Affinity is Now Free! Canva's Acquisition Challenges Adobe Dominance
Affinity is Now Free! Canva’s Acquisition Challenges Adobe Dominance
Shocking News
October 31, 2024 - Design world earthquake:
Canva acquired Affinity, announcing: core features permanently free.
Three professional apps integrated into one:
- Designer (vs Illustrator)
- Photo (vs Photoshop)
- Publisher (vs InDesign)
Adobe costs $660/year. Now there’s a completely free professional alternative.
But is free really professional? Let’s see reality.
Why Need Alternative?
Adobe’s Subscription Dilemma
- 💰 $660+ annual recurring cost
- 📈 Price increases yearly
- 🔒 Stop paying, lose access
- 🌐 Requires internet verification
Massive creators seeking affordable alternatives.
Canva’s Free Strategy
Free version includes (complete professional features):
- Vector drawing, RAW editing
- Professional retouching, multi-page layout
- CMYK color, offline use
Paid Canva Premium ($120/year, optional):
- Generative AI fill
- One-click smart background removal
- Super resolution upscale
- Team collaboration features
Strategy: Complete free version, AI features paid, attract users to upgrade.
Three Apps Overview
Affinity Designer (Vector Design)
Core Features: Pen tool, vector/raster switching, symbols & styles, multi-format export
vs Illustrator:
- ✅ Modern interface, better performance
- ❌ Missing 3D effects, fewer plugins
Suitable for: Logo, illustration, UI/UX, print design
Test Score: 9/10
Affinity Photo (Image Editing)
Core Features: Layers & masks, RAW processing, retouching tools, HDR merge
vs Photoshop:
- ✅ Excellent performance, RAW free (Lightroom costs extra)
- ❌ Weaker content-aware fill, fewer automation
Suitable for: Photo retouching, digital painting, web design
Test Score: 8/10
Affinity Publisher (Layout Design)
Core Features: Multi-page layout, master pages, style management, print PDF
vs InDesign:
- ✅ Easier learning curve, integrates Designer/Photo
- ❌ Weak data merge, limited scripting
Suitable for: Magazines, books, brochures, posters
Test Score: 7.5/10
Price Comparison
5-Year Cost
| Plan | Total Cost | Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Adobe CC All Apps | $3,299 | - |
| Affinity Free | $0 | $3,299 (100%) |
| Affinity + Canva Premium | $600 | $2,699 (82%) |
Key Points:
- ✅ Core features completely free, no credit card needed
- ✅ Traditional manual editing fully professional
- ⚠️ AI features require payment (but optional)
Who Should Use? Who Shouldn’t?
✅ Suitable For
- Students, self-learners (save $660/year)
- Logo designers, illustrators, photographers
- Subscription-weary users
- Cross-platform workers (Win/Mac/iPad universal)
❌ Not Suitable For
- Professional publishers (need InDesign advanced features)
- Clients requiring Adobe native files
- Heavy reliance on Photoshop Actions/Illustrator 3D
- Need extensive third-party plugins
Learning Curve
Migrating from Adobe:
- Illustrator → Designer: 1-2 weeks (90% similar shortcuts)
- Photoshop → Photo: 1-2 weeks (similar interface logic)
- InDesign → Publisher: 2-4 weeks (slightly different operations)
Complete Beginners: Affinity more friendly, modern clean interface, complete official tutorials.
FAQ
Q: Can open Adobe files?
A: PSD partial support, AI limited support (suggest converting to PDF/SVG), INDD supports IDML.
Q: Is free version really enough? When need paid?
A:
- Free version includes all core features, sufficient for 90% designers
- Paid version suits heavy AI reliance (generative fill, smart removal) or team collaboration needs
Q: Can I still use previously purchased Affinity V1/V2?
A:
- ✅ Still usable, won’t be forced to upgrade
- ⚠️ Official hasn’t committed to continued updates
- Recommend new users use free version directly
Q: Can use for commercial projects?
A: Absolutely, no license restrictions.
Personal Opinion
Affinity isn’t “cheap substitute”, it’s “professional tool democratization”.
90% designers only use 40% of software features. Affinity covers this 40% and does it well.
Advice for different users:
- Students/Beginners: Use free version directly, invest saved money in learning
- Freelancers: Depends on client needs, or keep both
- Professional Designers: At least as backup, no license worries when needed
Tools serve creativity, not limit it. Good design comes from your mind, not software.
Conclusion
Canva + Affinity proves: professional software can be free and complete.
Final Recommendations:
- ✅ Everyone should download (free, complete, no risk)
- ✅ Students/beginners must-have (save $660+/year)
- ✅ Professional designers as backup
- 💰 Need AI features, consider Canva Premium ($120/year vs Adobe $660/year)
In subscription-dominated era, free isn’t obsolete—it’s the future.
Resources:
Tags: #Affinity #DesignSoftware #AdobeAlternative #FreeTools #IndustryAnalysis #Canva