dockpicks

Image editing

Layer-based photo and image editors, from free to pro.

6 apps, listed best first · prices checked October 2026

  1. Pixelmator Pro

    $49.99

    Full-featured Mac image editor with layers and AI tools

    A layer-based image editor and graphic design app with retouching, vector tools, AI-assisted features and support for many file formats. It is sold as a one-time Mac purchase or as part of Apple Creator Studio.

    Our take The best fit for most Mac users who want a capable editor without a subscription. It feels native and fast, and the one-time price is reasonable. Some newer features, such as the Warp Tool, are reserved for the Creator Studio version.

    $49.99 one-time; or $12.99/mo Creator Studio as of Oct 2026by Apple

    Website Mac App Store

  2. Affinity

    Free tier

    Free pro suite for photo editing, vector design and layout

    One app that combines pixel photo editing, vector illustration and page layout, with non-destructive editing and PSD, AI, IDML and DWG import. It runs natively on Apple silicon and Intel Macs.

    Our take The strongest free option for serious work, covering photo editing, illustration and layout in one app. Downloading it requires signing in with a Canva account, and the AI features are tied to a paid Canva plan.

    Free; AI tools need Canva premium as of Oct 2026by Canva

    Website

  3. Photomator

    $7.99/mo

    Photo editor that works directly on your Photos library

    A photo-focused editor for Mac, iPhone and iPad with color adjustments, RAW support, batch editing and AI tools such as Repair and Denoise. Edits made in its browser sync with your Photos library.

    Our take A good step up from Photos if you mainly edit photographs rather than build designs, and a lighter alternative to Lightroom. It does not replace a layer-based editor like Pixelmator Pro.

    $7.99/mo, $29.99/yr or $119.99 lifetime as of Oct 2026by Apple

    Website Mac App Store

  4. Acorn

    $29.99

    Affordable, no-subscription image editor for Mac

    A layer-based image editor for macOS with filters, vector shapes and photo retouching tools. It is a universal app for Apple silicon and requires macOS 14 or later.

    Our take A solid, simple choice for people who want layers and filters without learning a pro tool. It is less powerful than Pixelmator Pro or Affinity for heavy work. A 14-day trial is available.

    $29.99 one-time as of Oct 2026by Flying Meat

    Website Mac App Store

  5. GIMP

    FreeOpen source

    Long-running free and open-source image editor

    A free, cross-platform image editor for photo retouching, compositing and image creation. Native builds are offered for both Apple silicon and Intel Macs.

    Our take Capable and completely free, with an active project behind it. The interface feels less Mac-like than the paid options and takes time to learn. Only download it from gimp.org, since the team does not publish it on the App Store.

    FreeGPL-3.0 licence

    Website Source

  6. Adobe Photoshop

    $22.99/mo

    Industry-standard image editor, by subscription

    Adobe's professional image editing and design app with AI-assisted compositing, selections and retouching. It is available on desktop, in the browser and on phones.

    Our take Worth it if you work with clients, studios or tutorials that assume Photoshop and PSD files. For personal use the subscription is hard to justify when Pixelmator Pro and Affinity cover most of the same ground.

    US$22.99/month (annual, billed monthly) as of Oct 2026by Adobe

    Website
Compare all 6 side by side
AppPriceModelOpen sourceApp Store
Pixelmator Pro $49.99 Paid – Yes
Affinity Free tier Free tier – –
Photomator $7.99/mo Subscription – Yes
Acorn $29.99 Paid – Yes
GIMP Free Free GPL-3.0 –
Adobe Photoshop $22.99/mo Subscription – –

Not sure which image editor to pick?

Paste this into ChatGPT, Claude or any AI assistant that can open links. It reads the list, asks about your Mac and budget, and suggests a short list.

Help me choose the right image editor for my Mac. Read https://dockpicks.com/image-editing/ and its plain-text version, https://dockpicks.com/image-editing.md. Ask me which Mac I have, what I use it for and my budget, then recommend a short list from that page with the free and paid trade-offs, and say if the tool built into macOS is enough.

Or open it in ChatGPTPerplexity