Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Pixelmator VS Adobe Fresco

Compare Pixelmator VS Adobe Fresco and see what are their differences

Pixelmator logo Pixelmator

Pixelmator is an image-editing application for Mac and iPad.

Adobe Fresco logo Adobe Fresco

Create beautiful, scalable vector designs on your iPad with Adobe Illustrator Draw and sync your design across Adobe Creative Cloud desktop and mobile apps.
  • Pixelmator Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-21
  • Adobe Fresco Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-12-17

Pixelmator features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Pixelmator Pro is designed with a clean and easy-to-use interface, making it accessible even for beginners while still being powerful enough for professionals.
  • Integration with macOS
    The software is built exclusively for macOS, allowing seamless integration with other Apple applications and services like iCloud, Photos, and AppleScript.
  • Affordability
    Pixelmator Pro is a one-time purchase, making it more affordable in the long run compared to subscription-based software like Adobe Photoshop.
  • Performance Optimization
    It takes advantage of the latest macOS technologies such as Metal, Core Image, and OpenGL, ensuring smoother performance and faster processing times.
  • AI-Powered Tools
    Pixelmator Pro includes a variety of AI-driven tools like ML Super Resolution, which enhances image quality using machine learning algorithms.

Possible disadvantages of Pixelmator

  • macOS Exclusivity
    Pixelmator Pro is only available for macOS, which limits its accessibility to users who are on Windows or other operating systems.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its user-friendly interface, the software has a variety of advanced features that can require a learning curve to fully understand and utilize.
  • Limited Third-Party Integration
    Compared to industry-standard software like Adobe Photoshop, Pixelmator Pro has fewer integrations with third-party plugins and services.
  • No Vector Drawing Tools
    The software lacks comprehensive vector drawing tools, which can be a drawback for users who need robust vector graphic capabilities.
  • Feature Gaps
    While Pixelmator Pro covers a wide range of functionalities, it still lacks some advanced features and functionalities offered by competitors such as Adobe Photoshop.

Adobe Fresco features and specs

  • Vector and Raster Support
    Adobe Fresco supports both vector and raster graphics, allowing artists to work with scalable vectors and detailed raster images in a single application.
  • Live Brushes
    The app offers innovative live brushes that mimic the behavior of traditional media such as oils and watercolors, providing a natural and realistic painting experience.
  • Seamless Integration
    Adobe Fresco integrates seamlessly with other Adobe Creative Cloud applications, such as Photoshop and Illustrator, which enhances the overall workflow for users who rely on multiple tools.
  • Cloud Sync
    With Adobe Cloud integration, users can easily save and access their work across multiple devices, ensuring projects can be continued smoothly from different locations.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The interface is intuitive and user-friendly, making it accessible for beginners while still offering advanced features for professionals.

Possible disadvantages of Adobe Fresco

  • Subscription Model
    Adobe Fresco is part of Adobe's subscription-based model, which can be a disadvantage for users who prefer one-time purchases.
  • Resource Intensive
    The application can be quite resource-intensive, requiring a powerful device for optimal performance, which may limit accessibility for users with older hardware.
  • Feature Overlap
    Some users may find overlap between Fresco and other Adobe applications, leading to confusion about when to use each tool for specific tasks.
  • Limited Platform Availability
    Fresco is primarily available for iOS and Windows, which excludes users on other platforms such as Android or Linux.
  • Learning Curve
    While the interface is user-friendly, some of the more advanced features may have a steep learning curve for beginners not familiar with Adobe's ecosystem.

Analysis of Pixelmator

Overall verdict

  • Pixelmator is a strong choice for those seeking a versatile and affordable image editing tool. Its seamless integration with Apple hardware and software ecosystems enhances its functionality for Mac users.

Why this product is good

  • Pixelmator is highly regarded for its user-friendly interface, extensive toolset, and integration with macOS features. It provides a robust set of photo editing tools, enabling tasks like retouching, painting, and graphic design. It is particularly praised for its speed and efficiency, making it a great choice for users wanting a powerful but accessible editing software.

