Pixelmator Photo Switches to Subscription Pricing, Launching on Mac by Next Year

[MacRumors]

The team behind the popular Pixelmator series of image editing apps today announced that the Pixelmator Photo app for the iPhone and iPad is switching to subscription-based pricing with an update rolling out now on the App Store.

For new users, Pixelmator Photo now costs $4.99 per month or $23.99 per year, while existing users of the app will continue to have "unlimited access" without having to pay again. A lifetime purchase option will remain available for $59.99, which is significantly more expensive than Pixelmator Photo's previous one-time price of $7.99.

In a blog post, the Pixelmator team admitted that the subscription-based pricing model is more expensive, but argued that there are "some pretty big problems" with an upfront pricing model, including slower development and a focus on new users over existing users. Among other reasons, Pixelmator also noted that the App Store does not allow paid apps to offer free trials or upgrade discounts for major new versions.

"The hope is that there are enough users who use the app regularly and feel that the annual or monthly fee is worth it," said Pixelmator. "It looks like this is the best way to ensure Pixelmator Photo can continue to be developed long into the future."

Pixelmator also provided a sneak peek at its Pixelmator Photo app for Mac, which will be a "completely native app" that is "designed from the ground up just for Mac." Pixelmator plans to release the app late this year or early next year and says those who subscribe to Pixelmator Photo for the iPhone/iPad now will get Pixelmator Photo for Mac for free when it launches. Existing users will be eligible for a discounted subscription.

Pixelmator informed MacRumors that it doesn't have any immediate plans to switch the standard version of Pixelmator for iOS or Pixelmator Pro for macOS to subscription-based pricing and is working on a major update to Pixelmator Pro that will be free as usual.

Article Link: Pixelmator Photo Switches to Subscription Pricing, Launching on Mac by Next Year

 

[philstubbington]

It’s a great app, and certainly does all I need without the expense of Adobe. I’m a casual user though and had already bought it so unless they change the pricing model again, I don’t think I’m affected.

 

[GumaRodak]

Here we go

 

[djcerla]

Fine, just leave Pro alone.

 

[tmoerel]

Another app I will stop using!

 

[steve09090]

Another app I will stop using!

Why, if you already have it?

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

Damn happy i bought it a month ago

Next is gonna be procreate probably

The nasty part of that change is that apple just changed the way subs work ,and that now the développer can raise the sub price silently .sneaky really .

I wonder ,what's the point of pixelmator photo on Mac ? Perhaps better continuity features ? I already have pixelmator pro on Mac ,will i have a lifetime discount ,or be forced to pay for a "discounted" subscription?

 

[tmoerel]

Why, if you already have it?

Out of principle!

 

[cmChimera]

What are the big differences between pixelmator photo, and pixelmator pro? I'm not sure why I would want Pixelmator Photo on Mac if I already have Pixelmator Pro.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

What are the big differences between pixelmator photo, and pixelmator pro? I'm not sure why I would want Pixelmator Photo on Mac if I already have Pixelmator Pro.

Simple to use ,clean interface , probably continuity features with iOS app (perhaps even handoff !!)

 

[Prabas]

As long as there's buy once option it's fine.

 

[Haiku_Oezu]

I feel kinda bad that I got this one for free during that brief period they gave it away

The lifetime price increase from 7.99 to 59.99 is kinda bonkers, makes you wonder why they were fine with selling it for so low…

 

[Wildkraut]

Why, if you already have it?

Because it’s just a matter of time till it stops working, due to incompatibility that Apple introduces with every major macOS update.

 

[m.x]

I get why they switch to a subscription, but why does every app has to raise prices that much? From a $7,99 one-time purchase to $23,99/yr? Why not $9,99/yr?
And what was the business model before the switch to subscription? It was a one-time purchase for $7,99 and now it’s $59,99. No wonder people hate subscriptions.

 

[Telemakhos]

Pixelmator Photo doesn't do much except filters, curve adjustments, and the repair function. All the fun stuff's in Pixelmator Pro. I've got both, but I almost never use Pixelmator Photo, because Pro is so much better.

 

[Wildkraut]

Go for Affinity Photo and ditch Pixelmator, it’s inferior anyway.

