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Adobe Creative Cloud vs Pixelmator Pro: Pricing Comparison 2026

Side-by-side pricing comparison of Adobe Creative Cloud and Pixelmator Pro. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.

Bottom line: Adobe Creative Cloud starts at $9.99/mo, making it $29/mo cheaper than Pixelmator Pro ($39/mo). Pixelmator Pro offers a free plan.

Last updated: July 2, 2026

Data compiled by Arthur Jacquemin
Updated July 2, 2026
Try Adobe Creative Cloud freeAffiliateTry Pixelmator Pro freeUpdated this monthUpdated this month

Adobe Creative Cloud vs Pixelmator Pro: Quick Pricing Facts

FeatureAdobe Creative CloudPixelmator Pro
Starting Price$9.99/mo$39/mo
Number of Plans43
Free TierNoYes
Pricing Modelper-seatflat
Annual DiscountN/AN/A

Adobe Creative Cloud is the more affordable option, starting at $9.99/mo compared to Pixelmator Pro's $39/mo. Both are Design Tools with 7 combined pricing plans and 36 features compared. At comparable tiers, the monthly price difference is $15.990000000000002.

Pixelmator Pro stands out with a free plan for getting started. Adobe Creative Cloud uses per-seat pricing while Pixelmator Pro uses flat pricing, which may affect your total cost at scale.

Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Design Tools needs.

Pricing Plans
Adobe Creative Cloud
Adobe Creative Cloud
Try freeAffiliate
Pixelmator Pro
Pixelmator Pro
Try free
Tier 1
Photography
$10/month
Includes
  • Photoshop
  • Lightroom
  • Lightroom Classic
  • 20 GB cloud storage
  • Adobe Portfolio
  • Adobe Fonts
Free
$0/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Basic features
  • Limited access
Tier 2
Single App
$23/monthCheapest
Includes
  • One Creative Cloud app of choice
  • 100 GB cloud storage
  • Adobe Portfolio
  • Adobe Fonts
  • Behance integration
  • Creative Cloud Libraries
ProPopular
$39/month
$39 / year
Includes
  • Advanced editing tools
  • Unlimited projects
  • Priority support
Tier 3
Creative Cloud StandardPopular
$55/monthCheapest
Includes
  • 20+ creative apps
  • 100 GB cloud storage
  • Adobe Fonts
  • Adobe Portfolio
  • Behance integration
  • Creative Cloud Libraries
  • Limited generative AI credits
  • Collaboration tools
Business
$99/month
$99 / year
Includes
  • Team collaboration
  • Custom branding
  • Dedicated account manager
Tier 4
Creative Cloud Pro
$90/monthCheapest
Includes
  • 20+ creative apps
  • 2 TB cloud storage
  • Full generative AI credits
  • Premium web and mobile apps
  • Adobe Fonts
  • Advanced collaboration
  • Priority support
  • Early access to new features
-

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Adobe Creative Cloud

Suite of professional creative apps including Photoshop and Illustrator

View all Adobe Creative Cloud plans

Pixelmator Pro

Professional image editing app for macOS with ML enhancements

View all Pixelmator Pro plans

What Reviewers Say

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Adobe Creative Cloud if:

  • You need multi-discipline tools - Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, After Effects
  • Your workflow spans multiple Adobe apps, not just photo editing
  • Industry file format compatibility and client deliverable standards require the Adobe ecosystem

Choose Pixelmator Pro if:

  • You primarily do photo editing and graphic design on macOS and want a one-time purchase
  • Pixelmator Pro is $49.99 once - compared to Adobe CC at $54.99/month ongoing
  • A fast, native macOS app that handles most Photoshop use cases without the subscription

Pixelmator Pro is an excellent Photoshop alternative for macOS users at a one-time price of $49.99. If your work is primarily photo editing and basic graphic design, Pixelmator Pro covers most Photoshop use cases at a fraction of the cost. Adobe CC is the right choice when you need Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, After Effects, or any of the other 20+ apps in the suite. For creatives who are exclusively image editors on Mac, Pixelmator Pro is genuinely worth considering as a cost-saving switch.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Adobe Creative Cloud vs Pixelmator Pro

Which is cheaper, Adobe Creative Cloud or Pixelmator Pro?
As of July 2026, Adobe Creative Cloud starts at a lower price point. Adobe Creative Cloud starts at $9.99/mo while Pixelmator Pro starts at $39/mo. However, the best value depends on the features you need at each tier.
How many pricing plans does Adobe Creative Cloud have vs Pixelmator Pro?
Adobe Creative Cloud offers 4 pricing plans, while Pixelmator Pro offers 3 plans. More plans typically means more flexibility to match your exact needs and budget.
Does Adobe Creative Cloud or Pixelmator Pro offer a free plan?
Pixelmator Pro offers a free plan, while Adobe Creative Cloud does not. If budget is a concern, Pixelmator Pro lets you get started at no cost.
Can I save money by paying annually for Adobe Creative Cloud or Pixelmator Pro?
Both Adobe Creative Cloud and Pixelmator Pro offer annual billing options. Check each plan's yearly pricing for potential savings compared to monthly billing.
What is the most popular Adobe Creative Cloud plan?
The Creative Cloud Standard plan is Adobe Creative Cloud's most popular tier, priced at $54.99/mo. Key features include 20+ creative apps, 100 GB cloud storage, Adobe Fonts.
What is the most popular Pixelmator Pro plan?
The Pro plan is Pixelmator Pro's most popular tier, priced at $39/mo. Key features include Advanced editing tools, Unlimited projects, Priority support.
What pricing models do Adobe Creative Cloud and Pixelmator Pro use?
Adobe Creative Cloud uses a per-seat pricing model, while Pixelmator Pro uses flat pricing. The right model depends on your team size and usage patterns.
AI Recommendations

Sources

  1. Adobe Creative Cloud Official Pricing- Vendor pricing page
  2. Pixelmator Pro Official Pricing- Vendor pricing page

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