Affinity by Canva has been rebranded
Details below reflect the latest verified information, but branding and ownership have changed.
About Affinity by Canva
Affinity by Canva unifies the former Designer, Photo, and Publisher apps into one application that is now completely free. Originally sold by Serif as a one-time-purchase alternative to Adobe's subscriptions, Affinity was acquired by Canva in 2024, and in October 2025 the standalone $69.99 apps were discontinued in favor of a single free, unified Affinity app spanning vector, raster, and layout work. The vector tools remain comparable to Illustrator for most design work, and switching between vector and raster modes in one app is genuinely useful for logo work. Available on Mac, Windows, and iPad. Compare to Illustrator (subscription, more powerful for complex work), Canva (simpler, browser-based). Best for: designers who want professional Illustrator-level vector tools without any subscription or purchase cost.
What's Great
- ✓Completely free — no subscription or one-time purchase
- ✓Professional-grade vector tools comparable to Illustrator
- ✓Vector, raster, and layout modes unified in one app
- ✓Available on Mac, Windows, and iPad
Watch Out For
- !Less powerful than Illustrator for complex path operations
- !Smaller plugin ecosystem
- !Industry standard is Illustrator — file compatibility considerations
Common Use Cases
A freelance designer saves $600/year by switching from Illustrator to Affinity Designer
An iPad-based illustrator creates vector artwork using Affinity Designer's touch interface
Pricing Model
Free
From Free. 100% free to use — no credit card required.
Category
Graphic Design
Visual design tools for branding, marketing materials, and digital artwork.
Tags
Affinity by Canva Alternatives
See all →Canva
The most popular graphic design platform — templates for everything, no skills required
Adobe Illustrator
Industry standard vector graphics editor for logos, icons, and print design
Adobe Photoshop
The world's most powerful photo editing and digital art software
Procreate
Best-in-class digital illustration for iPad with Apple Pencil support