 

[mciarlo]

I get why they switch to a subscription, but why does every app has to raise prices that much? From a $7,99 one-time purchase to $23,99/yr? Why not $9,99/yr?
And what was the business model before the switch to subscription? It was a one-time purchase for $7,99 and now it’s $59,99. No wonder people hate subscriptions.

The developers told you why. $7.99 isn’t enough to sustain a business and also put out updates for years. I know firsthand from my own apps. I’d charge $5, get $3 and have people expecting new features and updates five years later. Especially with the pace of iOS changes, it just doesn’t work.

 

[philstubbington]

I know, right. Bunch of jerks...wanting to eat and provide for their families and stuff. The temerity, the audacity of them to seek a sustainable model for their business and to keep the lights on for their employees. In a time of significant inflation and a high cost of living these guys should be living on less so that I can continue to have a cheap app for my photos.

Exactly. They’re hardly Adobe-sized, are they?

 

[Wildkraut]

Among other reasons, Pixelmator also noted that the App Store does not allow paid apps to offer free trials or upgrade discounts for major new versions.

It’s about time for sideloading and alternative AppStores, as you see it’s Apple fault. Apple enforces subscriptions, because it’s a 30% anticompetitive cash cow. Apple is destroying the de facto standard way people used to buy and upgrade software.

 

[cnnyy20p]

The problem is the AppStore itself if you really think about it.

 

[tomtad]

Get in the bin

 

[KurtMann]

Go for Affinity Photo and ditch Pixelmator, it’s inferior anyway.

I did use the regular Pixelmator before I bought Affinity Photo. It's a nice simple app to use; but Affinity is also straight forward and great overall. AP is the real deal and is way way underpriced, it would not be unreasonable if it was 5x more expensive.

Never tried the Pro version.

 

[filchermcurr]

Normally I'd rant and rave about subscription fatigue and how 'back in my day'... but they seem to be offering a lifetime license still, albeit a more expensive one. So I'm happy!

 

[Wildkraut]

I did use the regular Pixelmator before I bought Affinity Photo. It's a nice simple app to use; but Affinity is also straight forward and great overall. AP is the real deal and is way way underpriced, it would not be unreasonable if it was 5x more expensive.

Never tried the Pro version.

Yep, the macOS,Windows versions i bought from their website (outside the AppStore) to make sure they get every penny, they deserve it.

 

[Dredd67]

While it might be understandable from the businesses point of view, for the customer it's just hostile.
There's one ultimate greedy person, and it's Apple's current CEO (or the people he has to answer to).
Unrestrained capitalism always pushes towards the most profitable route, whatever the consequences. It's like electricity or water, always choosing the path of least resistance to get where it can.
It's the responsibility of the architects of the bigger structures to design a platform that doesn't allow such customer exploitation and keep the business healthy on the long run. Here, it's the contrary and it's actively pushing app makers towards the greedy route, leaving no choices to the customer but to either accept, or leave the platform.
How is this any good on the long term except for those reaping the benefits ?

I understand the concerns of app makers, and yes, they have to make a living. But this is NOT the solution. Allowing users to try the apps (not speaking about freemium here), allowing special sales or promoting them (like Steam), allowing true upgrade paths (reduced prices for owners of a previous version), ... this should have been part of the platform from the start. Building a healthy relationship with your customers is what makes them get back to you when you have a new version or a new product, or simply when they can afford it.

Some plans make sense, because the service usage itself is a running cost by nature (insurances, access to a media library like streaming platforms or e-books). Something like a processing software doesn't belong there. If you push it to the limits, maybe having access to an online storage like adobe cloud, or some cloud processing which could not be done on device would be acceptable, as an option.
For the life of me I can't think why I would have to subscribe to an app I have to use, but only seldomly like a Photoshop or a Lightroom alternative. Adobe understood that and kept the lifetime licenses for Photoshop Elements. If you have a pro workflow it would probably need cloud storage anyways so a plan makes sense, and that cost is part of your business expenses.

So to get back to your reaction, there's no need to be sarcastic. Yes people have to make a living, but their options are in the hand of the people who control the platform itself, and these are the people who make them miserable, not the customers. App store developers should unionize and reclaim what their work should get them, and not play the devil's game and offset their issues onto their own customers, it will only end poorly for everyone but the person at the top of the pyramid.