Design
Pixelmator Pro
Graphics editor for Mac developed by Apple.
What it 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.
Pixelmator Pro pricing
Pixelmator Pro publishes 1 plan. Paid tiers start at $12.99/mo.
| Plan | Price | What the vendor’s page says |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Creator Studio subscription | $12.99/mo | Apple Creator Studio subscription $12.99/month or $129/year |
Prices read from the vendor's own pricing page on 2026-09-07. Vendors change plans without notice — check the source before you budget. Source Price verification log.
Key features
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.
Strengths and trade-offs
What works well
- Native and fast on Apple hardware
- One-off purchase
- Handles PSD files
Where it falls short
- macOS only
- Fewer advanced features than Photoshop
- Smaller plugin ecosystem
Who it is for
Mac users who need serious image editing without a subscription.
Pick it or skip it
Pick Pixelmator Pro if
- Mac users who want a capable image editor without a monthly bill — $49.99 once
- Students and educators, who pay $2.99/mo or $29.99/year on the subscription route
- People who need Photoshop-class editing occasionally rather than daily
Skip it if
- You are on iPad — the iPad version comes only through the Apple Creator Studio subscription
- You want the Warp Tool; it is in the subscription version, not the one-time purchase
- You want a free version; there is none, only a 30-day Creator Studio trial
Our verdict
The cheapest one-time-purchase image editor on macOS.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does Pixelmator Pro cost?
- It is a one-time purchase of $49.99 for Mac. Alternatively it is included in the Apple Creator Studio subscription at $12.99 a month or $129 a year, with an education rate of $2.99 a month or $29.99 a year.
- Is the one-time purchase or the subscription better value for Pixelmator Pro?
- The $49.99 one-time purchase pays for itself against $12.99 a month in under four months, but it covers Mac only and excludes some features — the iPad version and the Warp Tool are available through the subscription only.
- Is there a free version of Pixelmator Pro?
- No. There is no free version; the only no-cost route is a 30-day trial of Apple Creator Studio.
- Does Pixelmator Pro have a free plan?
- No free plan is listed on the vendor's pricing page. Pixelmator Pro is sold as a paid subscription.
- Who is Pixelmator Pro best for?
- Mac users who need serious image editing without a subscription.
- What are the main drawbacks of Pixelmator Pro?
- The trade-offs we noted: macOS only; Fewer advanced features than Photoshop; Smaller plugin ecosystem.
- When should you not use Pixelmator Pro?
- Skip Pixelmator Pro if: You are on iPad — the iPad version comes only through the Apple Creator Studio subscription; You want the Warp Tool; it is in the subscription version, not the one-time purchase; You want a free version; there is none, only a 30-day Creator Studio trial.
What we checked
- Public APIOffers a documented API you can build against.Not checked
- Mobile appHas a native app for iOS or Android, not just a mobile website.Yes
- Open source / self-hostableSource is open and the tool can be run on your own infrastructure.Not checked
- SSO (SAML)Supports SAML single sign-on on at least one plan.Not checked
“Not checked” means exactly that — we have not verified it, and we do not guess.
Evidence and freshness
Status: Vendor pricing page verifiedReviewed: 2026-09-07
- Apple — Pixelmator Pro ↗
Checked 2026-09-07 · Supports: one-time purchase $49.99 for Mac, Apple Creator Studio subscription $12.99/month or $129/year, education rate $2.99/month or $29.99/year, iPad version only through the subscription, Warp Tool included in the subscription, not the one-time purchase, no free version; 30-day trial of Creator Studio
Limit: Vendor pricing page was reviewed; this record is not a ToolCompare benchmark.
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