Affinity PhotovsPixelmator Pro
Score Comparison
Signals Comparison
Affinity Photo
- No generative AI or content-aware fill(8/10)
- No photo library or asset management(7/10)
- Confusing mask layering system(6/10)
- No Smart Objects like Photoshop(6/10)
- No Save for Web feature(5/10)
- Keyboard shortcuts differ from Photoshop(5/10)
- UI text too small on high-DPI displays(5/10)
- No video or animation timeline(4/10)
Pixelmator Pro
- Text cannot retain editability after transforms(7/10)
- Brush tapering issue with pressure sensitivity(7/10)
- Feather tool requires mask workaround(5/10)
- No native highlighted text feature(5/10)
- Subject selection not always precise(4/10)
- Missing panorama stitching(5/10)
Affinity Photo
- Slow RAW file processing(8/10)
- Limited AI noise reduction capabilities(5/10)
Pixelmator Pro
- Pixelmator Pro freezes and uses huge memory on large documents(7/10)
Affinity Photo
- Limited plugin ecosystem(7/10)
Pixelmator Pro
- Cannot edit or import vector files (EPS/AI)(7/10)
- Very limited plugin ecosystem(6/10)
Affinity Photo
- Crashes during RAW import and export(8/10)
Pixelmator Pro
- Warp reverts rotated objects(5/10)
- HEIC export quality slider has no effect(5/10)
Affinity Photo
- No iPhone or Android mobile app(5/10)
Pixelmator Pro
- Pixelmator Pro for iPad requires a subscription(6/10)
Affinity Photo
- Forum shutdown and Discord migration concerns(4/10)
Pixelmator Pro
No signals
Affinity Photo
No signals
Pixelmator Pro
- Some features hard to find or use(4/10)
Affinity Photo
No signals
Pixelmator Pro
- Standalone Pixelmator Pro misses Creator Studio features(7/10)
- Is Pixelmator Pro a subscription now? Apple Creator Studio pushback(6/10)
Pricing Comparison
Affinity Photo
Users: Unlimited
Storage: Local storage only
Limits: Must have Canva account, no AI-powered tools in free tier, V1/V2 licenses no longer updated
Users: 1 user
Storage: 1TB Canva cloud storage
Limits: AI features require Canva ecosystem integration
Users: 1 user per platform
Storage: Local storage only
Limits: No longer sold, existing licenses work but won't receive V3 features
Pixelmator Pro
Users: Your Macs signed in with the same Apple Account
Storage: Local storage
Limits: Mac only, no iPad access. Gets fewer new features than the subscription build
Users: 1 user
Limits: Subscription build of Pixelmator Pro requires macOS 26 Tahoe. iPad requires iPadOS 26
Users: 1 user
Limits: Same requirements as monthly
Users: 1 student or educator
Limits: Students and educators only
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Affinity Photo | Pixelmator Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Core Features | ||
| Layer-based editing Full layer support | ||
| RAW editing Non-destructive | ||
| RAW development Non-destructive, but slow | ||
| HDR merge Built-in HDR tools | ||
| Panorama stitching Automatic stitching | ||
| Focus stacking Multi-focus merge | ||
| Warp tool Creator Studio version only | ||
| AI Features | ||
| ML-powered enhancements ML Enhance, Denoise, Super Resolution | ||
| AI Generative Fill Requires Canva Pro | ||
| Content-Aware Fill Traditional inpainting only | ||
| Generative image and shape tools Creator Studio, Apple silicon, macOS 26 | ||
| File Formats | ||
| Vector file editing Cannot edit EPS/AI | ||
| PSD compatibility Good import/export | ||
| Organization | ||
| Photo library/catalog No asset management | ||
| Platforms | ||
| Windows version Mac only (iPad via subscription) | ||
| iPad version Full-featured | ||
| iPhone/Android app Not available | ||
| Extensibility | ||
| Plugin support Limited compared to PS | ||
| Performance | ||
| Apple Silicon optimization Excellent M-chip support | ||