Affinity
Core desktop application
Free
Free individual application
AvailabilityGlobal; availability applies
Vector, Pixel and Layout tools are free with a Canva account.
SourceOpening the research…
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Your comparison workspace.
Put two or three tools from the same category side by side.
There is a researched guide for these apps. Read Affinity vs Adobe Photoshop: free desktop editing and file handoffs.
Free desktop vector, pixel and page layout tools
Detailed image editing and layered composites
Prices & plans
Published prices keep their original currency and billing terms. Taxes, promotions and checkout prices can differ.
Adobe Photoshop
Mobile entry plan
Free
Free mobile app with optional premium features
AvailabilityApp availability varies by region
This does not include perpetual free desktop Photoshop.
SourcePhotoshop — annual billed monthly
USD 22.99/month
Annual subscription billed monthly
AvailabilityUnited States
Includes desktop, web and mobile plus Express Premium. This is not a cancel-any-month plan.
SourcePhotoshop — annual prepaid
USD 263.88/year
Annual subscription paid upfront
AvailabilityUnited States
Official FAQ annual price; 100 GB cloud storage.
SourcePhotography — annual billed monthly
USD 19.99/month
Annual subscription billed monthly
AvailabilityUnited States
Includes Photoshop and Lightroom; 1 TB shown in the comparison.
SourceFeatures and limits
12 features
Row headings group related topics. Each answer keeps its specific scope. An unverified answer means we do not have enough evidence.
Platforms
Affinity
Devices
The new app supports Windows and macOS. Its iPad edition is listed as coming soon.
Vendor documentedSource
Offline use
Affinity
Offline access
Online download and Canva activation are required; core use can continue offline for extended periods.
Vendor documentedSource
Adobe Photoshop
Offline use
Installed apps can work offline after activation; periodic licensing checks and plan-dependent grace periods apply.
Vendor documentedSource
Collaboration
Affinity
Team handoff
Files can be exported to Canva for shared work. This does not establish simultaneous editing of a local .af document.
Vendor documentedSource
Export
Affinity
Output formats
The photo guide lists JPEG, PNG, TIFF, WebP and press-ready PDF. Exported PNG/PDF is not an editable Photoshop round-trip.
Vendor documentedSource
Adobe Photoshop
Save choices
Save locally or to Creative Cloud. Save a Copy can produce flattened JPEG or PNG while preserving the working document.
Vendor documentedSource
Project portability
Affinity
PSD import
Layered PSD import can retain masks, groups and adjustments; Smart Objects and advanced filters may flatten.
Vendor documentedSource
Adobe Photoshop
Editable objects
Embedded Smart Objects preserve source information; PSD, TIFF or PSB can retain layers while JPEG flattens them.
Vendor documentedSource
Free plan limits
Affinity
Free core
Vector, Pixel and Layout studios plus customization and export are free with a Canva account.
Vendor documentedSource
AI features
Adobe Photoshop
AI entitlement
The Photoshop single-app offer lists 25 monthly generative credits. Larger bundles have different allowances.
Vendor documentedSource
Privacy and storage
Affinity
Local content
Affinity states that local content is not used to train its AI. Uploading or exporting to Canva introduces Canva privacy settings.
Vendor documentedSource
Adobe Photoshop
Not yet verified for this product.
V1 and V2 migration
Affinity
V1 and V2 migration
The new app opens V1/V2 files, but older apps cannot open files saved in the new .af format.
Vendor documentedSource
Adobe Photoshop
Not yet verified for this product.
Nondestructive changes
Affinity
Photo workflow
The photo toolkit includes RAW development, live filters, masks, HDR merging and batch macros.
Vendor documentedSource
Local or cloud
Affinity
Not yet verified for this product.
Adobe Photoshop
Local or cloud
The default save location can be set to the computer or Creative Cloud.
Vendor documentedSource
AI Assistant availability
Affinity
Not yet verified for this product.
Adobe Photoshop
AI Assistant availability
The current mobile page places AI Assistant beta on web and mobile and explicitly excludes desktop.
Vendor documentedSource
| Feature | Affinity | Adobe Photoshop |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Devices The new app supports Windows and macOS. Its iPad edition is listed as coming soon. Vendor documentedSource | Devices Desktop on Windows and macOS with separate web, phone and iPad experiences. |
| Offline use | Offline access Online download and Canva activation are required; core use can continue offline for extended periods. Vendor documentedSource | Offline use Installed apps can work offline after activation; periodic licensing checks and plan-dependent grace periods apply. Vendor documentedSource |
| Collaboration | Team handoff Files can be exported to Canva for shared work. This does not establish simultaneous editing of a local .af document. Vendor documentedSource | Review and editing Share for review supports browser comments. Invite to Edit lets collaborators edit a cloud document one at a time; Photoshop warns when someone else is editing. |
| Export | Output formats The photo guide lists JPEG, PNG, TIFF, WebP and press-ready PDF. Exported PNG/PDF is not an editable Photoshop round-trip. Vendor documentedSource | Save choices Save locally or to Creative Cloud. Save a Copy can produce flattened JPEG or PNG while preserving the working document. Vendor documentedSource |
| Project portability | PSD import Layered PSD import can retain masks, groups and adjustments; Smart Objects and advanced filters may flatten. Vendor documentedSource | Editable objects Embedded Smart Objects preserve source information; PSD, TIFF or PSB can retain layers while JPEG flattens them. Vendor documentedSource |
| Free plan limits | Free core Vector, Pixel and Layout studios plus customization and export are free with a Canva account. Vendor documentedSource | Free scope Free mobile and iPad apps have optional premium features. Desktop pricing offers a seven-day trial rather than an ongoing free desktop plan. |
| AI features | Premium AI Canva premium plans unlock integrated generative tools. Allowances and eligibility should be checked against the current Canva plan. | AI entitlement The Photoshop single-app offer lists 25 monthly generative credits. Larger bundles have different allowances. Vendor documentedSource |
| Privacy and storage | Local content Affinity states that local content is not used to train its AI. Uploading or exporting to Canva introduces Canva privacy settings. Vendor documentedSource | Not yet verified for this product. |
| V1 and V2 migration | V1 and V2 migration The new app opens V1/V2 files, but older apps cannot open files saved in the new .af format. Vendor documentedSource | Not yet verified for this product. |
| Nondestructive changes | Photo workflow The photo toolkit includes RAW development, live filters, masks, HDR merging and batch macros. Vendor documentedSource | Nondestructive changes Adjustment layers, masks and Smart Objects support revisable image workflows. |
| Local or cloud | Not yet verified for this product. | Local or cloud The default save location can be set to the computer or Creative Cloud. Vendor documentedSource |
| AI Assistant availability | Not yet verified for this product. | AI Assistant availability The current mobile page places AI Assistant beta on web and mobile and explicitly excludes desktop. Vendor documentedSource |
This workspace aligns existing research. It does not declare a winner or treat missing evidence as a missing feature. Read the methodology.