Pixelmator Pro, one of the most respected image editing apps on the Mac, has finally arrived on the iPad. The app, long considered one of the best Photoshop alternatives on the Mac, is now available on the iPad as part of Apple’s new Creator Studio bundle.
The launch also brings a quiet but important change. Pixelmator Photo, the previous iPad-only app, is being discontinued. While existing users can continue to use it, Apple says Pixelmator Photo will no longer receive updates.
Going forward, Pixelmator Pro will be the only unified image editor for Mac and iPad, using the same tools, features and file formats on both platforms.
A Mac-class editor designed for iPads
Pixelmator Pro joined Apple’s lineup after the company acquired it last year. It includes a layer-based editing system, advanced color tools, masks, effects, and support for vector shapes, all redesigned for Touch and Apple Pencil.
The interface adapts to gestures, pencil input, keyboard shortcuts, and even trackpads, so you’ll feel at home sketching by hand or working with a keyboard and mouse.
Machine learning functions also play a major role here. The iPad app includes tools such as automatic background removal, subject and object selection, super-resolution upscaling, intelligent retouching, and ML-powered cropping and straightening.
These features run directly on the device and are intended to speed up common editing tasks without sending images to the cloud. However, Pixelmator Pro requires iPadOS 26 or later and only works on iPad models with an A16, A17 Pro, or M1 chip or newer.
It also works seamlessly with Apple’s Files app and iCloud Drive, allowing images to be opened, edited and saved directly from existing folders and cloud storage. Projects sync seamlessly between iPad and Mac, making it easy to start work on one device and finish it on another.
The arrival of Pixelmator Pro on iPad seems long overdue and really exciting, but it would be even better if users had the option to purchase or subscribe without committing to Creator Studio.
