Affinity Photo review

Affinity is now presented as a free creative app that combines photo editing, vector design and page layout. That makes it broader than a Photoshop substitute: the homepage says you can edit photos, create illustrations and logos, and lay out pages in the same app. It also says imports can preserve layers and structure across formats including PSD, AI, IDML and DWG.

The pricing notes distinguish the free unified app from Affinity Photo 2. The unified app is listed as free for individuals with a Canva account on supported platforms. Affinity Photo 2 remains listed as a one-time purchase: $69.99 for macOS or Windows, or $18.49 for iPad through Affinity (the App Store listing is $19.99). The notes also list 30-day trials for those options. These are different routes, so check which app and license you are considering before comparing costs with a subscription.

The main appeal is having photo, vector and page-layout work together rather than paying for or switching between separate apps. Affinity’s homepage describes the unified app as suitable for professional design and photo editing, and the pricing notes list individual use across supported platforms. For people who move between image editing, illustrations and page layouts, that breadth could make it a practical alternative to a single-purpose editor.

File import is another useful selling point. Affinity says it supports PSD, AI, IDML, DWG and other formats, with layers and structure preserved. That gives Adobe users a stated path for bringing existing projects over, though it is not a guarantee that every file will transfer perfectly.

The published feature list also includes non-destructive editing: edits can be adjusted, reordered or removed without changing the original file. That supports experimentation without baking changes into the source. Optional AI tools are available with Canva Premium; the pricing notes list Canva Pro at $18 per month or $120 per year. The core app being listed as free makes it possible to consider the creative tools without that AI add-on.

The biggest reason for caution is not a stated feature cap; it is uncertainty around the product’s direction and the Canva account relationship. The free unified app is listed as requiring a Canva account, while AI tools require Canva Pro. If you want the older Affinity Photo 2 instead, it is a separate one-time purchase, and the iPad license is tied to a personal Apple ID. Shared commercial machines also require one license per machine. Those are meaningful boundaries for teams and people choosing between versions.

The published pricing notes do not specify every supported platform for the free app or spell out what happens to existing Photo 2 purchases as the unified app evolves. One Reddit thread about Canva’s acquisition includes users worried about the future of the apps and complaints about moving community support to Discord. Those are user concerns, not proof that Photo 2 no longer works or that support has ended. Still, buyers who depend on long-term compatibility or searchable public help should factor in that uncertainty before switching.

According to the pricing notes, the current unified Affinity app is free for individuals with a Canva account on supported platforms. That is different from the separately listed Affinity Photo 2 licenses: macOS and Windows each cost $69.99 one time, while the iPad version costs $18.49 one time or $19.99 through the App Store. The $164.99 one-time V2 Universal Licence includes Photo 2, Designer 2, and Publisher 2 for one individual across macOS, Windows, and iPadOS. So the price jump is from a free unified app to paid V2 software, or to the all-apps license—not a monthly subscription tier. The pricing notes list a 30-day trial for the paid options and no monthly or annual billing for Affinity itself. Canva AI tools are an extra cost: Canva Pro is listed at $18 per month or $120 per year. Shared commercial machines also need a separate license per machine for the desktop V2 versions.

Affinity says it can import PSD, AI, IDML, and DWG files with layers and structure preserved, which may reduce the work of bringing existing projects in. Import support is not a promise of perfect conversion or round-trip compatibility, though. Before moving a production workflow, check the files and handoffs your team relies on; the published material does not specify export behavior. Keep originals until you have confirmed that key projects still work as expected. The free unified app requires a Canva account, and Canva AI tools require a paid Canva Pro plan, so those dependencies may matter if you leave Canva or want AI features. Canva ownership and community changes are reasons our verdict gives cautious buyers pause. We don’t have Reddit posts or comments in the published material, so we can’t substantiate a specific Reddit-reported reason people leave. For teams needing SSO, the pricing notes direct buyers to Canva Enterprise or Education.