Canva flips the table: Affinity goes free, becomes one app

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Canva has rebuilt Affinity from the ground up and made it free. The new Affinity merges vector design, photo editing and page layout into one desktop app with a new brand identity. Mac and Windows versions are out now, with iPad to follow. Canva’s AI tools plug in if you have a Canva Premium plan, but the core Affinity app is free to use. The launch went live on 29 October 2025. 

What actually launched

Affinity is no longer three separate apps. It’s one pro-grade application that covers vector, pixel and layout workflows in a single place. The pitch is simple: fewer app switches, faster output, more control. 

• Unified app replaces Designer, Photo and Publisher
• Studio-grade tools with real-time performance
• Free to download and use on Mac and Windows
• iPad version is coming soon

Instead of juggling separate programs and file formats, you switch modes inside Affinity. The Vector tools handle paths, snapping and complex illustrations; Pixel handles RAW development, retouching and compositing; Layout handles multi-page documents with smart master pages and shared styles. It’s meant to feel familiar to long-time Affinity users, just without the app-hopping. 

Speed, custom studios and file support

The headline features are speed and flexibility. Affinity lets you customise panels and tools, save multiple setups, and even share “studios” with teammates. Under the hood, it leans on GPU acceleration for smooth panning and deep zoom. 

• Custom studios you can save and share
• Live previews and edits at extreme zoom
• GPU-accelerated filters and batch processing
• Opens PSD, AI, PDF, SVG, TIFF, IDML

In practice, this should help UAE designers jump between brand systems, composites and long documents without the usual lag. You can open and edit industry-standard formats like PSD or AI, keep everything non-destructive, and still get instant feedback as you pan around heavy files or tweak hundreds of layers. 

AI features, privacy and Canva tie-ins

Canva’s AI features now live inside Affinity for Canva Premium users via Canva AI Studio. Think Generative Fill, Expand & Edit and one-click background removal. Canva says your work in Affinity is not used to train AI features and remains private. You can export Affinity files to Canva when you need to collaborate or publish. 

• Canva AI tools inside Affinity with a Premium plan
• Generative Fill, Expand & Edit, Remove Background
• Projects export to Canva in a few clicks
• Stated privacy: your Affinity work isn’t used to train AI

For most solo designers and small studios here, that means the core app is free. If you need AI speed-ups or team workflows in Canva, that’s where the paid bit starts. The integration is optional; Affinity still works fully offline for pure desktop workflows. 

Availability

The all-new Affinity launched on 29 October 2025. It’s available today for Mac and Windows, with iPad “coming soon.” There’s no local pricing to worry about because the app is free. You’ll just need a Canva account to download it. 

• Download free on Mac and Windows now
• iPad build to follow
• Canva account is required to activate
• No regional price differences to track

If you plan to run Affinity on a Mac, make sure your machine has enough memory for layered files and RAW edits. Our guides on how much RAM you need for a MacBook and choosing a laptop for photo editing are a good starting point for UAE buyers speccing new hardware. And if you’re waiting for the iPad version, our iPad Pro M5 first look shows how far tablet workflows have come.

What this means for creatives

Free forever is a bold move. It lowers the barrier for freelancers, students and small agencies who need proper vector, photo and layout tools but can’t justify heavy software spend. The optional AI tie-in keeps the business model clear: pay if you want Canva’s cloud and AI convenience, otherwise stay on desktop and pay nothing.

• Cuts software costs for small teams
• Keeps pro features on desktop without subscriptions
• Leaves room to add Canva AI if you need it
• Smooths hand-off to Canva for publishing

Expect industry debate about “free forever” to continue, but right now the feature set reads like a serious alternative for designers who value speed and control, not wizards and pop-ups. If you work on long documents, a calibrated monitor and fast storage will still matter more than any AI trick.

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