Photography · head to head
darktable vs Pixelmator Pro
darktable
Photography
Free open-source RAW photo editor and digital darkroom
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Pixelmator Pro
Photography
Professional image editing for Mac
- From
- $49.99/one-time
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only darktable has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: darktable interface has a steeper learning curve than commercial editors with more guided workflows.; Pixelmator Pro macOS only - no Windows, iPad, or mobile support
- They diverge on capability: darktable covers Non-destructive RAW editing, Pixelmator Pro covers ML-powered editing.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which darktable and Pixelmator Pro actually diverge.
| Attribute | darktable | Pixelmator Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $49.99/one-time |
| Pricing model | free | Unknown |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | windows, mac, linux | macOS |
| Founded | Unknown | 2007 |
Identical on both: 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 darktable
- Non-destructive RAW editing
- Virtual lighttable
- Wide camera RAW support
- Tethered shooting
- Color management and modules
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.
darktable
- Processing RAW photos without paying for a subscription editornot Pixelmator Pro
- Organizing and cataloging large personal photo librariesnot Pixelmator Pro
- Tethered shooting directly into an editing workflownot Pixelmator Pro
- Applying non-destructive edits that preserve the original RAW filenot Pixelmator Pro
Pixelmator Pro
- Photo editingnot darktable
- Graphic designnot darktable
- Digital artnot darktable
- Image retouchingnot darktable
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
darktable
- Interface has a steeper learning curve than commercial editors with more guided workflows.
- Lacks the AI-based generative editing tools found in newer commercial competitors like Luminar Neo.
- No official mobile app, limiting editing to desktop platforms only.
- Community-driven support model lacks the dedicated customer support of paid software.
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
darktable
Free- FreeFree
- Full RAW editing and lighttable features
- Open-source under GNU GPL v3
- No account or subscription required
Pixelmator Pro
$49.99/one-timeNo published plan breakdown. See the Pixelmator Pro review.
Which should you pick?
Choose darktable if
- You need non-destructive raw editing.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on windows, mac, linux.
- You also want virtual lighttable.
Choose Pixelmator Pro if
- You need ml-powered editing.
- You work on macOS.
- You also want non-destructive editing.
Questions people ask
- Is darktable or Pixelmator Pro better?
- Neither clearly leads. darktable starts at Free 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, darktable or Pixelmator Pro?
- darktable has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for darktable and $49.99/one-time for Pixelmator Pro.
- Does darktable or Pixelmator Pro run on more platforms?
- darktable runs on windows, mac, linux. Pixelmator Pro runs on macOS.
- Can I use darktable for free?
- Yes. darktable has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Pixelmator Pro starts at $49.99/one-time.
- What is darktable best used for?
- darktable is most often used for processing raw photos without paying for a subscription editor, organizing and cataloging large personal photo libraries, tethered shooting directly into an editing workflow, applying non-destructive edits that preserve the original raw file. Of those, processing raw photos without paying for a subscription editor and organizing and cataloging large personal photo libraries are not what Pixelmator Pro is typically brought in for.
- What can darktable do that Pixelmator Pro cannot?
- darktable covers Non-destructive RAW editing, Virtual lighttable, Wide camera RAW support, Tethered shooting. Pixelmator Pro covers ML-powered editing, Non-destructive editing, RAW support, Layer styles.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
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.
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.
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.
SourceRelated pages
More on Pixelmator Pro
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