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Both cover photo editing. Here is what separates them on price, billing, what you can take with you, and coverage.
| ON1 Photo RAW | Pixlr | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | From $99.99 | From $2.49 |
| Pricing model | One-time purchase | Free plan, paid tiers |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Billing | One-time purchase | Monthly or annual |
| Free trial | Not stated | Not stated |
| API | Not stated | Not stated |
| Data export | Not stated | Not stated |
| Their cut | Not stated | Not stated |
| Runs on | macOS, Windows | Web, iOS, Android |
| Covers | Photo Editing | Photo Editing, AI Image Generation |
| Works with | Nothing in particular | Nothing in particular |
| Founded | Not listed | Not listed |
| Reader rating | No reviews yet | No reviews yet |
| Live deals | None right now | None right now |
Raw editing and layers, bought once
ON1 Photo RAW covers browsing, raw processing, retouching, layers and masks in one application, which is the pitch: the two Adobe programs most photographers rent, without renting them. It runs on your own machine and keeps working when you stop paying, because there is nothing to stop paying. The catalogue handling is the part that divides people.
Our note
Now that Affinity is free, the case for paying anything at all for photo editing has narrowed to catalog handling and raw processing, which is exactly where ON1 is stronger. Try both before spending the money.
Browser photo editing for a couple of dollars
Pixlr is the cheapest way to stop paying Adobe for work that is mostly cropping, retouching and a background swap. It opens in a tab, handles layers, and the entry plan costs less than a coffee a month. AI generation is included but rationed, and the free tier carries ads.
Our note
If you are paying Adobe for Photoshop and using perhaps a tenth of it, this is the honest downgrade. Photoroom is better at product shots specifically and Pixlr is better at everything else at this price.
Only on this side
Ratings are the average of reviews readers left. The facts are stated by each tool’s own listing and are not verified by CloutStack. How we make money.