At a Glance
- Apple Creator Studio bundles image, video, and music editing apps for $13 a month or $130 a year.
- Students can pay $3 a month or $30 a year, comparable to a few coffee purchases.
- The bundle adds AI-powered features to Keynote, Pages, and Numbers.
- Why it matters: It offers a lower-cost alternative to Adobe Creative Cloud, with cross-device access and new AI tools.
Apple’s new $13-month or $130-year Creator Studio bundle combines its image editing, video editing, and music editing software into one package and adds a few freemium takes on classic apps. The bundle also introduces AI features to Keynote, Pages, and Numbers.
Overview
Apple Creator Studio is positioned as a multidisciplinary toolkit for creators who want to edit photos, videos, and music on both Mac and iPad. The bundle includes Pixelmator Pro, Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, and the legacy versions of Keynote, Pages, and Numbers. It also offers AI-enhanced content generation and a library of royalty-free images.
Pricing & Value
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| Creator Studio | $13 | $130 |
| Student | $3 | $30 |
| Adobe Creative Cloud | $70 | – |
The price is $13 a month, or $130 a year. Students can pay $3 a month or $30 a year, which is roughly the cost of three Starbucks coffees and a snack. For comparison, Adobe Creative Cloud costs $70 a month.
Apple also offers one-time purchases for legacy apps:
- Final Cut Pro – $300
- Logic Pro – $200
- Pixelmator Pro – $50
- Photomator – $120 or a $34-per-year subscription
The bundle is an all-or-nothing subscription; you cannot subscribe to a single app.
App Details
Pixelmator Pro
Pixelmator Pro is available on both Mac and iPad. On the iPad it supports Apple Pencil input and a smaller-screen UI. The app includes:
- A Liquid Glass look
- Photoshop-like transform and warp tools
- Templates for posters, resumes, and other layouts
- Super-resolution 3× upscaling
Users can switch projects between Mac and iPad via iCloud.
Final Cut Pro & Logic Pro
Final Cut Pro adds transcript search and visual search using on-device AI. Logic Pro offers beat detection, auto-snapping clips to the beat, and a beat grid along the timeline.
Keynote, Pages, Numbers
The bundle upgrades these apps with premium AI features, a library of custom themes and templates, and AI-generated content or images.
AI Features
Apple’s AI integration relies on OpenAI’s models, despite a prior deal with Google’s Gemini. Key features include:
- AI-generated slides and content in Keynote
- AI-generated images in Keynote and Pages
- Magic Fill in Numbers that flags missing cell data
- Pixelmator Pro’s 3× super-resolution
The AI-generated images show typical generation artifacts, such as missing fingers or plastic-looking skin. The Content Hub provides royalty-free images, graphics, and backgrounds, though it cannot replace a Getty or Shutterstock subscription.
Comparison to Adobe
Apple Creator Studio costs $13 a month, while Adobe Creative Cloud costs $70 a month. The bundle lacks some Adobe-specific features:
- No InDesign-like layout tools
- No Lightroom mass-exporting of RAW photos
- No Firefly AI-centric image generation
However, Apple offers cross-device sync, a lower price point, and AI features that can reduce the need for external tools.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Affordable multi-app subscription
- Pixelmator Pro works well on iPad
- AI features across document apps
- Cross-device access via iCloud
Cons
- Legacy apps become freemium
- Missing Lightroom and InDesign features
- AI features can produce incomplete or inaccurate content
- No option to subscribe to a single app
Key Takeaways
Apple’s Creator Studio presents a compelling, budget-friendly alternative to Adobe’s subscription-only model. While it lacks certain advanced features, its integration of AI tools and cross-device workflow make it attractive for students and hobbyists. For professionals who rely on specialized Adobe workflows, the bundle may still fall short.
Sources told News Of Austin that the bundle launched on Jan. 28.
Categories
Tech News, Business News
