Adobe Photoshop vs Pixlr Comparison
Compare Adobe Photoshop and Pixlr side-by-side — pricing, features, scores, and which one is right for you.
The bottom line
Adobe Photoshop and Pixlr are both strong contenders in the design tools space, but they serve different needs. Adobe Photoshop edges ahead with an overall score of 80/100 compared to Pixlr's 58/100. Pixlr is easier to get started with (8/10 for ease of use vs 6/10). On pricing, Pixlr offers a free tier while Adobe Photoshop requires a paid plan from $20/mo. Pixlr rates higher for value for money (8/10 vs 7/10), making it a better pick if budget is a concern.
At a glance
| Adobe Photoshop | Pixlr | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 80/100 | 58/100 |
| Starting price | $20/mo | $2/mo |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Best for | The world's most powerful image editor | AI-powered online photo editor |
Pricing comparison
Adobe Photoshop
No free tier
Photography Plan$20/mo
Photoshop (Annual)$23/mo
Photoshop (Monthly)$35/mo
Pricing verified 2026-03-18
Calculate your cost
Adobe PhotoshopPhotography Plan
$20/mo
$240/yr
PixlrFree
Free/mo
Free/yr
Cheaper— save $240/yr
Feature comparison
core
| Feature | Adobe Photoshop | Pixlr |
|---|---|---|
| Vector editing | Basic | No |
| Prototyping | No | No |
| Components | Smart objects | Templates |
| Auto-layout | No | No |
collaboration
| Feature | Adobe Photoshop | Pixlr |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time editing | Cloud docs | No |
| Comments | Yes | No |
| Version history | Yes | No |
| Dev handoff | No | No |
advanced
| Feature | Adobe Photoshop | Pixlr |
|---|---|---|
| Design systems | Libraries | No |
| Plugins | Yes | No |
| Animation | Timeline | No |
| Responsive design | Artboards | No |
integrations
| Feature | Adobe Photoshop | Pixlr |
|---|---|---|
| Illustrator | Yes | No |
| Lightroom | Yes | No |
| After Effects | Yes | No |
| Figma | Via plugin | No |
| Google Drive | No | Yes |
| Dropbox | No | Yes |
| URL import | No | Yes |
| Batch processing | No | Premium |
Ratings breakdown
Choose Adobe Photoshop if...
- You're ready to invest from $20/mo
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- You need enterprise-grade capabilities
Choose Pixlr if...
- You want a free tier to get started
- You value an intuitive, easy-to-use interface
- Getting strong value for money is a priority
