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Software · head to head

Pixelmator Pro vs Shopify

Pixelmator Pro logo

Pixelmator Pro

Software

Professional image editing for Mac

From
$49.99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Shopify logo

Shopify

Software

The most trusted ecommerce platform to start, grow, and scale your business

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Pixelmator Pro macOS only - no Windows, iPad, or mobile support; Shopify using any payment provider other than Shopify Payments adds a transaction fee on top of the card rate, at 2% on Basic falling to 0.2% on Plus
  • They diverge on capability: Pixelmator Pro covers ML-powered editing, Shopify covers Hosted ecommerce platform.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Pixelmator Pro and Shopify differ
AttributePixelmator ProShopify
Starting price$49.99/one-time$29/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
PlatformsmacOSWeb
Founded20072006

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Shopify

  • Hosted ecommerce platform
  • Payment processing
  • Inventory management
  • Order tracking
  • Marketing automation
  • Apps and integrations
  • Multi-channel selling
  • SSL certificate

What people use each for

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

Pixelmator Pro

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

Shopify

  • Running a hosted ecommerce store with payments and fulfilmentnot Pixelmator Pro
  • Selling across online, in person and social channels from one cataloguenot 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

Shopify

  • Using any payment provider other than Shopify Payments adds a transaction fee on top of the card rate, at 2% on Basic falling to 0.2% on Plus
  • That fee makes the cheapest plan the most expensive place to use an outside processor, which is the opposite of how plans usually work
  • Card rates also improve with the plan, from 2.9% on Basic to 2.7% on Advanced
  • Amex is charged at a higher rate than other cards on every plan below Plus
  • Plus starts at $2,300 a month
  • The advertised lower monthly prices require paying a year up front

Pricing, plan by plan

Pixelmator Pro

$49.99/one-time

No published plan breakdown. See the Pixelmator Pro review.

Shopify

$29/month
  • Starter$5/month
    • Buy Button & Sales Channel
    • Abandoned checkout recovery
    • Basic reporting
  • Basic$29/month
    • Online store
    • Up to 2 staff accounts
    • Basic reports
  • Standard$79/month
    • Professional reports
    • Gift cards
    • Up to 15 staff accounts

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 Shopify if

  • You need hosted ecommerce platform.
  • You also want payment processing.
Shopify review

Questions people ask

Is Pixelmator Pro or Shopify better?
Neither clearly leads. Pixelmator Pro starts at $49.99/one-time and Shopify at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Pixelmator Pro or Shopify?
Pixelmator Pro starts at $49.99/one-time and Shopify at $29/month.
Does Pixelmator Pro or Shopify run on more platforms?
Pixelmator Pro runs on macOS. Shopify runs on Web.
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 Shopify is typically brought in for.
What can Pixelmator Pro do that Shopify cannot?
Pixelmator Pro covers ML-powered editing, Non-destructive editing, RAW support, Layer styles. Shopify covers Hosted ecommerce platform, Payment processing, Inventory management, Order tracking.

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
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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Related pages

More on Pixelmator Pro

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