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Pixelmator Pro Launches on iPad With Apple Pencil Support and More

Apple today released Pixelmator Pro for the iPad, complete with a new touch-optimized workspace, full Apple Pencil support, the ability to work between iPad and Mac, and all of the powerful editing tools from the Mac version.

Pixelmator Pro iPad App
Pixelmator Pro is a popular image editing app that was acquired by Apple last year. There is already a more basic Pixelmator app available for the iPad and iPhone, but Apple says that app is "no longer being updated." To receive new features going forward, iPad users will need to move to the full-fledged Pixelmator Pro app.

Apple says Pixelmator Pro for iPad is compatible with iPad models equipped with the A16, A17 Pro, or M1 chip or later on iPadOS 26 or later.

Here are some of the Pixelmator Pro for iPad features highlighted by Apple:

  • A full-featured Layers sidebar allows creators to use images, shapes, text, and video
  • Smart selection tools for isolating and editing specific parts of images
  • Advanced bitmap and vector masks
  • Super Resolution for intelligently upscaling photos
  • Deband for removing compression artifacts
  • Auto Crop with automatic composition suggestions
  • Apple Pencil support for pressure-sensitive brushing, plus hover, squeeze, and double tap

Pixelmator Pro for both iPad and Mac is available through the new Apple Creator Studio subscription bundle, which in the U.S. costs $12.99 per month or $129 per year. A one-time $49.99 purchase option remains available for the Mac app.

Some new "intelligent features" and "premium content" in Pixelmator Pro will only be available with an Apple Creator Studio subscription. For example, in both the iPad and Mac apps, Apple Creator Studio subscribers have access to a new Warp tool for twisting and shaping image layers. The one-time-purchase Mac app did not receive this feature.

Related Forum: iPad Accessories

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Top Rated Comments

TMRJIJ Avatar
16 weeks ago
Was kinda hoping that they would have a one-time purchase option on iPad. I already bought it for Mac.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
UltimateSyn Avatar
16 weeks ago
No one-time purchase for the iPad version? Gross.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mazda 3s Avatar
16 weeks ago

On the Mac, I have the one time purchase version and it is stuck on version 3.7.1 from 2 months ago, it wasn't updated. The new one, version 4.0, is subscription only :mad:
I just checked, and same here. Version 3.7.1. I've been using PixelMator Pro for years because it's an awesome program that I gladly paid for.


Pixelmator pro on macOS is still available for one time purchase but they killed the app since they are not updating it... Forcing you to get creator studio if you want updates...
So we're forever stuck on 3.7.1 unless we subscribe? WTF :mad::mad:
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
16 weeks ago
I need to subscribe to a whole bunch of apps I have no use for just to get this one app?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
insomniac86 Avatar
15 weeks ago

Illustrators be aware:

The app has an issue with brush tapering on both the Mac and iPad versions.

No matter how much pressure you apply at the start of your brush stroke, it always starts out tapered like this (the thin end is where I started the stroke with full pressure applied):



This has been an issue in Pixelmator Pro for years and I thought Apple might fix it, especially since they're relaunching it for iPad which is popular for illustrators.

This is the only app for the creator studio I'm interested in, so as it stands I'm probably cancelling before the free trial period runs out - unless it's fixed.
I was expecting this to be fixed with the iPad release and Apple Pencil Pro support.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
16 weeks ago
Good app. However not happy with the idea that a subscription is required to access the full set of features.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)