The iPhone maker’s new software bundle combines Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, and Pixelmator Pro for a fraction of Creative Cloud’s price.
Apple has finally connected the dots on its disparate professional software ecosystem. In a direct shot across the bow of Adobe’s dominance, the company announced Apple Creator Studio today.
This is a comprehensive subscription bundle that aggregates its heavy-hitting creative apps, Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, and the newly-acquired Pixelmator Pro, into a single $12.99 monthly plan.
The new bundle, available from Wednesday, January 28, not only unifies the software but introduces multiple AI-driven ‘intelligent features’.
"Apple Creator Studio is a great value that enables creators of all types to pursue their craft and grow their skills by providing easy access to the most powerful and intuitive tools," said Eddy Cue, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Internet Software and Services.
The Bundle Breakdown
The value proposition here is aggressive. For $12.99 per month (or $129 annually), subscribers gain access to:
- Final Cut Pro (Mac & iPad)
- Logic Pro (Mac & iPad)
- Pixelmator Pro (Mac & iPad)
- Motion, Compressor, and MainStage (Mac only)
To put that number in perspective: Adobe’s "All Apps" plan currently runs upwards of $60 per month. Apple is offering its entire pro video, audio, and image stack for roughly the price of a Netflix standard plan.
The deal is even better for the education sector. Students and educators can grab the entire suite for an affordable price of $2.99 per month ($29.99/year). It’s a clear play to hook the next generation of creators before they ever open Premiere Pro.
The headline hardware news buried in the software announcement is the arrival of Pixelmator Pro on iPad. Since Apple acquired the popular image editor in late 2024, users have been waiting for a tablet-optimized version.
It’s finally here, and it’s not a port, it’s a rebuild. The iPad version features full Apple Pencil support and a new touch-centric interface. It also introduces a "Warp" tool for fluidly reshaping image layers, a feature mobile designers have been clamoring for.
Here is where the water gets murky for purists. Apple confirmed that while standalone one-time purchases for Final Cut Pro ($299) and Logic Pro ($199) will remain on the Mac App Store, they won't get everything.
The AI Paywall?
The subscription tier unlocks exclusive "intelligent features" and premium content that the perpetual licenses may miss or receive later.
- Final Cut Pro gets "Transcript Search" (jump to video moments by typing dialogue) and "Visual Search" (find objects like "red car" instantly).
- Logic Pro adds an AI "Synth Player" and "Chord ID," which transcribes chords from raw audio recordings in real-time.
- Motion receives a "Magnetic Mask" feature, allowing users to isolate subjects without a green screen, a direct challenge to After Effects' Roto Brush.
Productivity Boosts
The bundle doesn’t stop at the ‘Pro’ apps. Apple is retrofitting its standard productivity suite, Keynote, Pages, and Numbers, with premium assets for subscribers. This includes royalty-free photos, advanced templates, and layout suggestions powered by on-device intelligence. Freeform, Apple's infinite whiteboard app, will also see premium tier updates later this year.
The Bottom Line
If you are already paying $4.99/month for Final Cut on iPad and another $4.99 for Logic, the jump to $12.99 for the entire Mac/iPad ecosystem is a no-brainer. Apple is no longer just selling the hardware to make things; they want to rent you the studio, too.
