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Photography · head to head

ON1 Photo RAW vs Pixelmator Pro

ON1 Photo RAW logo

ON1 Photo RAW

Photography

All-in-one RAW photo editor and organizer, an alternative to Lightroom and Photoshop

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: ON1 Photo RAW it is a Mac and Windows desktop application only, with no mobile app or web-based editing option.; Pixelmator Pro macOS only - no Windows, iPad, or mobile support
  • They diverge on capability: ON1 Photo RAW covers RAW processing and organization, 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 ON1 Photo RAW and Pixelmator Pro actually diverge.

Attributes where ON1 Photo RAW and Pixelmator Pro differ
AttributeON1 Photo RAWPixelmator Pro
Starting priceOn request$49.99/one-time
Pricing modelone-timeUnknown
Platformsmac, windowsmacOS
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 ON1 Photo RAW

  • RAW processing and organization
  • Layers and masking
  • NoNoise AI
  • Resize AI
  • Super Select AI
  • Generative editing tools
  • Presets, filters, and LUTs

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.

ON1 Photo RAW

  • Editing and organizing RAW photos without a subscriptionnot Pixelmator Pro
  • Replacing a Lightroom plus Photoshop workflow with one applicationnot Pixelmator Pro
  • Applying AI noise reduction to high-ISO imagesnot Pixelmator Pro
  • Upscaling images for large prints using AInot Pixelmator Pro
  • Building composite edits with layers and masksnot Pixelmator Pro

Pixelmator Pro

  • Photo editingnot ON1 Photo RAW
  • Graphic designnot ON1 Photo RAW
  • Digital artnot ON1 Photo RAW
  • Image retouchingnot ON1 Photo RAW

Where each one falls short

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

ON1 Photo RAW

  • It is a Mac and Windows desktop application only, with no mobile app or web-based editing option.
  • Pricing and available bundles are not clearly listed on the marketing pages, requiring users to reach checkout to see actual costs.
  • Some advanced features and content bundles are locked behind the higher-priced MAX or Studio subscription tiers rather than the base one-time purchase.
  • As a smaller ecosystem than Adobe's, it has fewer third-party plugin and tutorial resources built around it.

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

ON1 Photo RAW

On request
  • Photo RAW$undefined/one-time
    • One-time payment, no subscription
    • Install on two computers
    • Full RAW editing and organization
  • Photo RAW MAX$undefined/one-time
    • One-time payment or subscription option
    • Install on three computers
    • Adds extra effects and content bundles
  • Photo Studio$undefined/month
    • Subscription plan
    • Includes all individual ON1 plugin and standalone titles
    • Cloud sync and ON1 Plus training content

Pixelmator Pro

$49.99/one-time

No published plan breakdown. See the Pixelmator Pro review.

Which should you pick?

Choose ON1 Photo RAW if

  • You need raw processing and organization.
  • You work on mac, windows.
  • You also want layers and masking.
ON1 Photo RAW 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 ON1 Photo RAW or Pixelmator Pro better?
Neither clearly leads. ON1 Photo RAW 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, ON1 Photo RAW or Pixelmator Pro?
ON1 Photo RAW starts at On request and Pixelmator Pro at $49.99/one-time.
Does ON1 Photo RAW or Pixelmator Pro run on more platforms?
ON1 Photo RAW runs on mac, windows. Pixelmator Pro runs on macOS.
What is ON1 Photo RAW best used for?
ON1 Photo RAW is most often used for editing and organizing raw photos without a subscription, replacing a lightroom plus photoshop workflow with one application, applying ai noise reduction to high-iso images, upscaling images for large prints using ai. Of those, editing and organizing raw photos without a subscription and replacing a lightroom plus photoshop workflow with one application are not what Pixelmator Pro is typically brought in for.
What can ON1 Photo RAW do that Pixelmator Pro cannot?
ON1 Photo RAW covers RAW processing and organization, Layers and masking, NoNoise AI, Resize AI. Pixelmator Pro covers ML-powered editing, Non-destructive editing, RAW support, Layer styles.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ON1 Photo RAW: Does ON1 Photo RAW require a subscription?

No. ON1 Photo RAW is sold with 'one price covers everything, no subscription' as the default purchase model, though a subscription-based Photo Studio bundle is also offered for users who want ongoing access to all ON1 apps.

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
ON1 Photo RAW: What AI features does ON1 Photo RAW include?

It includes Resize AI for super-resolution enlargement, NoNoise AI for noise reduction, Super Select AI for one-click selections, and generative tools such as Sky Swap AI and Generative Erase.

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
ON1 Photo RAW: How many computers can I install ON1 Photo RAW on?

The standard Photo RAW purchase allows installation on two computers, the MAX edition allows three, and the Photo Studio subscription allows installation on five computers.

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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