Alternatives to Pixelmator Pro
Apple's image editor for Mac and iPad with nondestructive layers, vector tools and AI features. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Pixelmator Pro
Apple's image editor for Mac and iPad with nondestructive layers, vector tools and AI features.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Pixelmator Pro.
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe's raster image editor for photo retouching, compositing, painting and generative AI edits.
Adobe Photoshop runs on Windows, macOS and the web with a broad toolset and generative AI, but the full desktop version needs a subscription.
GIMP
The long-running free image editor for photo retouching, compositing and general pixel work.
GIMP is free and open source on Windows, macOS and Linux with scripting and plugins, though its interface follows its own conventions.
Photopea
Browser-based image editor that opens Photoshop, XD and Sketch files.
Photopea runs in any browser and opens Photoshop files, so it works beyond Apple devices, but it is ad-supported without a premium plan.
Luminar Neo
A desktop photo editor for Windows and Mac built around AI tools for skies, portraits and relighting.
Luminar Neo is a paid Windows and Mac photo editor focused on AI sky, portrait and relighting tools, with less manual control than a traditional editor.
Paint.NET
A fast Windows image editor that sits between Microsoft Paint and a full photo suite.
Paint.NET is a free, closed-source Windows editor with layers and plugins, lacking Pixelmator Pro's vector tools and iPad version.
Pinta
A small painting and image editor modelled on Paint.NET 3, and the closest thing to it on macOS and Linux.
Pinta is a free, MIT-licensed editor for Windows, macOS and Linux with layers and effects, but far simpler for serious photo work.
Acorn
A one-time-purchase image editor for macOS covering photo editing, painting, text and graphics.
Acorn is a one-time-purchase macOS editor with AI subject selection and Data Merge, but it has no iPad version and requires macOS 14 or later.
Affinity Designer 2
Vector design app for illustration, branding and UI work.
Affinity Designer 2 is a one-time-purchase vector app for Windows and macOS, focused on vector design rather than photos, and its version 2 line is now legacy.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Pixelmator Pro as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Adobe Photoshop Elements
Consumer photo editor from Adobe with AI fixes, guided edits and photo organizing.
Pixelmator Pro offers nondestructive layers plus raster and vector tools as a one-time Mac purchase, but it runs only on Mac and iPad, with no Windows version.
Affinity Photo 2
Raster photo editor for retouching, compositing and RAW processing.
Pixelmator Pro is a layer-based raster and vector editor with a one-time purchase on Mac, but it runs only on Apple devices and drops Windows.
PhotoLine
An all-purpose image editor for Windows and macOS covering photo editing, vector graphics and page layout.
Pixelmator Pro is a paid Mac and iPad editor with nondestructive layers and raster plus vector tools, dropping Windows support.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Linearity Curve
Apple-first vector design app with a fast, free-to-start workflow.
Topaz Photo
Desktop image enhancement software that uses AI models to sharpen, denoise, unblur and upscale photos.
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe's vector graphics application for logos, icons, illustration and typography.
Krita
A free digital painting program built for illustrators, with over a hundred brushes ready to use.
Amadine
A vector graphics and illustration app for Mac, iPad and iPhone with a lifetime license option.
Procreate
A digital painting and illustration app for iPad, sold as a one-time purchase.
