Affinity Designer

Name: Affinity Designer
Brand: Affinity Designer

Professional vector design tools, now part of Canva's free unified Affinity app.

softwareGraphic Designvector designgraphic design illustration

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Our Verdict

Best for

Designers who want professional vector tools without any subscription cost for the base app.

Skip if

You specifically want a fully standalone app independent of a Canva account.

What is Affinity Designer?

Affinity Designer was long known as a one-time-purchase alternative to Illustrator for precise vector illustration and UI design. After Canva acquired Affinity, it retired the separate Designer, Photo, and Publisher apps in October 2025 and merged them into a single application called Affinity, with the old Designer functionality living on as its Vector Studio. As of 2026, the core Affinity app -- including vector, pixel, and page layout studios -- is free to use with a Canva account, ending the previous one-time license model entirely. Premium AI features such as generative fill and background removal require an eligible paid Canva plan, but the core design toolset carries no subscription or per-seat fee.

SpecificationsAI-estimated

deploymentDesktop App

open source❌ No

api available❌ No

key integrationsCanva

Key Features of Affinity Designer

Vector Studio provides precision path editing, boolean operations, and typography tools for illustration and branding work.

The unified Affinity app combines what were formerly separate Designer, Photo, and Publisher applications.

Core design, photo editing, and page layout tools are free to use with a Canva account.

Supports non-destructive layer effects, adjustment layers, and live filters across all studios.

Files can move between Vector, Pixel, and Layout studios within a single document.

Optional generative AI tools like Expand & Edit and Remove Background require a paid Canva plan.

Exports to common formats including SVG, PDF, and PSD for handoff to other design tools.

Integrates with the broader Canva ecosystem for asset management and collaboration.

Use Cases for Affinity Designer

Logo and brand design

Designers use Vector Studio's precision path tools for creating logos and brand assets.

UI and icon design

Product designers use vector tools for scalable interface elements and icon sets.

Print and layout design

Users combine Vector and Layout studios for brochures, posters, and multi-page documents.

Illustration work

Illustrators use layer-based vector editing for detailed artwork and typography.

Pros & Cons of Affinity Designer

Pros

Core professional design toolset is now free to use
Combines vector, photo, and layout tools in one app
No more per-seat licensing for the base application
Backed by Canva's ongoing development and update cadence

Cons

Standalone perpetual-license Designer no longer exists for those who preferred the old model
Advanced AI features require a paid Canva subscription
Requires a Canva account even for the free tier

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Affinity Designer still a separate app?

No, as of October 2025 it was merged with Affinity Photo and Publisher into one unified Affinity app, with its tools now called Vector Studio.

Is Affinity Designer free now?

Yes, the core design toolset is free to use with a Canva account; only premium AI features require a paid Canva plan.

Do I need a Canva account to use Affinity?

Yes, a Canva account (free tier is sufficient for core features) is required to use the app.

Can I still buy a one-time perpetual license?

No, the old one-time-purchase license model was retired when Affinity became free under Canva.

Pricing Overview

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Free

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