The Pixelmator team, known for its suite of image-editing applications for Mac, iPad, and iPhone, recently revealed that the company has been acquired by Apple. This significant development has left many fans of the software feeling anxious about its future. Pixelmator has developed several popular applications, including Pixelmator Pro for Mac, Pixelmator for iPhone and iPad, and Photomator for iOS.

These tools are designed to democratize access to powerful professional image editing capabilities. While they may not offer the extensive range of features seen in competitors like Adobe, they have earned high praise from users and come with a more budget-friendly price tag, with Pixelmator Pro priced at $49.99 and Pixelmator for iPad at just $9.99. The company’s blog shared the news of the acquisition, announcing that an agreement had been signed, pending regulatory approval.

Following this announcement, the development team reassured users that they do not expect any immediate, material changes to Pixelmator Pro, Pixelmator for iOS, or Photomator. However, many users remain concerned about the long-term viability of these applications. A common fear is that Apple might merge certain Pixelmator features into its existing Photos app while discontinuing others altogether.

For instance, Pixelmator’s advanced Repair tool is significantly better than the comparable tool recently added to Photos. Some speculate that Apple may have acquired Pixelmator primarily to integrate this feature into their software. Nevertheless, there is hope that Pixelmator will continue to thrive as a standalone application, similar to how Apple handled its previous acquisitions.

Notably, the music-recognition app Shazam, acquired in 2018, remains a popular independent application despite its integration into Apple devices. Similarly, the acquisition of Dark Sky Weather in 2020 resulted in the replacement of Apple’s weather app while preserving its functionality. Ultimately, only time will reveal the fate of Pixelmator following its acquisition.