Software · head to head
Adobe Photoshop vs Pixelmator Pro
Adobe Photoshop
Software
The world's best imaging and graphic design software
- From
- $19.99/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Adobe Photoshop subscription-only model with ever-increasing costs, no perpetual license option; Pixelmator Pro macOS only - no Windows, iPad, or mobile support
- They diverge on capability: Adobe Photoshop covers Advanced photo editing, Pixelmator Pro covers ML-powered editing.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Adobe Photoshop and Pixelmator Pro actually diverge.
| Attribute | Adobe Photoshop | Pixelmator Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $19.99/month | $49.99/one-time |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, iPad, iPhone, Web, Android | macOS |
| Founded | 1982 | 2007 |
Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Adobe Photoshop
- Advanced photo editing
- Layer-based editing
- Selection tools
- Color correction
- Digital painting
- 3D design
- Typography tools
- Batch processing
Only in Pixelmator Pro
- ML-powered editing
- Non-destructive editing
- RAW support
- Layer styles
- Color adjustments
- Photos app
- iCloud
- Apple Silicon optimization
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Adobe Photoshop
- Photo editing
- Digital art creationnot Pixelmator Pro
- Graphic design
- Web designnot Pixelmator Pro
- Print designnot Pixelmator Pro
- Social media graphicsnot Pixelmator Pro
Pixelmator Pro
- Photo editing
- Graphic design
- Digital artnot Adobe Photoshop
- Image retouchingnot Adobe Photoshop
Both are used for photo editing, graphic design, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Adobe Photoshop
- Subscription-only model with ever-increasing costs, no perpetual license option
- High hardware requirements for smooth performance with large graphics
- Limited mobile optimization compared to desktop version
- Limited 3D modeling and rendering tools for professionals
- AI text generation inside images remains inconsistent and unpredictable
- No progress monitoring bars for rendering operations
Pixelmator Pro
- macOS only - no Windows, iPad, or mobile support
- Less comprehensive feature set compared to Photoshop
- Smaller community and fewer third-party plugins than Photoshop
- Less suitable for professional print workflows compared to industry standards
Pricing, plan by plan
Adobe Photoshop
$19.99/month- Photography Plan$19.99/month
- Photoshop desktop for macOS and Windows
- Lightroom desktop and cloud
- 1TB cloud storage
- Photoshop Single App$22.99/month
- Photoshop desktop for macOS and Windows
- Photoshop for iPad
- Photoshop web (limited features)
- Creative Cloud Pro$69.99/month
- All Creative Cloud apps including Photoshop
- Unlimited standard AI features with Firefly Pro
- 4,000 AI credits monthly
Pixelmator Pro
$49.99/one-timeNo published plan breakdown. See the Pixelmator Pro review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Adobe Photoshop if
- You need advanced photo editing.
- You work on Windows, macOS, iPad, iPhone, Web, Android.
- You also want layer-based editing.
Choose Pixelmator Pro if
- You need ml-powered editing.
- You work on macOS.
- You also want non-destructive editing.
Questions people ask
- Is Adobe Photoshop or Pixelmator Pro better?
- Neither clearly leads. Adobe Photoshop starts at $19.99/month and Pixelmator Pro at $49.99/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Adobe Photoshop or Pixelmator Pro?
- Adobe Photoshop starts at $19.99/month and Pixelmator Pro at $49.99/one-time.
- Does Adobe Photoshop or Pixelmator Pro run on more platforms?
- Adobe Photoshop runs on Windows, macOS, iPad, iPhone, Web, Android. Pixelmator Pro runs on macOS.
- What is Adobe Photoshop best used for?
- Adobe Photoshop is most often used for photo editing, digital art creation, graphic design, web design. Of those, digital art creation and web design are not what Pixelmator Pro is typically brought in for.
- What can Adobe Photoshop do that Pixelmator Pro cannot?
- Adobe Photoshop covers Advanced photo editing, Layer-based editing, Selection tools, Color correction. Pixelmator Pro covers ML-powered editing, Non-destructive editing, RAW support, Layer styles.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Adobe Photoshop: What does a Photoshop subscription include?
A single-app Photoshop subscription ($22.99/month) includes the desktop app for macOS and Windows, Photoshop for iPad, limited web features, 100GB cloud storage, and 25 AI credits monthly. The Photography Plan ($19.99/month) adds Lightroom and increases AI credits to 1,000 monthly.
SourcePixelmator Pro: Does Pixelmator Pro work offline?
Yes. Pixelmator Pro is a standalone macOS application that works entirely offline with no subscription or cloud connectivity required.
SourceAdobe Photoshop: Is there a free trial for Photoshop?
Yes, Adobe offers a 7-day free trial for individuals and 14 days for Teams. The trial requires credit card verification, includes 100GB cloud storage, and full access to all features. The subscription auto-renews at $20.99/month unless cancelled 24 hours before trial ends.
SourcePixelmator Pro: What is the price for Pixelmator Pro?
Pixelmator Pro costs $49.99 as a one-time purchase with perpetual license, not a subscription.
SourceAdobe Photoshop: What AI features does Photoshop 2026 include?
Photoshop 2026 features Generative Fill with reference image support (for control over lighting and color), Generative Upscale (enlarges images to 8MP while preserving detail), a conversational AI assistant in beta, Harmonize for auto light and color matching, and integration with Gemini 2.5 Flash and FLUX.1 AI models.
SourcePixelmator Pro: Does Pixelmator Pro support AI-powered editing?
Yes. Pixelmator Pro includes ML-powered features like automatic background removal, smart color adjustments, and ML-based auto-enhancement of photos.
SourceAdobe Photoshop: What platforms does Photoshop run on?
Photoshop is available on Windows 10/11, macOS 13+, iPad (iOS 17+), iPhone (iOS 17+), and web browsers. Android version entered beta in June 2025.
Source