Apple is bringing Pixelmator Pro to iPad for the first time. The move follows Apple’s acquisition of the Pixelmator team in late 2024, which closed nearly a year ago. Now, with the launch of Apple Creator Studio, Pixelmator Pro is no longer limited to the Mac.
Pixelmator Pro Launches on iPad
Pixelmator Pro arrives on iPad on Wednesday, January 28. The app runs on iPads with an A16, A17 Pro, or M1 chip or later and requires iPadOS 26 or newer. This marks the first major product change since Apple took over the Pixelmator team.
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Apple says the iPad version brings the same core tools that users know from the Mac app, redesigned for touch and Apple Pencil. The company highlights a workspace built specifically for iPad, with support for Pencil features like hover, squeeze, and double-tap. Users can also move projects between an iPad and a Mac.
From Apple’s press release:
“For the first time, Pixelmator Pro is coming to iPad, bringing an all-new touch-optimized workspace, full Apple Pencil support, the ability to work between iPad and Mac, and all of the powerful editing tools users have come to appreciate on Mac.”
Apple adds that the app includes Layers, smart selection tools, bitmap and vector masks, and performance features powered by Apple silicon.
How Apple Creator Studio Fits In
Apple is introducing Pixelmator Pro for iPad alongside its new Apple Creator Studio service. What remains unclear is whether you need that subscription to access the iPad app.
The Mac version of Pixelmator Pro remains a one-time purchase at $49.99. However, Apple has not confirmed a similar pricing model for the iPad version.
Apple also confirmed that at least one feature will sit behind the new subscription. From the press release:
“Additionally, for Apple Creator Studio subscribers, both Pixelmator Pro for Mac and iPad bring a powerful new Warp tool for twisting and shaping layers any way creatives can imagine, alongside a beautiful collection of Warp-powered product mockups.”
Other Apple apps, such as Pages, Keynote, and Numbers will also include features exclusive to Creator Studio.
Until now, Pixelmator Pro was strictly a Mac app. Although the original Pixelmator app existed on iPhone and iPad, it received few updates in recent years. Even before Apple acquired the company, the team focused almost entirely on Pixelmator Pro for Mac.
With this release, Apple is positioning Pixelmator Pro as a full desktop-class editor on iPad. At the same time, the Creator Studio subscription introduces a new model where certain advanced tools are locked behind a paid service.
Pixelmator Pro for iPad launches January 28. How Apple prices it and how tightly it ties the app to Creator Studio will shape how creators respond.
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