Apple has recently quietly adjusted its iWork product line on the macOS platform, officially removing the old versions of Pages, Keynote and Numbers from the Mac App Store, leaving only new versions of applications that support Apple Creator Studio. This change seems simple, but behind it involves Apple’s complex strategies on different platforms after launching the Creator Studio suite this year.
Apple removes legacy Pages, Keynote and Numbers apps from macOS
Earlier this year, Apple Creator Studio debuted with a collection of professional-grade apps for creators. Subscribers gain access to tools such as Final Cut Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Logic Pro, and more, while also unlocking exclusive Creator Studio features in Pages, Keynote, and Numbers. For creators who need to process audio, video, images and files, this combination provides a fairly complete workflow.
On iPhone and iPad, Apple chooses to push Creator Studio features by “updating existing App Store versions.” In other words, the mobile version of iWork still maintains a single version, and only determines whether the function is unlocked based on whether the user subscribes to Creator Studio. This approach is simple and intuitive, and is also in line with the consistent App Store management method of mobile platforms.
On the Mac, however, Apple’s strategy is much more confusing. After the launch of Creator Studio, Apple did not directly update the original macOS versions of Pages, Keynote and Numbers. Instead, it launched an additional set of “new iWork applications” and placed Creator Studio functions in these new versions. The result is: There are two sets of iWork in the Mac App Store at the same time, one is an old version and is completely free; the other is a new version that supports Creator Studio. For ordinary users, this coexistence of dual versions is not only difficult to distinguish, but also makes people confused about their product strategy.
Now, this embarrassing situation has finally come to an end. According to observations by Aaron Perris, Apple has officially removed the old versions of Pages, Keynote, and Numbers from the Mac App Store. Starting today, new users will only see a set of iWork apps in the App Store, namely the versions that support Creator Studio. This brings the entire product line back to the clarity of a single version.
It’s worth noting that the old version of iWork has not completely disappeared. If you have downloaded old versions of Pages, Keynote, or Numbers, they will still appear in your purchase history and can be re-downloaded at any time. This still leaves a fallback path for users who don’t want to face Creator Studio recommendation messages, or who prefer the older interface.
Apple has removed the non Creator Studio version of Pages, Keynote, and Numbers for macOS
RIP 🪦 pic.twitter.com/1URqd6kHzk
— Aaron (@aaronp613) April 13, 2026
As for the question that ordinary users are most concerned about: Is iWork still free? The answer is yes. Even if Creator Studio introduces a subscription model, Pages, Keynote, and Numbers can still be downloaded and used for free on Mac, and most core functions do not require subscription at all. In other words, iWork is still one of the most accessible and fully functional free productivity tools on macOS.
However, the free version is not without limitations. The new version of iWork will appropriately prompt Creator Studio subscription content in the interface and lock some advanced features behind a paywall. This “freemium” model is not new to Apple and is in line with the subscription strategies of Final Cut Pro for iPad and Logic Pro for iPad. For users who only need basic word processing, these restrictions have little impact; but for creators who need the integration of Creator Studio, a subscription becomes a necessary option.
Overall, Apple’s removal of the old version of iWork this time symbolizes the official integration of the Creator Studio strategy on macOS. Although the early coexistence of dual versions did cause confusion, as the old version is removed and the product line is unified, the future update rhythm and function positioning should be clearer. For users, iWork remains free and easy to use, while Creator Studio provides additional professional-level extensions, and the boundaries between the two are clearer than in the past.
Source: KOCPC Chinese