# Pixelmator Pro

29 Hacker News commenters recommended Pixelmator Pro and 9 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 10 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** Fast, intuitive Mac photo editor that many find better than Photoshop for most tasks. Common caveat: fewer features, weaker vector editing.

## Why people recommend it

- Affordable one-time purchase (4 comments): "Pixelmator Pro is available as a one time purchase as well for $49.99" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46601432)) "You can otherwise buy Pixelmator Pro for $50 from Apple." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50265468)) "I bought it years ago and haven't regretted it." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46365526))
- Intuitive, easy to learn interface (4 comments): "That's been the closest lightweight super-intuitive alternative to Paint.net I've ever messed around with." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49540926)) "Pixelmator lacks features, but at least you can figure out how to use them in short order" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48192345)) "Native MacOS - quick to load and very intuitive layer-based paint interface." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47395397))
- Native, quick Mac app (3 comments): "I love Pixelmator Pro. One of my favorite apps on my computer. Super quick and snappy." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46606152)) "Native MacOS - quick to load and very intuitive layer-based paint interface." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47395397)) "Pixelmator is more a Mac app than Messages or Music." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46603351))
- Replaces Photoshop for most tasks (3 comments): "Pixelmator Pro's much more toy-like predecessor from ~10 years ago" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46604565)) "Pixelmator Pro is fantastic. I've forgotten about Photoshop for many years. Just buy it." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46601879)) "I've moved from PS to Pixelmator" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47826091))

## What people warn about

- Weak vector editing (2 comments): "Pixelmator has okay enough vector editing and export support for my needs" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48997157)) "Pixelmator looks the part but isn't a very good software, especially for vectors." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46615869))
- Feels like a toy app (2 comments): "Pixelmator Pro looks like a toy app compared to Logic or Final Cut." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46602867)) "Pixelmator Pro's much more toy-like predecessor from ~10 years ago" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46604565))
- Subscription model concerns (2 comments): "they are shovelling you into an eternal subscription model" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48997219)) "I don't want yet another subscription." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46601290))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Photopea](https://hackerapproved.com/p/photopea.md): 84 recommend
- [Adobe Lightroom](https://hackerapproved.com/p/adobe-lightroom.md): 68 recommend
- [DaVinci Resolve Photo Editor](https://hackerapproved.com/p/davinci-resolve-photo-editor.md): 23 recommend
- [PhotoCraft](https://hackerapproved.com/p/photocraft.md): 22 recommend
- [DxO PhotoLab](https://hackerapproved.com/p/dxo-photolab.md): 12 recommend

## Where to get it

- [Visit the official site](https://www.apple.com/pixelmator-pro/)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Pixelmator Pro", https://hackerapproved.com/p/pixelmator-pro/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).