Recommended for

  • Casual users who want powerful editing tools without a steep learning curve.
  • Mac users looking for software that's optimized for Apple hardware and OS.
  • Graphic designers and artists who need a tool for creative work that offers both vector and raster graphics editing features.
  • Small business owners who need an efficient tool for basic to advanced photo editing and graphic design tasks.

Pixelmator videos

Pixelmator Photo 2019 for iPad - Full Guide & Review!

More videos:

  • Review - Pixelmator Photo Review
  • Review - Pixelmator Pro Review

Adobe Fresco videos

Review Adobe Photoshop Sketch Update 4.6

More videos:

  • Review - Adobe Fresco: 8 Months Later!
  • Tutorial - Tutorial | How to create in Adobe Illustrator Draw
  • Review - Adobe Fresco MADE ME CRY
  • Review - Adobe Illustrator Draw with iPad Pro & Apple Pencil | Adobe Creative Cloud

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Pixelmator and Adobe Fresco)
Image Editing
91 91%
9% 9
Digital Drawing And Painting
Graphic Design Software
88 88%
12% 12
Design Tools
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Pixelmator and Adobe Fresco

Pixelmator Reviews

10 Best Photopea Software Alternatives in 2024 (Free & Paid)
Pixelmator Pro is one of the best Photopea alternatives for macOS that lets businesses change, improve, and tailor pictures using tools, colors, and workspaces. It comes with pre-made shapes like circles, speech bubbles, lines, and stars that designers can use to finish their work. It supports non-destructive editing, meaning you can make changes without altering the...
Best Photo Editing Software for Mac: 5 Pro Alternatives to Adobe
Leveraging Apple Tech: Pixelmator Pro is built from the ground up for macOS. It deeply integrates with core technologies like Metal (for graphics acceleration), Core ML (for machine learning), improving performance and responsiveness.
Affinity Alternative
Pixelmator Pro, like Photolemur, boasts machine learning to make photo editing quick and easy. In addition, it contains many advanced editing tools as well as a fresh workflow that’s bound to attract many users.
Source: skylum.com
We tested 4 photo editing alternatives to Photoshop
Next up was Pixelmator, a slick OSX app with a pleasingly unslick $29.99 price point. To test Pixelmator we gave Max a copy of the Stone Roses’ eponymously titled 1989 album ‘The Stone Roses‘. With it’s distinctive cover art by Roses’ guitarist John Squire, ‘The Stone Roses’ should pose a worthy challenge to Pixelmator.
Source: diginate.com
12 Best Free Photoshop Alternatives You Should Try
Pixelmator is a macOS only photo editing tool that brings with it a ton of Photoshop like features and tools, and it also supports some of the latest features that Apple has brought to macOS such as editing and exporting images stored in the High Efficiency Image File format. There are the usual features like support for layers and blending modes, a plethora of tools to use...
Source: beebom.com

Adobe Fresco Reviews

7 BEST Procreate Alternatives for Android (2023)
Adobe Photoshop sketch supports the broadest range of file formats for imports and exports. It has multiple built-in professional drawing tools for tasks such as alpha compositing, image wrapping, and masking. You can also use Adobe’s online tutorials to quickly learn concepts of Photoshop, color grading, and photo editing.
Source: www.guru99.com

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Pixelmator and Adobe Fresco, you can also consider the following products

Adobe Photoshop - Adobe Photoshop is a webtop application for editing images and photos online.

Krita - Krita is a professional FREE and open source painting program. It is made by artists that want to seaffordable art tools for everyone. Concept art. texture and matte painters, illustrations and comics.

GIMP - GIMP is a multiplatform photo manipulation tool.

Artrage - A simple but lovely natural media painting and sketching program.

Affinity Photo - Affinity is the imaging and design suite for creative professionals exclusively for Mac.

Clip Studio Paint - The artist's software for drawing and painting.