Photo Editor vs Pixelmator Pro
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Photo Editor is a powerful and intuitive image editing software that allows users to enhance, manipulate, and transform their digital photos. With a wide range of features and tools, users can adjust brightness, contrast, and saturation, remove blemishes and imperfections, and apply filters and effects to create stunning images.
Pixelmator Pro is a polished, Mac-native image editor that pairs an approachable interface with machine-learning features like super resolution and smart selection. It is a one-time purchase popular with Mac users.
Around $49.99 one-time on the Mac App Store.
- Free to use
- Cross-platform compatibility
- Advanced features and tools
- Regularly updated with new features and improvements
- Beautiful native Mac app
- Useful ML features
- One-time purchase
- Great value
- Steep learning curve for beginners
- Limited support for certain file formats
- Not suitable for professional-grade image editing
- Mac-only
- Not as deep as Photoshop
- Smaller ecosystem
What reviewers say
Photo Editor Reviews
No reviews yet.
Pixelmator Pro Reviews
5.0 (2)Solid choice
Tried Pixelmator Pro recently. Useful ML features. No real complaints. Would recommend.
Recommend Pixelmator Pro
We rolled out Pixelmator Pro last quarter. Useful ML features. No real complaints. Would recommend.
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataPhoto Editor offers a free, cross‑platform tool with advanced features but a steep learning curve, while Pixelmator Pro provides a polished Mac‑only experience with ML tools for a one‑time fee.
Key differences
- •Cost model: Photo Editor is free; Pixelmator Pro costs $49.99 one‑time.
- •Platform support: Photo Editor works on multiple OSes; Pixelmator Pro is Mac‑only.
- •User interface complexity: Photo Editor has a steep learning curve; Pixelmator Pro is praised for ease of use.
- •AI/ML capabilities: Both have AI tools, but Pixelmator Pro emphasizes ML‑powered super‑resolution and selection.
- •Extensibility: Photo Editor supports plugins/extensions; Pixelmator Pro has a closed ecosystem.
Pricing & value
Photo Editor is free, giving full feature access without purchase; Pixelmator Pro requires a $49.99 one‑time fee.
Ease of use / learning curve
Photo Editor has a steep learning curve for beginners; Pixelmator Pro is noted for its beautiful, intuitive Mac UI.
Features & depth
Photo Editor includes layers, masks, batch processing, wide format support, and plugins, offering broader depth than Pixelmator Pro.
Integrations & ecosystem
Photo Editor supports plugins and extensions; Pixelmator Pro has a smaller, closed ecosystem.
Support
Both provide limited support options (email/community for Photo Editor; no specified support for Pixelmator Pro).
Choose Photo Editor if…
Hobbyists needing free, cross‑platform, feature‑rich editing and willing to invest time learning.
Choose Pixelmator Pro if…
Mac users wanting a polished, easy‑to‑use editor with ML tools and a one‑time purchase.
Common questions
Is there any cost to start using Photo Editor?
No, Photo Editor is free to use.
Can I run Pixelmator Pro on Windows or Linux?
No, Pixelmator Pro is Mac‑only.
Which tool offers more extensibility through plugins?
Photo Editor supports plugins and extensions; Pixelmator Pro does not.