Make social posts, decks and flyers from templates, with AI that writes and edits for you.
Image, Logo & Design
Affinity
Free pro design app for photo editing, illustration and layout, with optional Canva AI.
4.4our rating
FreeFrom Your Canva subscription
Quick take
- Free professional design software from Canva, covering photo editing, vector design and page layout in one app.
- A real alternative to Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, on Mac, Windows and iPad.
- Canva's AI tools work inside it, but only with a paid Canva plan.
- Much harder to learn than Canva. It's built for people doing proper design work.
What is Affinity?
Affinity is a professional design app, now owned by Canva and free for individuals. One app covers three jobs that Adobe splits across Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign: photo editing, vector design for logos and illustrations, and page layout for brochures, menus and books. It runs on Mac, Windows and iPad.
It's a real pro tool, used by designers and photographers, and it opens and exports common formats including PSD and PDF. If you also pay for Canva, you can switch on Canva's AI tools inside Affinity for things like removing backgrounds and generating images.
The catch: it's built for people who know, or want to learn, proper design software, so it's far harder than Canva. The AI tools aren't free, and Adobe files with complex effects don't always open perfectly.
Who's using it, and who it's for
- Designers
- Photographers
- Illustrators
- Small businesses
- Students
Designers, photographers and confident DIYers who want professional design software without an Adobe subscription.
Key features
Photo editing
Layers, masks, retouching and RAW editing for detailed photo work.
Vector design
Draw logos, icons and illustrations that scale to any size.
Page layout
Build brochures, menus, magazines and books ready for print.
One app for all three
Switch between photo, vector and layout tools in the same file.
Canva AI
Turn on Canva's AI tools inside Affinity if you have a paid Canva plan.
Mac, Windows and iPad
Runs natively on all three, with touch and Apple Pencil support on iPad.
How we rate it
4.4 / 5
Our rating
From using the tool ourselves. The average of the five scores.
- Ease of use
- 3.0
- Features
- 5.0
- Output quality
- 4.5
- Value for money
- 5.0
- Speed & reliability
- 4.5
How quickly someone non-technical gets value from it.
How completely it covers its own job, and how well the pieces fit together.
How good the results are before you fix them.
What you get for the price, including the free plan.
How fast it is and how often it falls over.
Affinity pricing
- Our pick
Free
Free
Individuals, for personal or business use.
- The full app on Mac, Windows and iPad
- Photo, vector and layout tools
- No AI tools
With Canva Pro
Your Canva subscription
People who already pay for Canva.
- Canva AI tools inside Affinity
- Everything in Free
Canva Enterprise
Custom
Organisations rolling it out to a team.
- Single sign-on
- Central admin
Which plan should you pick?
Download it free. Only connect a paid Canva plan if you want the AI tools inside Affinity, or if you already pay for Canva anyway.
Prices in USD unless noted, checked 3 November 2026. Vendors change plans often, so confirm on their site before you buy.
Best use cases
Ways Affinity can slot into your week.
- 1
Design a logo properly
Draw your logo as a vector so it stays sharp on a business card or a billboard.
- 2
Lay out a menu or brochure
Set up a multi-page print file with your fonts and colours, ready for the printer.
- 3
Retouch product photos
Clean up and colour-correct product shots in more detail than a phone app allows.
- 4
Drop your Adobe subscription
Move your design work across and stop paying for Photoshop and Illustrator.
How it fits your tech stack
Use Affinity for the detailed design and print work, and Canva for quick social posts and templates. It opens PSD files, so it fits alongside designers who still use Adobe.
Connects to
Pros and cons
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
Cons
- Steep learning curve compared with Canva
- AI tools need a paid Canva plan
- Complex Adobe files don't always open perfectly
Affinity alternatives
The closest alternatives to Affinity in the library, best rated first.
Nano Banana
4.6
Best for editing photos by describing the change
Compare with AffinityCanva
4.5
Best for social media posts and stories
Compare with Affinity
Namelix
4.4
Best for brainstorming a business name
Compare with AffinityBest for staging empty rooms for sale listings
Compare with Affinity
Why it made the list
It's the best free replacement for Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, and Canva made it free in 2025.
Affinity FAQ
How much does Affinity cost?
There's a free plan, and paid plans start at Your Canva subscription. Prices checked 3 November 2026 against Affinity's pricing page.
Is Affinity free?
Yes, Affinity has a free option. Download it free. Only connect a paid Canva plan if you want the AI tools inside Affinity, or if you already pay for Canva anyway.
What is Affinity best for?
Affinity is best for Replacing Adobe apps without the subscription, logos and vector illustrations and print layouts like brochures and menus. Designers, photographers and confident DIYers who want professional design software without an Adobe subscription.
What are the best Affinity alternatives?
The closest alternatives are Nano Banana, Canva, Namelix and Virtual Staging AI. Nano Banana is best for editing photos by describing the change.
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