Affinity Photo

Affinity Photo began as Serif’s professional image editor and launched for macOS on July 9, 2015. It later expanded to Windows and iPad. Canva acquired Serif’s Affinity business in March 2024.

Canva now positions the product within a single Affinity application. Its Pixel Studio provides the photo-editing capabilities formerly associated with Affinity Photo, while Vector and Layout Studios cover related design and publishing work.

The current Affinity application is free for individuals. Users need a Canva account, and certain premium AI capabilities depend on the user’s Canva subscription.

Affinity supports RAW development, PSD import and export, high-bit-depth editing, ICC colour management, adjustment layers, live filter layers, masks and complex layer structures.

Its editing model supports non-destructive adjustments, saved undo history, compositing, frequency separation, panorama stitching, HDR workflows, lens correction and detailed colour control.

The current Affinity platform adds shared Pixel, Vector and Layout workspaces, in-app scripting, Canva export, Brand System connectivity, generative upscale and other newer image-processing tools.

The current Affinity application is free for individuals. Canva’s official Affinity site describes the core product as free, with downloads available for supported desktop platforms.

Canva premium plans add access to premium AI capabilities within Affinity. Canva’s US pricing page lists Canva Pro at $180 per person annually and Canva Business at $250 per person annually. These subscriptions cover Canva features as well as eligible Affinity AI access, rather than charging separately for the core Affinity application.

Legacy Affinity Photo 2 was sold under a perpetual-license model, but the current Canva product uses account-linked access. Users should distinguish the older standalone application from the current unified Affinity release.

Pros:

• The current core application is free for individual users.
• Pixel editing, vector design and page layout share one application.
• It supports professional colour, RAW, masking and compositing workflows.
• PSD and other common creative file formats support migration from established tools.
• Canva integration connects detailed editing with broader collaboration and publishing workflows.

Cons:

• The current product requires a Canva account and online entitlement verification may apply.
• Premium AI functions require a qualifying Canva subscription.
• The standalone Affinity Photo identity has been replaced by a unified application.
• The current desktop release is available for Windows and macOS, while the new iPad version is still described as forthcoming.
• No public developer API was verified during research.

Adobe Photoshop is the closest full-featured commercial alternative for layered photo editing, compositing, retouching and broad plugin support.

GIMP is a free, open-source raster editor suited to users who want extensive community-driven customization without an account-linked commercial platform.

Pixelmator Pro is a macOS-focused alternative with photo editing, illustration and machine-learning-assisted tools.

Corel PaintShop Pro is a Windows-based alternative combining photo correction, creative effects and raster editing features.

Capture One is a strong alternative for photographers prioritizing RAW processing, tethering and professional colour workflows.

Is Affinity Photo still a separate application?
The current Affinity product combines photo editing, vector design and page layout in one application. Its photo-editing workflow is represented by Pixel Studio.

Is Affinity Photo free?
The current core Affinity application is free for individuals. Premium Canva AI features require an eligible Canva subscription.

Does Affinity Photo work on Windows and macOS?
Yes. The current Affinity site lists Windows and Mac downloads. The site describes its new iPad version as still in development, while legacy Affinity Photo 2 remains associated with Mac, Windows and iPad licensing.

Does Affinity Photo have an API?
No public developer API was verified. The current product does provide in-app scripting for automating work across Pixel, Vector and Layout workflows.

What integrations are available?
Verified integrations and workflow connections include Canva, Canva Brand System, Cavalry, Capture One, DaVinci Resolve and Claude-related capabilities announced through Canva’s professional creative ecosystem.

Does Affinity Photo offer a free trial?
A separate trial is not necessary for the current core product because Affinity is free for individuals. Canva may separately offer trials for qualifying paid plans, subject to current account and regional terms.