Alternatives to Pixelmator Pro
ML-assisted Mac image editing (now Apple)
Pixelmator Pro ranks #5 of 10 in Image editing, with an Alt Score of 70. It is proprietary, sold as a one-time purchase from $49.99 and available on macOS. 10 of 12 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
Mac users who want professional-grade photo editing and graphic design tools without the complexity or subscription cost of apps like Photoshop — from photographers and designers to everyday users editing personal images.
Layer-based, nondestructive editing with 60+ effects, RAW photo support, vector and typography tools, and a Repair tool with clone stamp for retouching. Machine-learning features handle tasks like background removal, Super Resolution upscaling, Auto Enhance, Auto Crop, and Intelligent Denoise automatically. It's a native Apple silicon app built specifically for macOS, with an iPad companion version and Apple Pencil support.
You import or shoot photos, then build up edits using nondestructive layers, brushes, and ML-assisted tools that automate common fixes. Pixelmator Pro is a Mac app (historically a one-time purchase) now owned by Apple.
Why people leave Pixelmator Pro
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
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Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Feature comparison
Rows come from the Image editing checklist (16 rows). Human-verified cells only. ? means the value has not been verified.
| Image editing checklist | Pixelmator Pro | Photopea | Photoshop | GIMP | Krita | Affinity Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
| Starts at | ||||||
| License | ||||||
| Platforms | ||||||
| Layers | ||||||
| Non-destructive editing | ||||||
| RAW support | ||||||
| CMYK support | ||||||
| PSD compatibility (open / save) | ||||||
| Content-aware / AI fill | ||||||
| Vector tools included | ||||||
| Batch processing | ||||||
| Plugins ecosystem | ||||||
| Runs in browser | ||||||
| GPU acceleration | ||||||
| Scripting / macros |
Every fact and feature listed for Pixelmator Pro is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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Pricing model One-time verified 2026-07-11
$49.99
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pixelmator-pro/id1289583905 -
Platforms macOS verified 2026-07-11
Requires macOS 12.0 or later.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pixelmator-pro/id1289583905 -
Status active verified 2026-07-11
© 2025 Apple Inc. All rights reserved.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pixelmator-pro/id1289583905 -
License Proprietary verified 2026-07-11
© 2025 Apple Inc. All rights reserved.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pixelmator-pro/id1289583905 -
Starts at $49.99 verified 2026-07-11
$49.99
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pixelmator-pro/id1289583905 -
Layers Yes verified 2026-07-11
Harness the full power of layer-based editing to design posters, webpages, or apps from scratch
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pixelmator-pro/id1289583905 -
Non-destructive editing Yes verified 2026-07-11
Non-destructive adjustments, like Exposure, are lossless. They preserve the original image data, so you can undo or modify the adjustment without losing any information.
https://support.pixelmator.com/faq-pixelmator-pro/advanced-workflows/understanding-destructive-and-non-destructive-color-adjustments-in-pixelmator-pro -
RAW support Yes verified 2026-07-11
Enjoy full support for RAW photos from over 750 most popular digital cameras
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pixelmator-pro/id1289583905 -
PSD compatibility (open / save) Yes verified 2026-07-11
Open and export Adobe Photoshop images with layers
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pixelmator-pro/id1289583905 -
Content-aware / AI fill Partial verified 2026-07-11
Use Repair to remove small imperfections or entire objects from images.
https://support.pixelmator.com/pixelmator-pro-user-guide/pixelmator-pro-basics/pixelmator-pro-tools -
Vector tools included Yes verified 2026-07-11
Create vector designs using a full set of vector tools, including Pen and Freeform Pen tools
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pixelmator-pro/id1289583905 -
Batch processing Yes verified 2026-07-11
if you attempt to do batch processing, the HDR data may be stripped from of the images.
https://support.pixelmator.com/faq-photomator/advanced-workflows/working-with-hdr-in-pixelmator-pro-automations-using-the-shortcuts-app -
Runs in browser No verified 2026-07-11
Requires macOS 12.0 or later.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pixelmator-pro/id1289583905 -
GPU acceleration Yes verified 2026-07-11
Enjoy incredibly fast and responsive painting thanks to a cutting-edge painting engine powered by Metal graphics technology
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pixelmator-pro/id1289583905 -
Scripting / macros Partial verified 2026-07-11
You'll also be able to customise the Shortcut to better fit your use case, just make sure that any actions that you add are placed in-between the 1st and 2nd Convert actions.
https://support.pixelmator.com/faq-photomator/advanced-workflows/working-with-hdr-in-pixelmator-pro-automations-using-the-shortcuts-app
FAQ
Yes. Photopea, GIMP and Krita have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
GIMP and Krita — every license claim links its source.