Apple’s new Creator Studio subscription bundle, which bundles pro apps like Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro, brought Pixelmator Pro to the iPad and introduced the Liquid Glass design aesthetic on Mac. Owners who purchased Pixelmator Pro outright were promised continued updates, though exclusive features were expected to be absent.

That promise now has a distinct exception: the Liquid Glass interface remains locked away from perpetual license holders. While recent updates brought new camera support and iPhone 17 mockup templates to both versions, the standalone app received version 3.8, while the subscription version is already at 4.2.

Functionally, the two versions are nearly identical save for this major visual divergence. For users who invested in the perpetual license and preferred the previous UI, this decision by Pixelmator Pro developers confirms they will not receive the visual overhaul. This splits the user base based purely on purchasing method.

This exclusivity is a clear tactic to encourage adoption of the Creator Studio subscription, positioning the latest visual features as rewards for ongoing monthly payments. Consumers who prefer owning software outright are now clearly receiving a visually deprecated version compared to their subscription counterparts.