Pixlr
Freemium Last verified: September 2026AI-powered photo editor and image generator combining traditional editing with modern generative tools
What is Pixlr?
Pixlr is a browser-based photo editor that started as a lightweight Photoshop alternative and evolved into a full AI-powered creative suite. It combines traditional pixel editing, layers, brushes, selections, filters, masks, with modern generative AI tools: AI Image Generator, AI Generative Fill, AI Generative Expand, AI Background Removal, AI Object Removal, AI Magic Eraser, AI Sticker Maker, AI Backdrop, AI Up-Scale, AI Sharpen, and AI Denoise. The target user is anyone who edits photos or creates graphics and also wants to generate new imagery without switching between multiple tools. Pixlr runs entirely in the browser with no install, supports PSD import and export, and has historically been popular as a free online Photoshop alternative. Since this review first ran, Pixlr has widened well past still images: the site now also offers an AI video generator, an AI audio generator, and a workflow assistant called Pixlr Agent, and it credits third-party models including Flux, Kling, Recraft, and Veo. Pricing is tiered: the free tier includes the full editor with ads and a small allowance of AI credits; Plus at $2.49/month (or $1.99/month annual) is ad-free with unlimited saves and 80 monthly AI credits; Premium at $9.99/month ($7.99/month annual) is the main paid tier and includes access to all image, video and audio models, unlimited saves, 1,000 monthly AI credits, private mode for AI generations, and the full library of fonts, templates, and animations; Ultra starts at $24.99/month ($19.99/month annual) with 5,000 monthly credits, unlimited fast image generations, 8 concurrent generations, and a priority queue; and the Ultra MAX option doubles the allowance to 10,000 credits for $49.99/month ($39.99/month annual). The bundled 5-seat Team plan at $16.99/month that Pixlr sold in 2025 is no longer listed on the pricing page as of August 2026. A 7-day free trial is available. Pixlr is particularly well-suited to marketers, small business owners, content creators, and teachers who need broad editing plus AI creation without paying for Adobe's full stack.
Pixlr demo video
Watch Pixlr's official demo to see Pixlr in action before reading our full review.
Official video by Pixlr via YouTube, embedded for reference. ToolChase does not host or claim this video.
⚡ Quick Verdict
Photographers, designers, and small teams who want a browser-based Photoshop alternative with built-in AI image generation
Pure AI art enthusiasts who just want dedicated text-to-image generation without editor overhead
Free (with ads) · Plus $2.49/mo · Premium $9.99/mo · Ultra from $24.99/mo
Yes, free editor with ads and limited AI credits
Full-featured browser photo editor plus modern AI generation, fill, expand, and removal tools in one interface
Credits are shared across image, video, and audio models, and the premium models spend them several times faster than the fast ones
Bottom line: Pixlr scores 4.2/5, An excellent value for anyone who needs both photo editing and AI generation in the same tool. Upgrade to Premium ($9.99/mo) for 1,000 monthly AI credits, ad-free use, and private mode.
Pricing
Free: Full browser photo editor (Pixlr E, Pixlr X), basic AI tools with limited monthly credits, ads, save limits.
Plus, $2.49/month (or $1.99/month on annual billing): Ad-free, unlimited saves, 1 concurrent AI generation, 80 monthly AI credits (960 credits if you pay yearly). Best for casual users.
Premium, $9.99/month (or $7.99/month on annual billing): Everything in Plus, plus access to all image, video and audio models, 4 concurrent AI generations, 1,000 monthly AI credits (12,000 yearly), private mode for AI generations, and the big library of fonts, templates, elements, and animations. This is the main paid tier for most individuals.
Ultra, from $24.99/month (or from $19.99/month on annual billing): Everything in Premium, plus unlimited fast image generations subject to fair use, 8 concurrent AI generations, 5,000 monthly AI credits, private and mature content, priority generation queue, and extended high-res exports.
Ultra MAX, $49.99/month (or $39.99/month on annual billing): The Ultra tier with the credit allowance doubled to 10,000 per month.
Add-on credits: Users can top off their account with an AI Credit Pack. A 7-day free trial is available for paid plans.
Team plan: The bundled 5-seat Team plan at $16.99/month is no longer shown on pixlr.com/pricing as of August 2026. Seat management remains inside account billing for existing team subscriptions, but new buyers pick from the four per-seat tiers above.
