Last updated: January 2026
You want to turn a photo into something you can actually build. Maybe it's your dog, your wedding photo, or a family portrait that deserves better than sitting in your camera roll. You've found two options: Voxl and Brick Me. Both promise custom brick art from your photos, but they work very differently.
After researching both services extensively, here's the honest verdict. Brick Me creates flat 2D mosaic wall art using a color-by-numbers approach where you design and build yourself. Voxl creates 3D sculptures with professional design work included, and they ship complete kits ready to build. Neither is universally better. Brick Me works great for wall art you want to customize yourself. Voxl is the choice when you want a sculptural piece with minimal effort on the design side.
This comparison breaks down what each service actually offers, how the building experience differs, and which one makes sense for your project.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Voxl | Brick Me |
|---|---|---|
| Type | 3D sculptures | 2D wall mosaics |
| Design process | Done-for-you + human QC | DIY in web app |
| Starting price | $79 (retail) / $47 (early bird) | ~$50 |
| Color palette | 32 colors (Pix Brix) | 50 colors |
| Build difficulty | Moderate (3D assembly) | Easy (paint-by-numbers) |
| Best for | Pet portraits, desk display | Wall art, gifts |
| Photo control | AI + human review | Full user control |
| Turnaround | Longer (custom design) | Faster (instant preview) |
| Launch status | Kickstarter March 18, 2026 | Available now |
What Makes These Services Different
The core difference comes down to dimensions and involvement. Brick Me produces flat mosaic panels designed to hang on walls. Voxl creates three-dimensional sculptures that stand on their own. This fundamental distinction affects everything from how your photo translates to bricks to how the final piece looks in your space.
Brick Me puts you in control of the design process. Their web app lets you upload a photo, adjust colors, change the resolution, and preview exactly what you're getting. This DIY approach appeals to people who want creative input and enjoy the full customization process.
Voxl takes a different approach entirely. You upload a photo, and their system handles the conversion to a buildable 3D design through AI stylization and 3D generation. A human VA reviews each design before you see it, providing professional quality control rather than leaving the work to you. This done-for-you model saves time but means less hands-on control during the design phase.
Understanding how each service processes your photo helps explain why the results look so different.
How Each Service Handles Your Photo
The photo-to-brick process varies significantly between these two services, and understanding the workflow helps set expectations.
Brick Me uses a straightforward mosaic conversion. Your photo gets pixelated and mapped to their 50-color palette. You can adjust brightness, contrast, and cropping right in their creator app. The result appears immediately, so you know exactly what the finished wall art will look like before ordering.
Voxl runs your photo through AI stylization using Nano Banana Pro, then converts it to a 3D design via Hunyuan3D. The system voxelizes the result (turns it into a grid of buildable brick positions) and maps colors to the Pix Brix 32-color palette. A human VA reviews each design for quality and buildability before you see it. You get one free revision if something needs adjusting. The process takes longer, but the output is genuinely sculptural rather than flat.
For portraits and pets specifically, the 3D approach captures more depth. A dog's face in 2D becomes a recognizable mosaic. The same dog in 3D becomes a sculpture you can walk around and view from different angles. The tradeoff is complexity and price.
Building Experience Compared
Both services ship complete kits with all the bricks included. You're not hunting down parts or solving logistics puzzles. The building experience, however, feels quite different.
Brick Me includes color-coded bags and a numbered instruction sheet that works like paint-by-numbers. You place the board over the included printout, then fill in brick by brick following the guide. Customer reviews consistently mention the process as relaxing and straightforward. Build times depend on size, but most mosaics take a few hours to complete.
Voxl sculptures require following 3D building instructions, similar to constructing any interlocking brick set. The pieces connect using Pix Brix, which create stable interlocking connections for solid sculptures. The building process is more involved since you're working in three dimensions rather than filling a flat grid, but the result is a displayable sculpture rather than wall art.
If you want a meditative, easy build session, Brick Me delivers that experience. If you want the satisfaction of constructing an actual sculpture, Voxl provides the more challenging (and rewarding) project.
So what does each option cost?
Pricing Breakdown
Price matters, and these services sit at different points on the spectrum.
Brick Me prices by baseplate, with each baseplate measuring 7.5 by 7.5 inches and containing 576 bricks. A small piece using one or two baseplates runs under $50. Larger wall art pieces scale up from there. The exact price depends on size and whether you add extras like frames.
