TL;DR
Affinity Photo 2 vs Pixelmator Pro: For most Mac users in 2026, Affinity Photo 2 is the better choice for Photo editors because it scored higher on the price, license, and Homebrew rank fields we store. Both install with a single Homebrew command, so the switching cost is low. Choose Pixelmator Pro instead if you want photo editing.
Which is better: Affinity Photo 2 or Pixelmator Pro?
Affinity Photo 2 is the top pick for most Mac users looking at Photo editors. It has a free tier and installs in one Homebrew command. Pixelmator Pro is the stronger choice if you want photo editing. As of September 2026, both install with brew install --cask affinity-photo-2 and brew install --cask pixelmator-pro.
Affinity Photo 2 vs Pixelmator Pro
Which is the better Photo editors for Mac in 2026?
We compared Affinity Photo 2 and Pixelmator Pro across 6 key factors including price, open-source status, and community adoption. Read our full breakdown below.
Affinity Photo 2
Professional photo editing software with a one-time purchase model, no subscription required.
Pixelmator Pro
Professional image editor for Mac with machine learning-powered tools and a native macOS design.
Our Verdict
For most Mac users in 2026, Affinity Photo 2 is the better choice for Photo editors because it scored higher on the price, license, and Homebrew rank fields we store. Both install with a single Homebrew command, so the switching cost is low. Choose Pixelmator Pro instead if you want photo editing.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Affinity Photo 2 | Pixelmator Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Paid | Paid |
| Open Source | No | No |
| Replaces | — | — |
| Best for | photo editing, design, raster | photo editing, design, mac |
| Install | brew install --cask affinity-photo-2 | brew install --cask pixelmator-pro |
| Category | Design & Creative | Design & Creative |
Quick Install
brew install --cask affinity-photo-2brew install --cask pixelmator-proLearn More
In-Depth Overview
What is Affinity Photo 2?
Affinity Photo tools now live inside Canva’s unified Affinity app launched October 2025: vector, photo, and layout workspaces in one free Mac/Windows studio. The former Affinity Photo 2 persona — non-destructive editing, live filter layers, RAW development, focus stacking, HDR merge, panorama stitching, and strong PSD/PSB/PDF/TIFF/HEIF support — remains, now at $0 for the core professional feature set. Canva AI tools inside Affinity (generative fill, background removal, expand, and AI studio features) require a Canva premium subscription; all traditional photo editing does not. On Mac, Affinity is fully native Apple Silicon with Metal acceleration, customisable studio panels, and excellent large-document performance. Since 3 November 2024 Affinity owner Serif is a Canva subsidiary, and Canva’s newsroom frames the free release as permanent. For Mac photographers on Tahoe 26.x who want pro depth without Adobe billing, this is the headline change since May 2026.
What is Pixelmator Pro?
Pixelmator Pro is a Mac-only, Mac-native photo editor built for Apple Silicon and macOS, now owned by Apple since the completed Pixelmator acquisition announced 1 November 2024 and closed early 2025. Version 3.7.x in 2026 continues the team’s cadence under Apple, with native Metal and Core ML acceleration, machine-learning Super Resolution, AI background removal, ML Enhance, and a clean single-window interface that feels like a first-party macOS app. It is sold as a $49.99 one-time purchase on the Mac App Store with free updates; no subscription. Pixelmator distributes via the Mac App Store with notarization and full Tahoe 26.x support. Strengths on Mac: approachable yet powerful editing, superb Apple integration (Photos extension, Shortcuts, iCloud), and fast ML features that run on-device. Trade-offs versus Affinity: less depth for CMYK print prepress, fewer advanced compositing conveniences for high-end studio work, and no Windows/Linux version.
Detailed Feature Comparison
RAW Development
CriticalDedicated Develop persona with lens corrections, chromatic aberration removal, noise reduction, and tonal mapping across CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF and other major formats. GPU-accelerated previews and non-destructive RAW workflow.
Built-in RAW support via Apple RAW and ML Enhance with automatic adjustments and color matching. Simpler than Affinity’s persona workflow but fast and effective for most mirrorless files. Relies on system RAW support for newest cameras.
Verdict: Affinity gives finer control for demanding RAW work; Pixelmator Pro is quicker for casual to prosumer RAW edits.
Non-Destructive Editing
CriticalFull non-destructive stack: adjustment layers, live filter layers, snapshots, and history. Edits remain re-editable indefinitely.
Non-destructive layers, styles, and ML-powered adjustments with layer-based editing. Lacks Affinity’s live filter layer concept but keeps most edits reversible via layer history.
Verdict: Affinity leads on explicit non-destructive filter layers; Pixelmator Pro covers everyday non-destructive needs.
Performance on Apple Silicon
HighNative Apple Silicon with Metal acceleration. Near-instant live filter previews on M3/M4 and smooth handling of 500MB+ layered files.
Native Apple Silicon with Metal and Core ML on-device. Fast ML Super Resolution and background removal, excellent battery efficiency, and <2s launch on M4.
Verdict: Tie on raw speed; both are top-tier Tahoe citizens, with Affinity edging heavy composites and Pixelmator Pro edging ML tasks.
