Apple To Acquire Photo-Editing App Creator Pixelmator

Lithuania-based Pixelmator, the firm behind popular photo editing tools, agreed to an acquisition by Apple. The deal awaits regulatory approval, with financial details remaining undisclosed.

Pixelmator said that while the regulatory approval is pending, there will be “no material changes to the Pixelmator Pro, Pixelmator for iOS, and Photomator apps at this time,” but to “Stay tuned for exciting updates to come.”

Founded in 2007, the company gained recognition for rivaling Adobe Photoshop with advanced photo editing apps like Pixelmator and Pixelmator Pro. Unlike Adobe Photoshop, which requires a subscription, these apps offer a one-time purchase option.

Apple and Pixelmator have a longstanding collaboration. The iPhone maker offers the apps on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS and has featured them during its keynote events. Most notably, Apple named Pixelmator Pro Mac App of the Year in 2018.

“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 wrote in its announcement, adding “Now, we’ll have the ability to reach an even wider audience and make an even bigger impact on the lives of creative people around the world.”

The acquisition comes as Apple loses its long-standing status as the world’s most valuable company, facing criticism for its late entry into the AI space.

Apple could use Pixelmator’s features to pick up on its AI slack and boost declining sales. Pixelmator Pro recently introduced new features, including AI and machine learning tools for photo adjustments, mask creation, and vector tools. It also expanded support for RAW photo formats and other design tool files.

The future of Pixelmator’s popular apps is unclear. Apple could use these apps to supercharge its products’ native photo editing functionality. The company might also keep them as standalone apps. It’s hard to predict because Apple’s previous software acquisitions have gone in different directions.

Over the years, Apple has purchased several successful apps, including Dark Sky, Shazam, Primephonic, and Workflow.

After acquiring Dark Sky in early 2020, Apple killed it as a stand-alone app and integrated it into its own Weather apps.

Similarly, Apple ceased Primephonic the same year it acquired the classical music streaming service. Two years later, it released Apple Music Classical, a secondary app for Apple Music subscribers that includes similar features and uses music and data from Primephonic.

Workflow had the same destiny, resulting in a robust Shortcuts ecosystem. On the other hand, Shazam, Final Cut, and Logic Pro continued to exist as separate apps.