Since its launch, Affinity has been the software of selection for professionals who dislike subscriptions and like to pay and personal their software program. Now Affinity is totally free for everybody. What’s the catch?
The query being requested on-line now – “What’s the catch?” – after the announcement of a free Affinity model has a number of solutions, in response to the supply you select. For some that is merely Canva’s technique to get extra individuals to signal as a Canva person (which is required to get the free Affinity app), which can result in a subscription of its Canva Premium supply… whereas others consider this marks the tip of Affinity as we all know it. It’s a dialogue that’s going to be saved alive by customers with completely different views, experiences and a standard perception that “free” means “you’re the product”.
When Affinity joined the Canva household in 2024, the corporate made a promise to protect its energy whereas increasing what’s potential. In the present day, that imaginative and prescient involves life, in response to Canva, “with the all-new Affinity: a studio-grade artistic app that brings vector, picture, and format instruments collectively in a single high-performance platform. Absolutely featured. Lightning-fast. And utterly free.”
These involved about the way forward for the Affinity apps when the deal was introduced, in 2024, are, apparently, much more involved now. Affinity shared a video of its CEO, Ash Hewson, as he reveals an unique first-look on the all-new Affinity, and guarantees the app can be “free, perpetually, for eveyone”, and the feedback printed are a transparent indication that many don’t consider the “free for everybody” is an effective signal for the way forward for a software program model that’s regarded as a substitute for individuals who don’t wish to pay month-to-month subscriptions. Or was, as any further Affinity is, as Canva says, utterly free for everybody.
Solely time will inform what occurs to Affinity. The launch introduces a daring new Affinity model and visible id, marking the following evolution in skilled design and its new chapter as a part of Canva. But it surely’s greater than that, because the video reveals: designed for final flexibility, creatives can personalize their workspace, combine and match instruments, and create totally customizable studios for a workflow that adapts to the way in which they work finest.
Creatives can combine and match instruments from Vector, Pixel, and Format (beforehand named Designer, Picture and Writer) to construct a workspace that matches their distinctive course of. Rearrange panels, select the instruments you want, take away those you don’t, and save a number of setups for various tasks or duties. Customized studios may also be shared and downloaded, opening new methods for groups and inventive communities to change workflows and be taught from each other.
The all-new Affinity was inbuilt shut collaboration with its group of creators, formed by hundreds of conversations, characteristic requests, and shared concepts. Guided by Canva’s Designer Advisory Board, this launch displays what professionals instructed the corporate issues most: efficiency, reliability, and inventive freedom.
For designers who assume in traces, curves, and grids, Affinity’s vector instruments ship precision and pace in good stability. Each adjustment occurs in actual time: paths modify immediately, shapes snap into place, and even massive information pan and zoom easily. From complete model techniques to advanced illustrations, every thing feels responsive and easy.
Affinity’s award-winning picture modifying instruments provide the freedom to experiment with out limits. Each adjustment, from RAW growth to retouching and compositing, is non-destructive, so you’ll be able to refine endlessly with out dropping your authentic work. Plus, GPU acceleration retains even probably the most advanced information quick and fluid, whereas clever instruments like Good Picks, reside filters, and batch processing assist pace up repetitive edits.
With Affinity’s format instruments, construction and creativity work aspect by aspect. From brief brochures to multi-page reviews, you’ll be able to edit photos, graphics, and textual content straight inside your doc and see each change replace reside. Good Grasp Pages, shared textual content kinds, and superior typographic controls preserve every thing constant whereas providing you with the liberty to experiment.
Whereas the all-new Affinity has been reimagined, it nonetheless feels immediately acquainted to those that realize it finest. The instruments, workflows, and precision you depend on are all right here – refined however not changed. Each replace builds on what professionals already love, so you’ll be able to decide up the place you left off and really feel proper at house. And Affinity is now, in response to Canva, “free for everybody. Skilled-grade design software program, out there for gratis to all customers. There’s no catch, no stripped-back model, and no gotchas. The identical exact, high-performance instruments that professionals depend on on daily basis at the moment are open to all, as a result of artistic freedom shouldn’t include a value.”
Whereas the core of the Affinity expertise has not modified, there’s something new added to the app: for everybody with a Canva premium account, Canva AI’s instruments at the moment are included straight inside Affinity by the brand new Canva AI Studio. This consists of acquainted favorites like Generative Fill, Broaden & Edit, and Take away Background – highly effective options that pace up repetitive steps whereas protecting designers in full management of each element.
For these cautious of AI, Canva says that “we all know that transparency round AI use and knowledge dealing with is crucial, and your artistic work will at all times stay yours. Canva AI options are constructed with privateness and management in thoughts, making certain that your artistic work in Affinity stays safe and isn’t used to coach AI options.” And in case you don’t wish to use any AI, in case you’re not subscribed to a Canva plan it is not going to be out there in Affinity Studio. And since the interface is customizable, you’ll be able to merely take away the icon for Canva AI from the app. I attempted it, and it really works!
The all-new Affinity has a brand new widespread file however, Canva says, “you can even convey your current work with you. Affinity helps PSD, AI, PDF, SVG, TIFF, IDML, and extra, making it simple to open, edit, and collaborate with out ranging from scratch. In the present day is just the start. We’re persevering with to put money into each Affinity’s skilled design instruments and Canva’s all-in-one platform, constructing a future the place everybody can design on the highest degree, with out obstacles.”
The all-new Affinity is offered for Mac and Home windows, with iPad coming quickly. The Canva group can activate Affinity with their current account, and new customers can create a free Canva account to obtain it straight. Affinity is now utterly free, perpetually. The total, professional-grade Affinity expertise, out there to everybody. Let’s hope it stays that approach.