Voxl offers three size tiers with both retail and early-bird Kickstarter pricing: Small at $79 retail ($47 early bird) for 500-750 bricks, Medium at $149 retail ($89 early bird) for around 1,500 bricks, and Large at $249 retail ($149 early bird) for 2,500-3,000 bricks. These prices include the complete kit with all Pix Brix and custom building instructions. Early supporters can secure VIP pricing with a $1 deposit for 40% off Kickstarter rates.
The price comparison isn't quite apples-to-apples because you're getting different products. Brick Me's wall art is simpler to produce. Voxl's 3D sculptures require more complex AI processing, human quality control, and complete kit assembly. For similar brick counts, Voxl costs more, but you're paying for a fundamentally different type of product and service level.
Beyond price, the finished quality matters too.
Color and Quality Considerations
Color palette affects how your photo translates to bricks. More colors generally means better photo reproduction, but the differences may surprise you.
Brick Me offers 50 colors in their palette, which gives strong flexibility for photo-realistic mosaics. Their system optimizes color matching during the design process, and you can see exactly how the final piece will look before ordering.
Voxl uses Pix Brix with a 32-color palette. Fewer colors sounds limiting, but the 3D nature of the sculptures means shadows and depth come from actual geometry rather than just color variation. A face rendered in 3D with 32 colors can look more realistic than a flat mosaic with 50 colors because light plays across the surface naturally.
Customer reviews for Brick Me consistently rate quality highly, with a 4.1 out of 5 on Trustpilot. Reviewers mention impressed reactions to the finished wall art and note that the bricks feel high quality. Voxl launches on Kickstarter March 18, 2026, so customer review data isn't available yet, but their human QC process ensures every design meets quality standards before shipping.
Which Service Fits Your Project
The right choice depends on what you're actually making and how you want to display it.
Choose Brick Me if you want wall art that doubles as a fun building project. Their mosaic format works perfectly for framed pieces in living rooms, offices, or as gifts. The DIY design process lets you fine-tune exactly how your photo converts. It's also the more budget-friendly option for most sizes and is available to order immediately.
Choose Voxl if you want a sculptural piece that stands on its own. Pet portraits work exceptionally well in 3D because you capture the actual shape and dimension of the subject rather than a flat representation. The done-for-you design service saves time if you don't want to fiddle with settings yourself. It's the better choice for display pieces that sit on shelves or desks rather than hanging on walls. Note that Voxl launches March 18, 2026, so you'll need to wait for the Kickstarter campaign.
For memorial pieces or sentimental gifts, both services can work well. Consider whether the recipient would prefer something to hang or something to display on a surface. That practical question often decides which service makes more sense.
The Verdict
Brick Me and Voxl serve different needs despite both converting photos to buildable brick art. Brick Me excels at affordable, customizable wall art with a relaxing build experience and immediate availability. Voxl delivers premium 3D sculptures with professional design quality for those who want something truly unique and don't mind waiting for the March 2026 launch.
If wall art and budget matter most, start with Brick Me. Their design tool is free to try, and you can see your creation before committing.
If you want a sculptural piece with depth and dimension, especially for pet portraits or meaningful photos, Voxl's 3D approach produces results you can't get anywhere else. The higher price reflects the AI processing, human design review, and complete kit service that makes the experience effortless.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between Voxl and Brick Me? Brick Me creates flat 2D mosaic wall art that you design yourself using their web app. Voxl creates 3D sculptures with professional AI processing and human quality control included. Both ship complete kits with all bricks.
Which service is cheaper for custom brick portraits? Brick Me generally costs less, with small pieces starting under $50. Voxl's pricing starts at $79 retail ($47 early bird on Kickstarter) for small sculptures, going up to $249 retail ($149 early bird) for large pieces.
How long does it take to build each type of brick art? Brick Me mosaics typically take a few hours depending on size, using a simple color-by-numbers approach. Voxl sculptures take longer since you're building in three dimensions, but the result is a displayable sculpture rather than wall art.
Which service is better for pet portraits? Both work for pets, but Voxl's 3D approach captures the actual shape and depth of a pet's face more realistically. Brick Me creates recognizable flat portraits that work well as wall art.
Do both services include all the bricks I need? Yes. Both Brick Me and Voxl ship complete kits with all required bricks and building instructions. You don't need to source any Pix Brix or other parts separately.
When can I order from Voxl? Voxl launches on Kickstarter March 18, 2026. You can secure early-bird pricing with a $1 VIP deposit before the campaign launches.
Ready to turn your favorite photo into buildable art? Reserve your spot for Voxl's Kickstarter launch or start building immediately with Brick Me wall art mosaics.