allows you to easily capture...

Instant Eyedropper - Identifying the color code of an object on the screen is usually an involved, multistep process:...