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 offers the more complete Photo editors experience for most Mac users. Both install with a single Homebrew command, so the switching cost is low. Choose Pixelmator Pro instead if photo editing support is your priority.
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 is the more established and installs in one Homebrew command. Pixelmator Pro is the stronger choice if you prefer its Photo editors ecosystem. Both are worth trying.
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 offers the more complete Photo editors experience for most Mac users. Both install with a single Homebrew command, so the switching cost is low. Choose Pixelmator Pro instead if photo editing support is your priority.
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
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