Simple, honest pricing
One-time purchase. Yours to keep. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pay once, use forever.
- ✓ All features, no limitations
- ✓ macOS (Apple Silicon), Windows & Linux
- ✓ Up to 3 machines per license
- ✓ Free updates within the 2026 version
- ✓ Email support
30-day money-back guarantee
Try it for 30 days. If it doesn’t fit your workflow, email us for a full refund — no questions asked.
Secure checkout via Paddle. VAT/sales tax handled automatically.
Built by Ryan, a macro photographer who wanted one app instead of two.
Costs less than the apps it replaces
Lightroom plus Helicon Focus Pro runs about $175 a year, every year. Macro Studio replaces both for your macro workflow — for $59 once.
Lightroom + Helicon Pro
~$175
per year, recurring
Macro Studio
$59
once — launch pricing
Pays for itself in
~4 months
vs. the subscription combo
Estimate based on Lightroom Photography Plan ($120/yr) and Helicon Focus Pro ($55/yr). Check vendors for current pricing.
The output of this program is way better and much cheaper than other commercialized apps on the market. Really worth a try — and it never fails me on my first try.
How it compares to other stackers
Helicon Focus and Zerene Stacker are the two stackers most macro photographers consider. Here’s where Macro Studio fits in.
| Helicon Focus | Zerene Stacker | Macro Studio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus stacking | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automatic alignment | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| DNG export (for Lightroom) | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Unified stacking engine | — | — | ✓ |
| Lightroom-style editing built in | — | — | ✓ |
| AI-assisted subject masks | — | — | ✓ |
| Crop & straighten | — | — | ✓ |
| Built-in watermarks | — | — | ✓ |
| Species identification | — | — | ✓ |
| Auto-drafted social post | — | — | ✓ |
| One product, simple pricing | — | — | ✓ |
| Pricing | $55/yr Pro or $200 lifetime | $89 Personal $189 Prosumer | $59 launch ($99 after) |
Pricing as of May 2026 — check vendor websites for current rates.
It is able to handle macro stacks that Helicon utterly falls apart on … and it does a much better job of handling overlapping elements than Capture One. Kudos!
Pricing FAQ
- Is this a subscription?
- No. Macro Studio 2026 is a one-time purchase. You pay once and use it forever. Future major versions (e.g., Macro Studio 2027) may be released as optional paid upgrades.
- Are updates included?
- Yes. All updates and improvements within the 2026 version are free. Future major versions may be released as optional paid upgrades, with a discounted rate for existing customers.
- Is there a free trial?
- There is no free trial, but we offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. If Macro Studio doesn't meet your needs, contact us within 30 days of purchase for a full refund — no questions asked.
- Can I use it on multiple computers?
- Yes. Each license activates on up to 3 machines (e.g., your desktop and laptop).
- What's your refund policy?
- 30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked. Refunds are processed through Paddle. See our Refund Policy for details.
- Do I have to upgrade to future versions?
- No. The version you buy is yours forever. Future versions are completely optional.