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Photography · head to head

Affinity Photo vs Pixelmator Pro

Affinity Photo logo

Affinity Photo

Photography

Professional photo editing software

From
$69.99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Pixelmator Pro logo

Pixelmator Pro

Photography

Professional image editing for Mac

From
$49.99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Affinity Photo version 2.0 required a full repurchase after seven years, breaking the perpetual license promise made to earlier users; Pixelmator Pro macOS only - no Windows, iPad, or mobile support
  • They diverge on capability: Affinity Photo covers Photo editing, Pixelmator Pro covers ML-powered editing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Affinity Photo and Pixelmator Pro actually diverge.

Attributes where Affinity Photo and Pixelmator Pro differ
AttributeAffinity PhotoPixelmator Pro
Starting price$69.99/one-time$49.99/one-time
Pricing modelone-timeUnknown
PlatformsmacOS, Windows, iPadmacOS
Founded19872007

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Photography).

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 Affinity Photo

  • Photo editing
  • RAW processing
  • AI enhancement
  • Retouching tools
  • Batch processing
  • Vector support
  • HDR tools
  • Affinity Designer

Only in Pixelmator Pro

  • ML-powered editing
  • RAW support
  • Layer styles
  • Color adjustments
  • Photos app
  • Apple Silicon optimization
  • Sandboxed app
  • No data collection

Both cover

  • Non-destructive editing
  • iCloud

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Affinity Photo

  • Photo editing
  • RAW processingnot Pixelmator Pro
  • Retouchingnot Pixelmator Pro
  • Digital photographynot Pixelmator Pro

Pixelmator Pro

  • Photo editing
  • Graphic designnot Affinity Photo
  • Digital artnot Affinity Photo
  • Image retouchingnot Affinity Photo

Both are used for photo editing, 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.

Affinity Photo

  • Version 2.0 required a full repurchase after seven years, breaking the perpetual license promise made to earlier users
  • Affinity Photo was discontinued in October 2025 and replaced by freemium Affinity application
  • No subscription model means no cloud storage or automatic backups like Photoshop Creative Cloud

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

Affinity Photo

$69.99/one-time
  • Standard$69.99/one-time
    • Full version
    • All features
    • Lifetime updates

Pixelmator Pro

$49.99/one-time

No published plan breakdown. See the Pixelmator Pro review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Affinity Photo if

  • You need photo editing.
  • You work on macOS, Windows, iPad.
  • You also want raw processing.
Affinity Photo review

Choose Pixelmator Pro if

  • You need ml-powered editing.
  • You work on macOS.
  • You also want raw support.
Pixelmator Pro review

Questions people ask

Is Affinity Photo or Pixelmator Pro better?
Neither clearly leads. Affinity Photo starts at $69.99/one-time 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, Affinity Photo or Pixelmator Pro?
Affinity Photo starts at $69.99/one-time and Pixelmator Pro at $49.99/one-time.
Does Affinity Photo or Pixelmator Pro run on more platforms?
Affinity Photo runs on macOS, Windows, iPad. Pixelmator Pro runs on macOS.
What is Affinity Photo best used for?
Affinity Photo is most often used for photo editing, raw processing, retouching, digital photography. Of those, raw processing and retouching are not what Pixelmator Pro is typically brought in for.
What can Affinity Photo do that Pixelmator Pro cannot?
Affinity Photo covers Photo editing, RAW processing, AI enhancement, Retouching tools. Pixelmator Pro covers ML-powered editing, RAW support, Layer styles, Color adjustments. Both handle Non-destructive editing, iCloud.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Affinity Photo: Does Affinity Photo include RAW editing?

Yes, Affinity Photo includes non-destructive RAW photo editing and development capabilities for photographers working with RAW image formats.

Source
Pixelmator 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.

Source
Pixelmator Pro: What is the price for Pixelmator Pro?

Pixelmator Pro costs $49.99 as a one-time purchase with perpetual license, not a subscription.

Source
Pixelmator 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.

Source
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