Apple finalizes Pixelmator acquisition

Apple has officially finalized its acquisition of Pixelmator, following regulatory approval that cleared the way for the deal’s completion. The transition became evident as Pixelmator updated its suite of apps—including Pixelmator Pro, Pixelmator for iOS, and Photomator—with a new splash screen marking the milestone.

Known for its user-friendly yet powerful image editing capabilities, Pixelmator has long been a favorite among creatives seeking an alternative to Adobe’s Photoshop. Exclusively designed for Apple devices, its software is optimized for macOS, iOS, and iPadOS, offering a seamless experience that takes advantage of Apple’s hardware and ecosystem.

For now, Apple has made no immediate changes to Pixelmator’s apps, and they remain available as standalone downloads on the App Store. While speculation lingers about whether Apple will integrate Pixelmator’s technology into its operating systems, the company has not announced any plans to do so. Apple’s own Photos app includes built-in editing tools, but a dedicated pro-level solution hasn’t been part of its lineup since the discontinuation of Aperture in 2015.

Whether this leads to deeper system-wide integrations or an evolution of Apple’s own photo software remains to be seen, but for now, Pixelmator’s apps continue to operate independently under Apple’s ownership.