Affinity vs Adobe

Here’s why millions of creatives are choosing Affinity for their pro design and photo editing work.

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Bar? Raised.

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1/5

Vector, pixel, and layout in one app

Expertly craft designs, edit your images, then lay it all out — without ever leaving your document.

Two editorial layouts in Affinity, with the Layout studio selected in the studio switcher.
Two editorial layouts in Affinity, with the Layout studio selected in the studio switcher.

1/5

Vector, pixel, and layout in one app

Expertly craft designs, edit your images, then lay it all out — without ever leaving your document.

Two editorial layouts in Affinity, with the Layout studio selected in the studio switcher.
Two editorial layouts in Affinity, with the Layout studio selected in the studio switcher.

2/5

Non-destructive by default

Experiment as much as you want without worrying thanks to non-destructive editing that keeps your original files intact.

Portrait with a blue and orange glitch effect in Affinity, alongside a Layers panel showing non-destructive adjustments and effects.
Portrait with a blue and orange glitch effect in Affinity, alongside a Layers panel showing non-destructive adjustments and effects.

2/5

Non-destructive by default

Experiment as much as you want without worrying thanks to non-destructive editing that keeps your original files intact.

Portrait with a blue and orange glitch effect in Affinity, alongside a Layers panel showing non-destructive adjustments and effects.
Portrait with a blue and orange glitch effect in Affinity, alongside a Layers panel showing non-destructive adjustments and effects.

3/5

A platform that keeps up with you

Instant previews, mind-blowing zoom, pen point precision... Affinity is built for busy creatives.

3/5

A platform that keeps up with you

Instant previews, mind-blowing zoom, pen point precision... Affinity is built for busy creatives.

4/5

Bring your files with you

From PSD, AI, INDD, PDF, SVG, TIFF, and more, it’s easy to open and edit other file types in Affinity.

Overlapping, tilted images on a black background, including a portrait, abstract textures, typography, and a graphic reading “Creative Freedom.”
Overlapping, tilted images on a black background, including a portrait, abstract textures, typography, and a graphic reading “Creative Freedom.”

4/5

Bring your files with you

From PSD, AI, INDD, PDF, SVG, TIFF, and more, it’s easy to open and edit other file types in Affinity.

Overlapping, tilted images on a black background, including a portrait, abstract textures, typography, and a graphic reading “Creative Freedom.”
Overlapping, tilted images on a black background, including a portrait, abstract textures, typography, and a graphic reading “Creative Freedom.”

5/5

Customize your setup

Rearrange panels and mix and match your favorite tools to build your very own creative studio for a streamlined workflow.

Affinity with a colorful fantasy illustration open, showing the Customize Tools panel and the Paint Brush Tool selected.
Affinity with a colorful fantasy illustration open, showing the Customize Tools panel and the Paint Brush Tool selected.

5/5

Customize your setup

Rearrange panels and mix and match your favorite tools to build your very own creative studio for a streamlined workflow.

Affinity with a colorful fantasy illustration open, showing the Customize Tools panel and the Paint Brush Tool selected.
Affinity with a colorful fantasy illustration open, showing the Customize Tools panel and the Paint Brush Tool selected.

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How Affinity compares to Adobe

We know what you’re thinking: Can Affinity really rival Adobe’s core creative apps? Here’s a quick look at how it stacks up.

Affinity by Canva

Adobe Photoshop, InDesign & Illustrator

Professional photo editing, vector design, and page layout

Fully featured tools across all three disciplines

Fully featured tools across all three disciplines

One app for design, photo editing, and layout

One app

Three separate apps

One file from start to finish

One .af file from concept to delivery

PSD, AI, and INDD files across different stages

Non-destructive editing by default

Edits remain fully editable throughout your workflow (excluding some AI features)

