According to TechCrunch, Pixelmator announced on Friday that it is being acquired by Apple. The image-editing platform stated that there would be “no material changes” to its Pixelmator Pro, Pixelmator for iOS, and Photomator apps for now. However, based on Apple’s acquisition history, this level of autonomy could change as Pixelmator’s features are integrated into the Photos app. Pixelmator is currently available for iOS, macOS, iPadOS, and visionOS, but not for Android, and this is unlikely to change soon.
The image-editing startup, founded in 2007 in Vilnius, Lithuania, expressed pride in its achievements over the years. The company noted, “Looking back, it’s crazy what a small group of dedicated people have been able to achieve over the years from all the way in Vilnius, Lithuania. 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 deal, which is still subject to regulatory approval, comes as Apple has become more aggressive in integrating AI into its imaging apps. Recently, Apple introduced the Clean Up feature in an iOS update, which removes elements from photos and is seen as Apple’s response to Google’s Magic Eraser. Apple declined to comment on the acquisition news.