Comparison

Pixelmator Classic iOS vs Superimpose X

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Pixelmator Classic iOS

A powerful, layer-based image editor for iOS and iPadOS. Create designs, paint, sketch, and retouch photos with a wide range of tools and effects. Optimized for the latest iOS features, it allows for detailed image manipulation and composition.

Highlights
  • Layer-based image editing
  • Design creation with shapes and text
  • Painting and sketching tools
  • Photo retouching and enhancement
  • Machine learning-powered subject selection
  • Distort tools for image warping
  • Export and share optimized images
Features
Read full description

Pixelmator is a powerful, full-featured, layer-based image editor that lets you add shapes, images, and text to create beautiful image compositions, touch up and enhance images, sketch, and paint on iPad and iPhone alike. Designed exclusively for iOS and iPadOS, Pixelmator takes full advantage of the latest iOS and iPadOS 17 features and technologies, giving you innovative, fast, and powerful tools. Create Eye-Catching Designs - Combine words, shapes, and images to create breathtaking artwork right on your iPhone and iPad - Apply non-destructive layer styles like shadows, outlines, gradient fills, and more - Insert, group, and blend layers of an image - Easily add, combine, and customize shapes - Blend layers, shapes, and text using any of the blending modes - Use precise selection tools to edit areas of an image - Automatically select subjects in images with the machine learning-powered Select Subject - Crop, arrange, and rotate objects and layers with pixel-perfect precision - Easily remove the background of images or cut and paste objects from one image to another Add Shapes and Text - Create flyers, logos, and other compositions using vector shapes and their styling options - Customize Smart Shapes with easy-to-use controls - Add text and make it look gorgeous with 24 pre-designed text styles - Change the font, size, alignment, line spacing, use custom fonts, and more Paint and Sketch - Paint stunning images right on your iPhone and iPad - Choose from over artist-designed brushes and numerous painting techniques - Paint with near-natural wetness effect of watercolor and crayon brushes - Create stunning pixel art images with the custom-designed Pixel brush - Paint with incredible detail thanks to the double texture brush technology - Vary the speed of your stroke to change the thickness of some of the brushes - Easily select and fine-tune colors with a full-featured color picker - Instantly choose colors right from your image with the Eyedropper - Paint more naturally than ever with the Apple Pencil, featuring palm rejection, pressure, tilt, and acceleration sensitivity Edit and Enhance Photos - Get started with dozens of beautifully designed templates - Instantly improve your photos with single-tap color presets - Take full control over the tonal range of your image with levels and curves - Easily remove color casts and set the right white balance - Wipe away image imperfections, skin blemishes, and unwanted objects with the Repair tool - Duplicate areas of your image with the easy-to-use Clone tool - Pinch, bump, twirl, or warp areas of an image with powerful, Metal-based Distort tools - Blur, sharpen, lighten, or darken areas of an image - Choose from dozens of breathtaking effects to subtly improve or completely change the look of an image - Open and edit images of up to 256 megapixels Export and Share Images - Optimize images for the web using quality, color depth, and size settings - Export images to Files, iCloud, or open in other apps using a file format of your choice - Using the integrated share extension, easily share your artwork with friends and family using Mail, AirDrop, or post it to social platforms like Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook Compatibility - Open and save images using HEIF, JPEG, PNG, and TIFF formats - Work with multilayered Pixelmator Pro and Adobe Photoshop documents - Save your edited images directly to Photos - Create, edit, and keep all your images up to date on all your devices thanks to iCloud support - External keyboard support with over 70 keyboard shortcuts Built for iPhone and iPad - Pixelmator is meticulously thought through and created from the ground up for iPhone and iPad devices - Designed to take full advantage of powerful iOS and iPadOS features and technologies — iCloud Drive, Photos extension, Split View, and more - Thanks to Apple silicon, Metal, Core Image, and Core Animation, Pixelmator delivers state-of-the-art performance and real-time responsiveness

About

Superimpose X

Create stunning photo art with advanced layering, blending, and masking tools. This powerful editor offers a wide array of adjustments, effects, and brushes for both professionals and amateurs. Save your work in sessions and reuse masked images as stickers.

Highlights
  • Multiple layers (up to 24)
  • Extensive adjustment and blending modes
  • AI-powered masking
  • Masking Library for reusable stickers
  • Session Library for project saving
  • Non-destructive editing and effects
  • Export PSD with layers
Features
Read full description

Superimpose X is a serious photo editor, and the editor is yours with the app — layers, masks, blend modes, brushes, effects, shadows, text and precision tools, with no subscription to use any of it. When you want more, two studios are built right in and unlock with a subscription: an AI Editor that generates and transforms images, and a true multi-track Video Editor. THE PHOTO EDITOR Build complex edits by hand with the control of a desktop app and none of the complexity. Cut out people and objects, combine images, paint masks, adjust colour, add depth and shadow, then refine every detail. • Layer-based editing with up to 24 layers • Magic Wand, Magic Lasso, brush and shape masks • 18 blend modes and 16 adjustment layers • Non-destructive layer blur and adjustments • 63 photo effects, plus clarity, colour, tone and detail controls • Text and curved text • Motion, Zoom, Spin, Lens and Selective Blur, and gradients • Warp, perspective transform and distortion • Paint, smudge, clone stamp and effect brushes • Shadow and Light Wrap tools • Camera fill with real-time masks and blend modes • Masking Library for reusable cutouts and stickers • Session Library that saves your projects automatically • PSD export with layers • Over a million royalty-free stock photos AI EDITOR Start from a photo, a sketch or a sentence and let AI do the heavy lifting, then take the result back into the layer editor to finish it properly. • Image generation from text • AI editing and inpainting • Background creation and replacement • Outpainting and image expansion • Enhance, relight and repair • Sketch to image • Headshot generation • Face swap • Image to image transformation • Image to video • AI people masking VIDEO EDITOR A real multi-track editor, not a template filler. • Edit video, images, audio and text on multiple tracks • Stack effects and animations for results that are yours • Masks for precise work, including green screen • Track objects through a shot and ramp clip speed • Animate text with elegant presets • Split, trim, rotate and freeze clips • Colour effects, blurs and distortions • Audio EQ, filters and transitions • Royalty-free photos, videos, music and GIFs • Export in a range of formats, including GIF ONE APP, ONE PROJECT The three studios share the same project. Composite a frame in the photo editor and drop it on the timeline. Generate a background with AI and mask it by hand. Pull a still out of a video and edit it as layers. Nothing is exported and re-imported just to move between them. Terms of use: https://www.superimposeapp.com/superimposex_terms_of_use.html Privacy Policy: https://www.superimposeapp.com/privacy2.html