Requires additional steps via smart objects

Custom workspaces across creative disciplines

Vector, pixel, and layout tools can be combined in a single workspace

Custom workspaces available within individual apps

AI tools when you need them

AI tools available with Canva premium plans

Access AI tools with a Creative Cloud subscription

Save your work's full history

Undo history can be saved with the file and shared

Undo history is not saved within the file

Design and edit in the same place

Edit images and designs directly inside layouts

Advanced edits require Photoshop or Illustrator

Free for individuals

Free to download and use (excluding optional AI tools)

Monthly subscription required

Canva Brand Kit integration

Access your Canva Brand Kit assets and contribute new ones as you create

No Canva Brand Kit integration, manual upload and download required

Scale in Canva

Move designs directly into Canva for resizing, localization, collaboration, and publishing

Manual export from Adobe and upload to Canva required

Free collaborator access

Anyone with a free Canva account can download Affinity and open or edit .af files

Full collaborators require Photoshop, InDesign & Illustrator licenses

Support for other pro workflows (motion design, photography, video)

Access Cavalry with the same Canva account, plus Affinity is integrated with Capture One and DaVinci Resolve

Access Lightroom, Premiere Pro, and After Effects with an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription

Get Affinity for free

Built for enterprise

Secure SSO access for enterprise and education environments means your team signs in through the identity provider you already use. And Affinity is part of the Canva product suite, meaning it operates under Canva's security and governance practices.

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Artwork with 'The finishing touches' writing in Affinity software

PS... that’s not all

In addition to Affinity, you can unlock other pro tools with your Canva account, including Cavalry⁠(opens in a new tab or window), Flourish⁠(opens in a new tab or window) and Leonardo⁠(opens in a new tab or window).

Four dark rounded-square icons on a black background: a green Affinity logo, white Cavalry logo, pale Flourish logo, and purple Leonardo logo.
Stylized portrait by Elena Paraskeva of a woman in a bubble helmet and red sunglasses, seated on outdoor exercise equipment.
Colorful illustration of a tabletop crowded with oversized lamps, vases, bottles, ornaments, flowers, and tiny people.
Black-and-white photograph of a person with a backpack riding an escalator past a concrete wall lit by sharp window shadows.
Psychedelic sci-fi illustration by Scott Balmer, featuring a glowing portal, colorful planets, giant hands, and small robotic figures.
Digital illustration of two nigiri sushi characters with small arms and legs on a dark green serving tray.
White “For Creatives by Creatives” circular logo with a stylized smiley face and two stars on a black background.

Affinity’s for people obsessed with craft, made by people who respect it. Whether you geek out on mesh gradients or just love clean lines, it’s for you.

FAQs

  • Affinity by Canva is a professional creative suite combining three powerful studios — Pixel⁠(opens in a new tab or window) (photo editing), Vector⁠(opens in a new tab or window) (illustration and logo design), and Layout⁠(opens in a new tab or window) (publishing) — in a single, high-performance app. It integrates directly with Canva for brand management, collaboration, and multi-channel publishing.

  • Where Adobe Creative Cloud Pro requires separate apps for different creative disciplines, Affinity by Canva unifies vector design, photo editing, and page layout in one app and one file.

  • Affinity includes three purpose-built studios: Pixel Studio for professional photo editing and retouching; Vector Studio for illustration, logos, and UI design; and Layout Studio for multi-page publishing and print design. All three work within a single file.

  • Excluding optional Canva AI⁠(opens in a new tab or window), Affinity is completely free for individuals (seriously). For enterprise, Affinity by Canva is included as part of your Canva account — meaning creative teams get professional-grade design tools without an additional per-seat software subscription.

  • Yes. Affinity integrates with Canva's AI suite⁠(opens in a new tab or window), giving teams access to multiple generative AI models for image generation, design assistance, and creative ideation — all within their existing workflow.

  • Affinity supports a wide range of industry-standard file formats, including PSD, PDF, SVG, and EPS.

  • Affinity is part of the Canva family of pro design tools, along with Cavalry, Flourish, and Leonardo. While it remains its own separate app, you simply need a free Canva account to sign in.

Switch to Affinity for free.