Proud to work here for 6 years, but recent management issues ruined it
Pros
Pixlr was a great place to start a career. I joined as a fresh grad and had plenty of opportunities to learn, especially in backend, infrastructure, and AI-driven products. Juniors will find the learning curve rewarding. For mid-career, growth can feel limited since the products are stable and there isn’t much rush to release new things. However, leading a team at senior level is fulfilling, especially with projects that touch on AI ecosystems. The IT colleagues are awesome, whether you’re working with the European team or the SEA team. Collaboration with other departments like marketing, creative, and education was also a valuable learning experience. Overall, the first five and a half years were superb and positive. Many of the issues I’ve seen don’t apply if you’re on a remote team, since most of the problems mainly affected people working in the office.
Cons
The last five months became toxic after some bad high-level hires, which led to workplace drama and poor direction. Starting in 2025, the IPO push made the company overly focused on revenue even though it was already profitable. The previous CEO was forced out because bankers believed having the founders as CEO would build more trust for the IPO. Turnover became a serious issue in 2025 as well. The CTO, team leads, and many experienced engineers left, and the rate is so high that no new joiners have really stayed—one even left after only a few days. If something positive happens, it often feels tied to IPO pressure. For example, bonuses were only introduced in 2025 because the IPO demanded it. Management’s greed has overshadowed the culture and overall environment. HR is very passive, often listening to complaints but not acting on them. Some directors and VPs act unprofessional, sending childish late-night emails or even WhatsApp screenshots. Benefits are also very basic, to the point that for an IT company they feel like none at all. It’s sad to say this, but while I used to proudly recommend Pixlr, I now advise people not to join because of these management issues.