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Photography · head to head

Nik Collection vs Pixelmator Pro

Nik Collection logo

Nik Collection

Photography

Plugin suite of specialised editing tools, black and white, HDR, colour effects, sold as a one-time purchase by DxO

From
On request
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: Nik Collection it is a finishing plugin suite, not a RAW editor, so it needs Photoshop, Lightroom Classic or DxO PhotoLab installed to use its full feature set.; Pixelmator Pro macOS only - no Windows, iPad, or mobile support
  • They diverge on capability: Nik Collection covers Silver Efex Pro, Pixelmator Pro covers ML-powered editing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Nik Collection and Pixelmator Pro actually diverge.

Attributes where Nik Collection and Pixelmator Pro differ
AttributeNik CollectionPixelmator Pro
Starting priceOn request$49.99/one-time
Pricing modelOne-time purchaseUnknown
PlatformsWindows, macOSmacOS
FoundedUnknown2007

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 Nik Collection

  • Silver Efex Pro
  • Color Efex Pro
  • HDR Efex Pro
  • Analog Efex Pro
  • Viveza
  • Host and standalone modes

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.

Nik Collection

  • A Lightroom Classic user who wants Silver Efex specifically for black and white conversionnot Pixelmator Pro
  • A DxO PhotoLab user finishing landscape work with HDR Efex tone mappingnot Pixelmator Pro
  • A photographer building a vintage film look with Analog Efex on top of a standard RAW editnot Pixelmator Pro
  • Someone who wants a one-time purchase finishing toolkit rather than adding another subscription to an existing editing stacknot Pixelmator Pro

Pixelmator Pro

  • Photo editingnot Nik Collection
  • Graphic designnot Nik Collection
  • Digital artnot Nik Collection
  • Image retouchingnot Nik Collection

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Nik Collection

  • It is a finishing plugin suite, not a RAW editor, so it needs Photoshop, Lightroom Classic or DxO PhotoLab installed to use its full feature set.
  • Standalone mode has fewer capabilities than running it through a host application, which is not always obvious to a first-time buyer.
  • New major versions are paid upgrades, so the true multi-year cost is higher than the one-time headline price suggests for users who upgrade every release.
  • It does not integrate with Lightroom cloud-based (non-Classic) or with Capture One, narrowing which existing workflows can use it as a plugin.
  • Since DxO acquisition from Google, some of the individual Efex tools have seen slower feature development than dedicated competitors like Topaz for specific tasks such as noise reduction.

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

Nik Collection

On request
  • Nik Collection$159/one-time
    • Lifetime licence, no subscription
    • Runs as a plugin or standalone application
    • Upgrade pricing offered to existing owners for future versions

Pixelmator Pro

$49.99/one-time

No published plan breakdown. See the Pixelmator Pro review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Nik Collection if

  • You need silver efex pro.
  • You work on Windows, macOS.
  • You also want color efex pro.
Nik Collection review

Choose Pixelmator Pro if

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

Questions people ask

Is Nik Collection or Pixelmator Pro better?
Neither clearly leads. Nik Collection starts at On request 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, Nik Collection or Pixelmator Pro?
Nik Collection starts at On request and Pixelmator Pro at $49.99/one-time.
Does Nik Collection or Pixelmator Pro run on more platforms?
Nik Collection runs on Windows, macOS. Pixelmator Pro runs on macOS.
What is Nik Collection best used for?
Nik Collection is most often used for a lightroom classic user who wants silver efex specifically for black and white conversion, a dxo photolab user finishing landscape work with hdr efex tone mapping, a photographer building a vintage film look with analog efex on top of a standard raw edit, someone who wants a one-time purchase finishing toolkit rather than adding another subscription to an existing editing stack. Of those, a lightroom classic user who wants silver efex specifically for black and white conversion and a dxo photolab user finishing landscape work with hdr efex tone mapping are not what Pixelmator Pro is typically brought in for.
What can Nik Collection do that Pixelmator Pro cannot?
Nik Collection covers Silver Efex Pro, Color Efex Pro, HDR Efex Pro, Analog Efex Pro. Pixelmator Pro covers ML-powered editing, Non-destructive editing, RAW support, Layer styles.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Nik Collection: Is Nik Collection a subscription?

No, DxO sells it as a lifetime licence with optional paid upgrades for future versions.

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
Nik Collection: Do I need Photoshop or Lightroom to use it?

It works best as a plugin inside Photoshop, Lightroom Classic or DxO PhotoLab, but it also has a smaller-featured standalone mode.

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
Nik Collection: What is Nik Collection best for specifically?

Black and white conversion through Silver Efex and HDR tone mapping through HDR Efex are its most distinctive tools.

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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