Photopea vs Pixelmator Pro

What Photopea is

Photopea is a browser-based image editor that opens PSD, XCF and Sketch files without installing anything. It reproduces a large part of the Photoshop interface — layers, masks, adjustment layers, blend modes and the familiar keyboard shortcuts — so anyone who has used a desktop editor can work immediately. Everything runs locally in the browser tab, which means files are not uploaded to a server, and the free version is funded by a sidebar advert rather than a trial limit.

What Pixelmator Pro is

Pixelmator Pro is a native macOS image editor with a one-off price and machine-learning editing tools. A one-off price and native macOS performance make it the pragmatic choice for people who resent subscription image editors. It is macOS-only and its ecosystem of plugins and tutorials is far smaller than the industry standard.

What Photopea is built to do

PSD and Sketch support

Opens layered files from Photoshop, GIMP, Sketch and Figma, and exports back to PSD.

Runs in the browser

Nothing is installed and nothing is uploaded — the editor works on the file locally in the tab.

Familiar shortcuts

Layer, mask and selection shortcuts largely match Photoshop, so existing habits carry over.

Non-destructive editing

Adjustment layers, smart objects and layer masks let you revise choices rather than repeat work.

What Pixelmator Pro is built to do

One-time purchase

Sells a perpetual licence instead of a subscription.

Native macOS performance

Uses platform graphics frameworks for fast rendering.

ML-assisted editing

Applies machine-learning tools for selection, denoise and upscaling.

Choose Photopea if

• Opening and editing PSD and other layered files in a browser with nothing installed
• One-off image work where a Photoshop subscription is not worth it
• Machines where you are not allowed to install software

Skip Photopea if

• You expect the $5/month Premium to unlock features — the vendor's own Premium post says it currently gives no extra features and is a way to support development
• You work with very large files; the editor runs in your browser and performance depends on it
• Ads on the free version are a problem in your environment

Choose Pixelmator Pro if

• Mac users who need serious image editing without a subscription.

Photopea: pros & cons

• Opens PSD files in a browser tab
• Free, funded by ads
• No installation on any machine
• Ads on the free version
• Performance depends on your browser
• Not suited to very large files

Pixelmator Pro: pros & cons

• Native and fast on Apple hardware
• One-off purchase
• Handles PSD files
• macOS only
• Fewer advanced features than Photoshop
• Smaller plugin ecosystem