Adobe Photoshop vs Pixelmator Pro
Adobe Photoshop scores 8.5 to Pixelmator Pro's 6.4 among the photo editors we rate, and is the better pick for 3 of the 4 kinds of buyer below.
Adobe Photoshop wins, 8.5 to 6.4
Pixelmator Pro is bought once on the Mac, or comes inside Apple Creator Studio, a $12.99 a month bundle of several Apple apps, not a Pixelmator only plan. Photoshop's cheapest plan is the Photography plan, which also includes Lightroom, at $19.99 a month, and it generates images from a prompt, which Pixelmator Pro cannot do. Both automatically select a subject, remove backgrounds in one action and upscale with AI, and Photoshop works in CMYK for print, which Pixelmator Pro does not.
Pick Adobe Photoshop if you want prompt based image generation and full CMYK support.
Pick Pixelmator Pro if you want a one time Mac purchase with built in AI editing.
Best for
Who each one suits, decided on the criteria that matter to that buyer and the checked facts where the two differ.
- Generative fill and expand: Adobe Photoshop yes, Pixelmator Pro no
- Generates images from a prompt: Adobe Photoshop yes, Pixelmator Pro no
- Works in CMYK for print: Adobe Photoshop yes, Pixelmator Pro no
- Third-party plugins: Adobe Photoshop yes, Pixelmator Pro no
- Where it runs: 5 platforms against 2 platforms
- Apps it connects to: 3 integrations against 0 integrations
- Cheapest plan you can edit in, monthly: $12.99 against $19.99
- Ways to reach support: 3 support channels against 2 support channels
- SOC 2: Adobe Photoshop yes, Pixelmator Pro does not say
How they score
Both are scored the same way, against the other photo editors we rate, from facts on each vendor's own pages. Adobe Photoshop leads on 3 of 4 criteria.
Where they differ
Every point where the two vendors' published facts disagree, with a link to where each fact was read. "Not published" means the vendor does not say either way.
Published by only one of them
Where they match (10)
Pricing, plan by plan
Every plan each vendor publishes, monthly and yearly where both are offered.
Adobe Photoshop
Pixelmator Pro
For everything else about each tool, read the full Adobe Photoshop review and Pixelmator Pro review.
Adobe Photoshop vs Pixelmator Pro: common questions
Which is better, Adobe Photoshop or Pixelmator Pro?
Adobe Photoshop scores 8.5 and Pixelmator Pro 6.4 out of 10 among the photo editors we rate. Adobe Photoshop is ahead on what it adds beyond the basics, workflow and output and privacy and trust. Pixelmator Pro is ahead on pricing.
Is Adobe Photoshop or Pixelmator Pro cheaper?
Adobe Photoshop's cheapest paid plan is $19.99/mo (Photography plan, includes Lightroom) and Pixelmator Pro's is $49.99 one-time (Mac). Compare what each plan includes below before going on price alone.
What can Adobe Photoshop do that Pixelmator Pro cannot?
On the facts both vendors publish: generative fill and expand, generates images from a prompt, works in CMYK for print and third-party plugins.