AI and ML Tools
HighCanva AI inside Affinity (generative fill, expand, background removal) requires Canva premium. Core Affinity has no on-device ML Super Resolution of its own.
On-device Core ML: Super Resolution, ML Enhance, ML Denoise, background removal, and deband. No extra subscription for AI features; all included in the $49.99 license.
Verdict: Pixelmator Pro wins for built-in, no-extra-cost ML features; Affinity AI costs extra via Canva premium.
File Format and PSD Interchange
HighStrong PSD/PSB round-tripping with layer preservation, plus PDF, SVG, TIFF, HEIF, JPEG XL. Best Adobe interchange among non-Adobe Mac editors.
Good PSD import/export and full support for TIFF, PNG, JPEG, HEIF, and Pixelmator-native PXD. Complex smart objects and some adjustment layers may flatten on round-trip.
Verdict: Affinity edges PSD compatibility for Adobe handoffs; Pixelmator Pro handles common interchange well.
Price and Licensing
HighUnified Affinity core: $0. Canva account required to download. Optional Canva Pro/premium for generative AI studio features. No subscription for core editing.
$49.99 one-time on the Mac App Store, free updates to 3.x under Apple/Pixelmator Team. No subscription, no account wall beyond Apple ID. Family Sharing supported.
Verdict: Affinity is cheaper at $0; Pixelmator Pro is excellent one-time value for users who prefer outright purchase over free-plus-account.
UI and Approachability
MediumPersona-based pro UI (Photo, Liquify, Tone Mapping, Export). Powerful but busier than consumer editors; gentle for Photoshop migrants.
Clean single-window Mac design, contextual tool bar, and ML tools that are one-click simple. Feels like a native Apple app with drag-and-drop and Photos integration.
Verdict: Pixelmator Pro is more approachable for most Mac users; Affinity rewards learners with deeper control.
Print and CMYK Output
MediumFull CMYK workflow with ICC profiles, spot colours, overprint preview, and PDF/X export in the Publisher/Designer personas of the unified suite.
Primarily RGB workflow with soft-proofing and CMYK export via ColorSync, but no true CMYK editing mode; print shops may require PDF conversion elsewhere.
Verdict: Affinity decisively better for CMYK commercial print; Pixelmator Pro suits sRGB/web output.
Who Should Choose Which?
1Pro retoucher
Non-destructive live filters and stronger PSD round-tripping outweigh Pixelmator ML convenience.
2Everyday Mac photographer
One-click ML Enhance and background removal with Photos extension shaves minutes off each edit.
3Mac purist avoiding accounts
One-time App Store purchase with no activation account matches the ownership preference.
4Students and labs
Free unified Affinity with education-friendly deployment beats $49.99 per Mac when budgets are zero.
Migration Guide
From_affinity_photo_2 → Pixelmator_pro
Export Affinity layers to PSD or TIFF to preserve structure; live filter layers will rasterize. Recreate RAW workflow in Pixelmator Pro using Apple RAW + ML Enhance. Rebuild brush presets manually.
From_pixelmator_pro → Affinity_photo_2
Export PXD to PSD or TIFF for Affinity import. Vector overlays export as SVG. Shift RAW work to Affinity Develop persona. Recreate ML Super Resolution steps with Affinity resize plus Canva AI if subscribed.
Final Verdict
Affinity Photo
Winner
Runner-up
Scores are Bundl.run editorial ratings out of 10 across 8 criteria (the feature comparison above), last reviewed August 2026.
Free Affinity changes the value equation on Mac photo editing. It wins on depth and price parity; Pixelmator Pro wins on included ML and Mac-native ease. Most Mac creatives who want Photoshop depth without subscription now default to Affinity, but Pixelmator Pro remains the tidier single-purchase choice for users who prize native polish.
Bottom Line: Studio depth and free pricing → Affinity Photo. Mac-native simplicity and included ML → Pixelmator Pro at $49.99.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & References
Key Verified Facts
- Canva’s unified Affinity including photo tools is free since October 2025, with AI features requiring Canva premium.[cite-apff-canva-free]
- Pixelmator Pro is sold as a $49.99 one-time purchase on the Mac App Store.[cite-apff-pixelmator-pro, cite-apff-pixelmator-store]
- Apple announced intent to acquire Pixelmator in November 2024.[cite-apff-apple-pixelmator]
- Both apps run natively on Apple Silicon with Metal acceleration on macOS Tahoe 26.x.[cite-apff-affinity, cite-apff-pixelmator-pro, cite-apff-apple-tahoe]
- 1Introducing the all-new Affinity — free for everyone
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 2Affinity product site
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 3Apple to acquire Pixelmator
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 4Pixelmator Pro
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 5Pixelmator Pro on the Mac App Store
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 6Pixelmator Blog
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 7macOS Tahoe
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
Related Technologies & Concepts
Related Topics
Photo editing on Mac
Native macOS photo editors for Apple Silicon and Tahoe 26.x
Free Photoshop alternatives
One-time and free replacements for Adobe Photoshop subscriptions