Screenshots

Pixelmator Classic iOS4 screens
Superimpose X4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pixelmator Classic iOS at none against Superimpose X's 8. Superimpose X's advantage is review sentiment (86% vs 54%) and price ($4.99 vs $9.99). On ratings volume, ads, chart position and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Pixelmator Classic iOS costs $9.99 and Superimpose X $4.99 up front. Superimpose X sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Pixelmator Classic iOS asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Superimpose X holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.2K and 3K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of Pixelmator Classic iOS's written reviews are positive against 86% of Superimpose X's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pixelmator Classic iOS ships an update monthly, Superimpose X every 10 days. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Pixelmator Classic iOS versus Superimpose X: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPixelmator Classic iOSSuperimpose X
Price$9.99$4.99 — better
Rating4.5 (1.2K ratings)4.7 (3K ratings) — better
Positive reviews54.4% of reviews85.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.2K3K — better
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#44#40 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size409 MB378 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperApplePankaj Goswami

Customer experience

Pixelmator Classic iOS

All ratings1,201 ratings
Positive87.1%
Neutral3.0%
Negative9.9%
Written reviews842 reviews
Positive54.4%
Neutral12.4%
Negative33.3%

Superimpose X

All ratings3,021 ratings
Positive92.5%
Neutral2.1%
Negative5.5%
Written reviews896 reviews
Positive85.7%
Neutral4.6%
Negative9.7%

User reviews

Pixelmator Classic iOS

From 1.2K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💻 Powerful and full-featured photo editor
  • 👍 Easy to use and intuitive interface
  • 🎨 Excellent painting and drawing tools
  • 🔄 Seamless iCloud integration
  • 💰 Good value for the price

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
  • 📁 Clunky file management and navigation
  • 🔍 Limited selection and customization of tools
  • 🖌️ Lacking advanced features like layer masks
  • 🖥️ Inferior to desktop version in functionality

Superimpose X

From 3K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Amazing editing capabilities
  • 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly
  • 💡 Powerful layering and masking tools
  • 🚀 Efficient and fast performance
  • 👍 Excellent value for money

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
  • 🐛 Bugs with certain tools (brush, text, etc.)
  • 🔒 Concerns over recent subscription model changes
  • 🔒 Frustration over loss of legacy features

Bugs and requests

Pixelmator Classic iOS

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes when opening certain image files
  • Saving and exporting issues, leading to data loss
  • Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
  • Unreliable performance on older iPad models

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add more advanced editing tools (e.g. curves, gradients, vector shapes)
  • Improve file management and organization
  • Enhance brush and selection tool capabilities
  • Provide better integration with other apps and cloud storage
  • Add support for Apple Pencil and other stylus input

Superimpose X

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Masking tool issues causing halos
  • Text layer bugs causing loss of text
  • Inconsistent behavior when merging layers
  • Crashes when using certain effects

Requested features

6 requests
  • More layer support
  • Additional font and text options
  • Improved color adjustment tools
  • Custom brush settings
  • Ability to rearrange layer order
Show 1 more
  • Expanded stock image library

In-app purchases

None

Pixelmator Classic iOS

No in-app purchases

8 purchases

Superimpose X

Subscriptions6
  • Pro Membership (Monthly)$2.991 Month
  • Superimpose X (Monthly)$4.991 Month
  • AI Membership (Yearly)7 Days trial$17.991 Year
Show 3 more
  • Pro Membership (Yearly)$17.991 Year
  • Superimpose X Pro (Yearly)3 Days trial$34.991 Year
  • Superimpose X Pro (Yearly)$34.991 Year
One-time2
  • 500 Pro AI Coins$3.99
  • 1000 Pro AI Coins$6.99

Questions

Is Pixelmator Classic iOS free?
Pixelmator Classic iOS costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Superimpose X free?
Superimpose X costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Pixelmator Classic iOS or Superimpose X?
Superimpose X is rated higher. Pixelmator Classic iOS averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while Superimpose X averages 4.7 from 3K ratings.
Do Pixelmator Classic iOS or Superimpose X have ads?
Neither Pixelmator Classic iOS nor Superimpose X shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pixelmator Classic iOS or Superimpose X?
Pixelmator Classic iOS ships an update monthly, and Superimpose X every 10 days. Most recently, Pixelmator Classic iOS was updated on October 29, 2026 and Superimpose X on October 29, 2026.
Which is more popular, Pixelmator Classic iOS or Superimpose X?
Pixelmator Classic iOS currently peaks at #44 in the App Store charts, and Superimpose X at #40. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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