Pixelmator

Pixelmator earns a number of recommendations for those who want inexpensive photo-editing software to use on their Mac. Reviewers say the interface fits in well with the Mac aesthetic, and the photo-editing tools are intuitive and easy to use. The software's creators also include a good number of tutorials to assist beginners. The latest version, Pixelmator 2.0, includes a variety of new editing features, such as burn and dodge tools, a pixel brush and red-eye reduction. The software is integrated with Facebook, Flickr and iPhoto, which makes sharing easy. Unlike most photo-editing software, Pixelmator doesn't include any organizational features for browsing, culling or sorting through image libraries.

While you can certainly accomplish some impressive editing tricks, experts say Pixelmator doesn't offer the power or robustness of other photo-editing software. Overall, reviewers say Adobe Photoshop CS6 (*Est. $700) and Adobe Lightroom 4 (*Est. $150) are the way to go for serious photographers, and Adobe Photoshop Elements 10 (*Est. $100) is deemed the best choice for those on a budget. Pixelmator, however, is worth a look if you don't have much to spend.

PCMag.com and Britain's PC Pro both evaluate Pixelmator in balanced reviews. Both sources are quick to point out pros and cons, and an overall rating helps sum up the reviewer's opinion. ArsTechnica.com has a more detailed review, although it doesn't assign a rating.