Head-to-head · facts checked 21 Sept 2026
Affinity vs Pixelmator Pro
2 tools, 11 differing data points, mostly pricing and positioning.
From
Free (AI features need a paid Canva plan)
Free plan
Yes
The verdict
Affinity or Pixelmator Pro?
Section 01
Pricing, plan by plan
Every plan each vendor publishes, monthly and yearly where both are offered.
Affinity
Free
Free
Full Pixel, Vector and Layout tools; AI features need a paid Canva plan
PPixelmator Pro
Pixelmator Pro for Mac
$49.99 one-time
Bought once on the Mac App Store
Apple Creator Studio
$12.99/mo · $129/yr
Subscription bundle with Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro and more; adds the iPad app
Section 02
Pros and cons
From each tool's full review, written from the same checked facts.
Affinity
Pros
- The whole app, its Vector, Pixel and Layout studios together, is free to use with no restrictions or payment needed.
- Exports from the free app carry no watermark.
- Editing is non-destructive across layers, filters and adjustments, and RAW files get full editing with tone mapping and lens correction.
- It includes batch processing with recordable macros and print-ready CMYK output with spot colours, preflight and bleed support, all in the free app.
Cons
- Every AI feature, including generative fill, background removal, upscaling and image and vector generation, requires a separate paid Canva plan and does not work on the free app alone.
- Canva trains its AI models on your account content and activity by default, and you have to turn this off yourself in your Canva privacy settings.
PPixelmator Pro
Pros
- The Mac app can be bought once, with no subscription, and you keep it.
- Machine-learning background removal, object removal and upscaling built in.
- Opens and develops camera RAW files directly as layers.
- Non-destructive effects that can be adjusted or reverted later.
Cons
- No CMYK color profile; only RGB is supported.
- No plugin or extension system beyond an OS-level Photos app extension.
- No batch processing across multiple files.
Side by side
| Company | ||
| HQ | — | United States |
| AI model | Canva AI (needs a paid Canva plan) | — |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac | Mac, iPad |
| Pricing | ||
| Pricing model | — | One-time purchase or subscription |
| Free plan | Yes, the whole app | No |
| Free trial | No | Yes, 30 days (Apple Creator Studio) |
| Starting price | Free (AI features need a paid Canva plan) | $49.99 one-time (Mac) |
| All plans | Free — Free | Pixelmator Pro for Mac — $49.99 one-time Apple Creator Studio — $12.99/mo |
| Positioning | ||
| Best for | Designers who want photo, vector and layout tools in one free desktop app, with AI features on a paid Canva plan | Mac photographers and designers who want raw editing and AI cleanup tools in an app they can buy once |
| Differentiator | Affinity puts pixel, vector and layout tools in one free desktop app, with Canva's AI tools on a paid Canva plan. | Pixelmator Pro, now made by Apple, edits raw photos with built-in AI background and object removal. |
| Competitors | Adobe Photoshop, Photopea, GIMP | Adobe Photoshop, Affinity, Krita |
Section 03
Affinity vs Pixelmator Pro: common questions
Is Affinity or Pixelmator Pro cheaper?
Affinity's cheapest paid plan is Free (AI features need a paid Canva plan) and Pixelmator Pro's is $49.99 one-time (Mac). Compare what each plan includes below before going on price alone.
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