Key Features
- Full-featured browser photo editor (Pixlr E pro-level, Pixlr X beginner)
- AI Image Generator for text-to-image creation
- AI Generative Fill and Generative Expand for Photoshop-style edits
- AI Background Removal, Object Removal, and Magic Eraser
- AI Sticker Maker, AI Backdrop, and AI Up-Scale
- AI Sharpen and AI Denoise for photo enhancement
- PSD import and export for Photoshop interoperability
- Premium fonts, templates, and animation features
- AI video and audio generation and a Pixlr Agent workflow assistant alongside the image tools
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Combines full photo editing and AI generation in a single browser app
- Very affordable, $9.99/month Premium for 1,000 AI credits is strong value
- No install required, runs entirely in the browser with PSD support
- Annual billing knocks Premium to $7.99/month while keeping the full 1,000 credits
Cons
- Monthly 1,000 AI credit cap is lower than dedicated generators
- No bundled team plan any more, so five seats now cost five subscriptions
- Free tier has intrusive ads
FAQ
Is Pixlr free to use?
Yes. Pixlr has a free tier that includes the full browser photo editor (Pixlr E for advanced users, Pixlr X for beginners) with layer support, filters, and basic AI tools. The free tier includes ads and has limits on monthly saves and AI credits. For casual editing and occasional AI generation, the free tier is usable; for ad-free heavy use, upgrade to Premium at $9.99/month.
How much does Pixlr Premium cost?
Pixlr Premium costs $9.99/month, or $7.99/month on annual billing. It includes access to all image, video and audio models, 4 concurrent AI generations, unlimited saves, 1,000 monthly AI credits, private mode for AI generations, and the full library of fonts, templates and animations. The lower-cost Plus tier is $2.49/month ($1.99/month on annual billing) and carries 80 monthly AI credits. Above Premium sit two newer tiers: Ultra from $24.99/month ($19.99/month annual) with 5,000 monthly credits, unlimited fast image generations and a priority queue, and the Ultra MAX option at $49.99/month ($39.99/month annual) which doubles the allowance to 10,000 credits.
What AI features does Pixlr include?
Pixlr includes AI Image Generator (text-to-image), AI Generative Fill, AI Generative Expand, AI Background Removal, AI Object Removal, AI Magic Eraser, AI Sticker Maker, AI Backdrop, AI Up-Scale, AI Sharpen, and AI Denoise. This is one of the broadest AI toolsets in a browser photo editor at this price point, most competitors either focus on AI generation or on photo editing, not both.
Pixlr vs Photoshop, which is better?
Adobe's Photoshop is more powerful and deeper on pro photo editing, but costs significantly more (starting around $22.99/month) and requires installation. Pixlr runs entirely in a browser, costs $9.99/month for Premium, and includes AI generation features that compete well for marketing and content creation work. For professional photo retouching, Photoshop wins; for everyday editing plus AI, Pixlr is a genuine alternative at a fraction of the price.
Does Pixlr support PSD files?
Yes. Pixlr E supports importing and exporting PSD files, including layered Photoshop documents, an important feature for users migrating from Photoshop or collaborating with Photoshop users. Layer structures, blending modes, and most common PSD features are preserved on import. This makes Pixlr one of the easiest browser-based Photoshop alternatives to use with existing project files.
How do Pixlr AI credits work?
Pixlr Premium includes 1,000 AI credits per month, which are consumed per AI action, generating a new image, running generative fill, expanding a canvas, removing a background, upscaling. Credit costs vary by action. The 1,000/month cap is enough for daily creative work but lower than dedicated AI generators, so heavy users can add additional credits through in-app top-ups.
Is Pixlr good for teams?
Less so than it used to be. The bundled 5-seat Team plan at $16.99/month is no longer listed on pixlr.com/pricing as of August 2026; the four public tiers are Plus, Premium, Ultra and Ultra MAX, all sold per seat. Seat management still exists inside account billing, so existing team subscriptions and added seats continue to work, but new small teams now pay per head. Five people on Premium comes to $49.95/month monthly or $39.95/month on annual billing, which is still reasonable for agencies and classrooms but well above the old bundle. Pixlr also runs a separate Pixlr for Education programme for schools.
Does Pixlr have a mobile app?
Yes. Pixlr offers iOS and Android mobile apps alongside the browser versions (Pixlr E and Pixlr X). The mobile apps focus on quick photo edits, filters, and basic AI tools. For heavy work, the browser apps remain the primary experience, but the mobile apps cover on-the-go edits and social content creation adequately. Subscription tiers access premium features across all platforms.
📋 Good to know
Open pixlr.com in any browser, no install needed. Pick Pixlr E for advanced editing or Pixlr X for simple layouts. Sign up to save files and use AI features.
Premium plans include private mode for AI generations, keeping outputs out of any public feed. Free tier AI generations may be less private.
Premium ($9.99/mo, or $7.99/mo annual) for serious users who want all models and 1,000 AI credits. Ultra (from $24.99/mo) once you need 5,000 credits, unlimited fast generations, and a priority queue.
Moderate for Pixlr E (pro-level editor); very low for Pixlr X (simple layouts). Photoshop users will adapt to Pixlr E within an hour.
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