# Affinity Photo 2 vs Pixelmator Pro

Published January 1, 2026 · Updated August 10, 2026

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 October 2026, both install with brew install --cask affinity-photo-2 and brew install --cask 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 catalog ordering 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.

## Head to head

| Factor | 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 |

## Affinity Photo 2

Professional photo editing software with a one-time purchase model, no subscription required.

Install: `brew install --cask affinity-photo-2`

[Affinity Photo 2 on Bundl](https://bundl.run/apps/affinity-photo-2)

## Pixelmator Pro

Professional image editor for Mac with machine learning-powered tools and a native macOS design.

Install: `brew install --cask pixelmator-pro`

[Pixelmator Pro on Bundl](https://bundl.run/apps/pixelmator-pro)

## Features

- **RAW Development.** Affinity gives finer control for demanding RAW work; Pixelmator Pro is quicker for casual to prosumer RAW edits.
- **Non-Destructive Editing.** Affinity leads on explicit non-destructive filter layers; Pixelmator Pro covers everyday non-destructive needs.
- **Performance on Apple Silicon.** 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.** Pixelmator Pro wins for built-in, no-extra-cost ML features; Affinity AI costs extra via Canva premium.
- **File Format and PSD Interchange.** Affinity edges PSD compatibility for Adobe handoffs; Pixelmator Pro handles common interchange well.
- **Price and Licensing.** 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.** Pixelmator Pro is more approachable for most Mac users; Affinity rewards learners with deeper control.
- **Print and CMYK Output.** Affinity decisively better for CMYK commercial print; Pixelmator Pro suits sRGB/web output.

## FAQ

### Is Affinity Photo really free in 2026?

Yes. Unified Affinity including the former Affinity Photo 2 feature set is $0 to download and use. A Canva account is required to activate, and generative AI studio features inside Affinity require Canva premium.

### How much does Pixelmator Pro cost?

$49.99 one-time on the Mac App Store as of August 2026, with free updates within the 3.x series. Photomator is separate. Family Sharing is supported.

### Did Apple buy Pixelmator?

Yes. Apple announced the acquisition on 1 November 2024; the Pixelmator Team continues development under Apple with the same product lineup.

### Which is faster on M3/M4 Macs?

Both are fast and Tahoe 26.x native. Affinity edges heavy multi-layer composites; Pixelmator Pro edges on-device ML operations like Super Resolution that run via Core ML.

### Which handles PSD files better?

Affinity generally preserves more PSD layer structure for Adobe handoffs. Pixelmator Pro imports and exports PSD well but some adjustment layers and smart objects flatten.

### Do I need a subscription for AI features?

Pixelmator Pro includes ML features at no extra cost. Affinity’s traditional tools are free; its generative AI features require a Canva Pro or Teams subscription.

### Can Pixelmator Pro do CMYK print work?

Not natively as a full CMYK editor. It handles RGB with soft-proofing and CMYK export via ColorSync, but Affinity’s unified suite is stronger for true CMYK prepress.

### Which is better for everyday Mac users?

Pixelmator Pro — its single-window native design and Photos/Shortcuts integration make daily edits faster. Affinity rewards users who need HDR merge, focus stacking, panorama stitching, and deeper compositing.

## Sources

- [Introducing the all-new Affinity — free for everyone](https://www.canva.com/newsroom/news/all-new-affinity/)
- [Affinity product site](https://www.affinity.studio/)
- [Apple to acquire Pixelmator](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/11/apple-to-acquire-pixelmator/)
- [Pixelmator Pro](https://www.pixelmator.com/pro/)
- [Pixelmator Pro on the Mac App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/pixelmator-pro/id1289583905)
- [Pixelmator Blog](https://www.pixelmator.com/blog/)
- [macOS Tahoe](https://www.apple.com/macos/macos-tahoe/)

## Related

- [Affinity Photo 2 vs Adobe Photoshop](https://bundl.run/compare/affinity-photo-vs-photoshop)
- [Affinity Photo 2 vs GIMP](https://bundl.run/compare/affinity-photo-2-vs-gimp)
- [Affinity Designer 2 vs Affinity Photo 2](https://bundl.run/compare/affinity-designer-2-vs-affinity-photo-2)
- [Pixelmator Pro vs Adobe Photoshop](https://bundl.run/compare/pixelmator-vs-photoshop)
- [GIMP vs Pixelmator Pro](https://bundl.run/compare/gimp-vs-pixelmator-pro)

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