Phone-first photo and video editor with stickers, templates and dozens of AI models.
Image, Logo & Design
Pixlr
Browser photo editor with AI tools for removing backgrounds, filling and making images.
4.0our rating
FreemiumFrom $2.49/mo
Quick take
- A browser photo editor with a quick mode (Express) and a Photoshop-style mode (Editor).
- AI tools remove backgrounds and objects, extend and fill images, upscale, and generate images and short videos.
- Free to use without an account, but with ads and limits on saves and AI.
- Plus is $2.49/mo and Premium $9.99/mo, about 20% less yearly. Premium is the plan with real AI credits.
- Fine for social and web images. Detailed retouching is better in Photoshop.
What is Pixlr?
Pixlr is a photo editor that runs in your browser, with apps for phone and desktop too. Pixlr Express is the quick one for crops, filters, collages and one-click fixes. Pixlr Editor is closer to Photoshop, with layers, masks and detailed tools. You can open it and start editing without an account.
Its AI tools cover the common jobs: remove a background or an object, extend an image beyond its edges, fill a selected area with something new, upscale, sharpen, colourise old photos, and generate images, short videos and audio from a prompt. Pixlr Agent lets you describe an edit in your own words.
The catch: the free version shows ads and limits saves and AI use. AI quality is fine for social posts but behind Photoshop and Canva for detailed work. Paid credits reset each month, and there are no refunds once you've paid.
Who's using it, and who it's for
- Small businesses
- Creators
- Students
- Online sellers
Small business owners, creators and students who want a cheap, quick photo editor without installing Photoshop.
Key features
Two editors
Express for quick fixes and collages, Editor for layers, masks and detailed work.
Background and object remover
Cut out a product or remove something unwanted in one click.
Generative fill and extend
Fill a selection with something new or stretch an image beyond its edges.
AI generators
Make images, short videos and audio from a prompt.
Pixlr Agent
Describe an edit in your own words and let the AI do it.
Web, phone and desktop
One subscription covers the browser, mobile and desktop apps.
How we rate it
4.0 / 5
Our rating
From using the tool ourselves. The average of the five scores.
- Ease of use
- 4.0
- Features
- 4.0
- Output quality
- 3.5
- Value for money
- 4.5
- Speed & reliability
- 4.0
How quickly someone non-technical gets value from it.
How completely it covers its own job, and how well the pieces fit together.
How good the results are before you fix them.
What you get for the price, including the free plan.
How fast it is and how often it falls over.
Pixlr pricing
Free
Free
Occasional quick edits.
- Ads in the editor
- Limited saves and AI use
Plus
$2.49/mo, or $1.99/mo billed yearly
Ad-free basic editing.
- No ads and unlimited saves
- 80 AI credits a month
- 1 AI job at a time
- Our pick
Premium
$9.99/mo, or $7.99/mo billed yearly
Small businesses using AI tools weekly.
- 1,000 AI credits a month
- All image, video and audio models
- Templates, fonts and elements library
- Private AI generations
Ultra
From $24.99/mo, or $19.99/mo billed yearly
Heavy AI users.
- Up to 10,000 AI credits a month
- Unlimited fast image generations, fair use
- Priority queue and high-res exports
Which plan should you pick?
Use it free for simple edits. If the ads annoy you, Plus is cheap. Premium is the one to get if you'll use the AI tools every week. Ultra Max doubles Ultra's credits for $49.99/mo.
Prices in USD unless noted, checked 3 November 2026. Vendors change plans often, so confirm on their site before you buy.
Best use cases
Ways Pixlr can slot into your week.
- 1
Clean product photos
Remove the background from product shots and drop them onto white or a styled backdrop.
- 2
Fix a photo fast
Remove a person or sign from the background of a shot before posting it.
- 3
Resize for every platform
Extend an image to fit a story, banner or ad without cropping your subject.
- 4
Quick social graphics
Make a collage or simple post from a template in a few minutes.
How it fits your tech stack
Use it for quick photo fixes, then lay out posts in Canva or post straight to socials. It's a cheap stand-in for Photoshop when you don't need the full Adobe suite.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Works in the browser with no install or account
- Very cheap paid plans
- Covers the common AI edits in one place
- One subscription across web, phone and desktop
Cons
- Free version has ads and limits
- AI quality is behind Photoshop for detailed work
- Subscription credits reset each month
- No refunds once a payment goes through
Pixlr alternatives
The closest alternatives to Pixlr in the library, best rated first.
Nano Banana
4.6
Best for editing photos by describing the change
Compare with Pixlr
Canva
4.5
Best for social media posts and stories
Compare with Pixlr
Affinity
4.4
Best for Replacing Adobe apps without the subscription
Compare with Pixlr
Namelix
4.4
Best for brainstorming a business name
Compare with Pixlr
Why it made the list
It's one of the most-used free online photo editors, and its paid plans are among the cheapest ways to get AI editing.
Pixlr FAQ
How much does Pixlr cost?
There's a free plan, and paid plans start at $2.49/mo. Prices checked 3 November 2026 against Pixlr's pricing page.
Is Pixlr free?
Yes, Pixlr has a free option. Use it free for simple edits. If the ads annoy you, Plus is cheap. Premium is the one to get if you'll use the AI tools every week. Ultra Max doubles Ultra's credits for $49.99/mo.
What is Pixlr best for?
Pixlr is best for quick photo edits in the browser, removing backgrounds and objects and A cheap alternative to Photoshop. Small business owners, creators and students who want a cheap, quick photo editor without installing Photoshop.
What are the best Pixlr alternatives?
The closest alternatives are Nano Banana, Canva, Affinity and Namelix. Nano Banana is best for editing photos by describing the change.
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