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Software · head to head

Pixelmator Pro vs Principle

Pixelmator Pro logo

Pixelmator Pro

Software

Professional image editing for Mac

From
$49.99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
P

Principle

Software

Animate your ideas, design better apps

From
$129/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Pixelmator Pro macOS only - no Windows, iPad, or mobile support; Principle macOS only with no Windows or Linux editor available
  • They diverge on capability: Pixelmator Pro covers ML-powered editing, Principle covers Timeline-based animation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Pixelmator Pro and Principle actually diverge.

Attributes where Pixelmator Pro and Principle differ
AttributePixelmator ProPrinciple
Starting price$49.99/one-time$129/one-time
Founded20072015

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), free tier (No), platforms (macOS), 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 Pixelmator Pro

  • ML-powered editing
  • Non-destructive editing
  • RAW support
  • Layer styles
  • Color adjustments
  • Photos app
  • iCloud
  • Apple Silicon optimization

Only in Principle

  • Timeline-based animation
  • Interactive prototypes
  • Touch gestures
  • Component reuse
  • Video export
  • Sketch import
  • Figma import
  • Driver animations

What people use each for

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

Pixelmator Pro

  • Photo editingnot Principle
  • Graphic designnot Principle
  • Digital artnot Principle
  • Image retouchingnot Principle

Principle

  • Mobile app prototypesnot Pixelmator Pro
  • Micro-interactionsnot Pixelmator Pro
  • Animation designnot Pixelmator Pro
  • User flow designnot Pixelmator Pro
  • Gesture-based interfacesnot Pixelmator Pro

Where each one falls short

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

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

Principle

  • macOS only with no Windows or Linux editor available
  • No vector morphing capability for complex shape transformations
  • Limited asset creation tools; cannot create vectors or shapes directly within Principle
  • Sketch import flattens certain properties including paths, fills, borders, masks, blur effects, and text layers
  • Limited variable support, logical loops, and data input capabilities compared to tools like ProtoPie or Origami

Pricing, plan by plan

Pixelmator Pro

$49.99/one-time

No published plan breakdown. See the Pixelmator Pro review.

Principle

$129/one-time
  • License$129/one-time
    • One year of upgrades
    • Full access to all features
  • Upgrade License$99/year
    • Annual renewal for ongoing upgrades

Which should you pick?

Choose Pixelmator Pro if

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

Choose Principle if

  • You need timeline-based animation.
  • You work on macOS.
  • You also want interactive prototypes.
Principle review

Questions people ask

Is Pixelmator Pro or Principle better?
Neither clearly leads. Pixelmator Pro starts at $49.99/one-time and Principle at $129/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Pixelmator Pro or Principle?
Pixelmator Pro starts at $49.99/one-time and Principle at $129/one-time.
Does Pixelmator Pro or Principle run on more platforms?
Both run on macOS, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Pixelmator Pro best used for?
Pixelmator Pro is most often used for photo editing, graphic design, digital art, image retouching. Of those, photo editing and graphic design are not what Principle is typically brought in for.
What can Pixelmator Pro do that Principle cannot?
Pixelmator Pro covers ML-powered editing, Non-destructive editing, RAW support, Layer styles. Principle covers Timeline-based animation, Interactive prototypes, Touch gestures, Component reuse.

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.

Source
Principle: Does Principle run on Windows or Linux?

No. Principle is macOS only and runs on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. There is no Windows or Linux editor available; however, prototypes can be shared and viewed on any platform via web link.

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
Principle: What is the cost of Principle?

Principle costs $129 for a one-time purchase with 1 year of upgrades included. After 1 year, upgrade licenses cost $99/year. A 14-day free trial is available with all features included.

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
Principle: Can I import designs from Figma or Sketch into Principle?

Yes. Principle supports importing designs from Figma and Sketch with intelligent merging of re-imported files. Some Sketch properties such as paths, fills, borders, blur effects, masks, and text layers are flattened upon import.

Source
Principle: How do I share Principle prototypes with others?

Prototypes can be shared via web link with one click (File > Export > Share to Web). Recipients can view and interact with prototypes in any browser on any platform: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, or iOS. No installation required.

Source
Principle: Can I create vector shapes and morphing animations in Principle?

Principle does not support vector morphing, where vector objects transform into other vector shapes. It also has limited asset creation capabilities and editing is restricted to basic operations like scale and rotate.

Source
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