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Side-by-side comparison · Image, Logo & Design

Affinity vs Namelix vs Pomelli

Everything that matters when choosing between them, in one place: our rating, what each can do, what they cost, and the trade-offs.

Affinity

4.4

From Your Canva subscription

Namelix

4.4

Free to start

Pomelli

4.1

Free to start

Comparing 3 tools, the maximum.

At a glance

Pick it if: Designers, photographers and confident DIYers who want professional design software without an Adobe subscription.

Easiest to use

Pick it if: Founders and small business owners brainstorming a business, product or brand name.

Pick it if: Small business owners who need regular on-brand social posts and ads but don't have a designer or much time.

Overview

AttributeAffinityNamelixPomelli
In one lineFree pro design app for photo editing, illustration and layout, with optional Canva AI.Free AI business name generator that suggests short, brandable names with a domain check.Free Google tool that reads your website and makes on-brand marketing images and posts.
Pricing modelFreeFreeFree
Starting priceYour Canva subscriptionFreeFree
Free plan Yes Yes Yes
Works with Claude Code No No No

Rating breakdown

Our scores out of 5. The higher bar in each row is highlighted.

AttributeAffinityNamelixPomelli
Overall rating4.44.44.1
Ease of useHow quickly someone non-technical gets value from it.
3.0
5.0
4.5
FeaturesHow completely it covers its own job, and how well the pieces fit together.
5.0
3.5
3.5
Output qualityHow good the results are before you fix them.
4.5
3.5
3.5
Value for moneyWhat you get for the price, including the free plan.
5.0
5.0
5.0
Speed & reliabilityHow fast it is and how often it falls over.
4.5
5.0
4.0

Feature comparison

A tick means it does this today. A dash means we haven't checked.

AttributeAffinityNamelixPomelli
Access & platform
Free plan Yes Yes Yes
Mobile app Yes No No
Desktop app Yes– No
Browser extension No– No
API access No No No
Teams & business
Team workspace No– No
Enterprise plan or SSO Yes– No
Connects to other apps Yes– No
Open source or self-hosted No No No
AI abilities
Works with your files Yes– Yes
Understands images–– Yes
Makes images Yes No Yes
Makes video No No Yes
Writes code No No No
Runs agents or automations No– No
Learns your brand or style No– Yes
Works in many languages Yes––
Capabilities score8/ 171/ 176/ 17

Pricing

Plans as listed on each vendor's site when we last checked. Confirm before you buy.

AttributeAffinityNamelixPomelli
Plans

FreeOur pick

Free

Individuals, for personal or business use.

FreeOur pick

Free

Anyone brainstorming a name.

FreeOur pick

Free

Every small business. There's no paid plan.

With Canva Pro

Your Canva subscription

People who already pay for Canva.

Canva Enterprise

Custom

Organisations rolling it out to a team.

Which plan to pickDownload it free. Only connect a paid Canva plan if you want the AI tools inside Affinity, or if you already pay for Canva anyway.There's nothing to buy for the names themselves. If you want a logo for the name you pick, Brandmark sells one-off logo packages from $35, but you can take the name anywhere.There's only the free version. Sign in with a Google account, paste your website, and check the Business DNA it builds before you make anything.

Key features

AttributeAffinityNamelixPomelli
Standout features
  • Photo editing
  • Vector design
  • Page layout
  • One app for all three
  • Canva AI
  • Mac, Windows and iPad
  • Name styles
  • Learns your taste
  • Domain filter
  • Logo previews
  • Business DNA
  • Campaign ideas
  • Photoshoot
  • Animate
  • Product catalogue
  • Easy edits

Pros and cons

AttributeAffinityNamelixPomelli
Pros
  • Professional design software for free
  • Photo, vector and layout in one app
  • Runs on Mac, Windows and iPad
  • Opens and exports Adobe and PDF files
  • No subscription for the core app
  • Completely free with no sign-up needed
  • Brandable names rather than keyword mash-ups
  • Gets better as you save favourites
  • Domain filter saves time
  • Completely free
  • Learns your brand from your website in minutes
  • Product photoshoot uses Google's Nano Banana
  • Very easy for non-designers
  • Animate turns posts into short videos
Cons
  • Steep learning curve compared with Canva
  • AI tools need a paid Canva plan
  • Complex Adobe files don't always open perfectly
  • Many names are generic or already used by other businesses
  • No trademark or business register check
  • Domain checks send you off to a registrar
  • Logo previews are basic and steer you towards paid Brandmark logos
  • A Google Labs experiment that could change or close
  • Designs are simpler than Canva or Lovart
  • No scheduling or posting
  • Needs a decent website to learn your brand from

Who each one is for

AttributeAffinityNamelixPomelli
Best for
  • Replacing Adobe apps without the subscription
  • Logos and vector illustrations
  • Print layouts like brochures and menus
  • Detailed photo editing
  • Brainstorming a business name
  • Product and app names
  • Finding names with an available domain
  • Rebrand shortlists
  • On-brand social posts without a designer
  • Studio-style product photos from a phone shot
  • Campaign ideas for a sale or launch
  • Turning posts into short animated clips
You'll find it used by
  • Designers
  • Photographers
  • Illustrators
  • Small businesses
  • Students
  • Founders
  • Small business owners
  • Product managers
  • Agencies
  • Side-project builders
  • Small businesses
  • Online stores
  • Cafes and restaurants
  • Solo founders

Questions people ask

Which is better, Affinity, Namelix or Pomelli?

They tie on our overall rating (Affinity 4.4/5, Namelix 4.4/5 and Pomelli 4.1/5). Affinity is best for Replacing Adobe apps without the subscription and logos and vector illustrations. Namelix is best for brainstorming a business name and product and app names. Pomelli is best for on-brand social posts without a designer and studio-style product photos from a phone shot.

Which is cheaper, Affinity, Namelix or Pomelli?

Affinity: There's a free plan, and paid plans start at Your Canva subscription. Namelix: It's free to use. Pomelli: It's free to use.

Which is easier to use, Affinity, Namelix or Pomelli?

Namelix rates highest for ease of use in our scores. Founders and small business owners brainstorming a business, product or brand name.

How we compare

Ratings are our own, from using each tool, across ease of use, features, output quality, value for money, speed & reliability.

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