Apple to Acquire Pixelmator, Expanding its Creative Software Portfolio
Apple has agreed to acquire Pixelmator, the Lithuanian-based creator of popular image editing applications, in a move that strengthens the tech giant’s position in professional creative software. The acquisition, announced on November 1, is subject to regulatory approval.
Founded in 2007 by brothers Saulius and Aidas Dailide, Pixelmator has developed a suite of well-regarded editing tools for Apple’s ecosystem, including Pixelmator Pro, Pixelmator for iOS, and Photomator. The company’s software has been recognized by Apple previously, winning Mac App of the Year in 2018 for its adoption of Apple’s machine learning and artificial intelligence capabilities.
“We’ve been inspired by Apple since day one, crafting our products with the same razor-sharp focus on design, ease of use, and performance,” Pixelmator stated in its announcement. The company emphasized that no immediate changes are planned for its existing applications, though future updates are forthcoming.
The acquisition comes at a strategic time for Apple, which recently launched its Apple Intelligence suite featuring AI-powered photo editing capabilities. For Apple, which discontinued its professional photo editing software Aperture about a decade ago, the purchase provides a high-end editing solution that complements its existing creative software lineup.
Pixelmator Pro, available for $49.99 as a one-time purchase, has emerged as a cost-effective alternative to Adobe Photoshop, offering advanced features such as layers, vectors, and integration with Apple-specific technologies including iCloud, Shortcuts, and iPad Pencil support.
While financial terms weren’t disclosed, the deal follows Apple’s characteristic approach of acquiring smaller companies whose technology and talent can be integrated into its ecosystem. Previous similar acquisitions include Dark Sky, a weather app later integrated into Apple’s native weather application, and Workflow, which evolved into the iPhone’s Shortcuts app.
The transaction’s completion remains contingent on regulatory approval, a process that has recently challenged other tech industry acquisitions, including Adobe’s attempted purchase of Figma and Amazon’s proposed acquisition of iRobot.
