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Most buyers should pick Affinity Photo.
Choose Affinity if you want a free, cross-platform creative app that combines photo editing, vector design, and page layout; it requires a Canva account. Choose Pixelmator Pro if you want a Mac and iPad image editor, especially for Apple Photos or Creator Studio workflows. The standalone Mac app costs $49.99 once; Creator Studio costs $12.99 monthly or $129 annually. Affinity’s optional AI tools require Canva Pro, listed at $18 monthly or $120 yearly.
01Side by side
| Affinity Photo | Pixelmator Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free with Canva account; Photo 2: $69.99 one-time. | $49.99 one-time standalone Mac app. |
| Free plan | Yes; free forever with a Canva account. | No free plan; 7-day standalone trial. |
| Best for | Photo, vector design, and page layout together. | Mac and iPad photo editing and graphic design. |
| Core strength | Broad creative suite; imports layered PSD, AI, IDML, DWG. | AI photo tools, retouching, vectors, and templates. |
| Learning curve | Not stated on the vendor's site. | Not stated on the vendor's site. |
| Integrations and data | Imports PSD, AI, IDML, DWG with structure preserved. | Integrates with Apple Photos and Creator Studio. |
| Team and seat costs | Shared commercial machine needs one license per machine. | Seat limits not published. |
| Support | Support details not published; review score 5/10. | Support details not published; review score 6/10. |
Affinity Photo Choose Affinity Photo if
- Choose Affinity Photo if you want free access with a Canva account.
- Choose Affinity Photo if you need photo, vector, and layout tools together.
- Choose Affinity Photo if importing layered PSD, AI, IDML, or DWG files matters.
Pixelmator Pro Choose Pixelmator Pro if
- Choose Pixelmator Pro if you want a standalone Mac app for $49.99.
- Choose Pixelmator Pro if Apple Photos integration fits your workflow.
- Choose Pixelmator Pro if you want its AI editing and retouching tools.
02Pricing compared
The pricing notes list Affinity’s unified app as free for individuals with a Canva account. Its optional AI tools require Canva Pro, listed at $18 per month or $120 per year. Affinity Photo 2 is also listed as a one-time purchase: $69.99 for Mac or Windows, or $18.49 for iPad direct ($19.99 through the App Store), with a 30-day trial.\n\nPixelmator Pro’s standalone Mac App Store license costs $49.99 once and includes a 7-day trial. Apple Creator Studio costs $12.99 monthly or $129 yearly; eligible education subscribers pay $2.99 monthly or $29.99 yearly. Its trial is one month. Seat and usage limits are not published for Creator Studio. For a paid Mac-only one-time purchase, Pixelmator costs less than the listed Affinity Photo 2 Mac license. The free unified Affinity app changes that comparison.
03Features and depth
Affinity’s main advantage is breadth: its unified app combines photo editing, vector design and page layout. The homepage says it imports PSD, AI, IDML, DWG and other formats with layers and structure preserved. Editing is non-destructive, so changes can be adjusted, reordered or removed while keeping the original intact. That suits work that moves between image editing, logos and page layouts. Affinity’s optional AI tools require Canva Pro.\n\nPixelmator Pro is more focused on image editing and graphic design for Mac and iPad. Listed tools include repair, clone, denoise, selective brush adjustments, layers, effects and vector shapes and paths. Its AI features include background removal, Super Resolution, Deband, Auto Enhance and crop suggestions. It also offers templates and mockups; the iPad app supports Apple Pencil pressure sensitivity. The homepage describes integration with Apple Photos and Creator Studio. Choose by workflow: Affinity covers more creative disciplines, while Pixelmator’s listed strengths center on photo work and Apple-linked features.
04Ease of use and learning curve
The descriptions point to different learning demands, but neither source publishes a learning-curve measure. Affinity combines photo editing, vector design and page layout in one app. That breadth can keep related work together, but may mean more kinds of tools to learn. Individuals need a Canva account to use the free unified app.\n\nPixelmator Pro focuses on image editing and graphic design, with an iPad app built around touch controls and Apple Pencil support. That may suit people already working in Apple’s ecosystem, especially given its stated Photos and Creator Studio integrations. If you need page layout and vector design alongside photo editing, Affinity is the broader choice. If you mainly edit images on Mac or iPad, Pixelmator is the more focused option.
Questions people ask
What is better, Photoshop or Affinity?
The published information does not compare Photoshop and Affinity directly, so we can’t name a winner. Affinity’s unified app is free for individuals with a Canva account and supports importing PSD files with layers and structure preserved. That compatibility alone does not establish feature parity with Photoshop.
Is Pixelmator Pro better than Photomator?
The published material does not describe Photomator, so it does not support a direct verdict. Pixelmator Pro is described as an image editor and graphic design app with retouching, layers, vector tools and templates. Compare the specific features and platform support you need before choosing.
Is Affinity now owned by Canva?
Yes. The published review identifies Canva ownership, and the product information ties the free unified app to a Canva account. Canva Pro is also required for Affinity’s optional AI tools. The free app and its optional paid AI access are separate points to weigh.
Are Affinity and Affinity Photo the same?
The pricing notes distinguish the free Affinity unified app from Affinity Photo 2, which is listed as a one-time purchase for Mac, Windows and iPad. The unified app combines photo editing with vector design and page layout; Photo 2 is the separately named legacy product in the published pricing.