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Graphic DesignReview

Affinity Designer Review: Professional Vector and Layout Tools, Now Free

Affinity Designer was a one-time-purchase vector and layout app. It now sits inside the free Affinity app, and it remains one of the most capable alternatives to Illustrator.

Author
GraphiSphere Editorial Team
Published
Updated
Reading time
4 min read
A designer works on a graphics tablet with a laptop open beside it
Photo: Sasha Kim / Pexels
Contents
  1. What changed in late 2025
  2. Vector work in practice
  3. Where it trails Illustrator
  4. Layout and print
  5. AI and the paid tier
  6. Value
  7. Final verdict

Review summary

GraphiSphere rating

8.5/10

An editorial assessment by GraphiSphere, not a user rating.

Features
8.7
Ease of use
8.2
Performance
8.9
Value
9.0

Quick verdict

One of the most capable vector and layout tools available, now distributed free as part of the Affinity app. It is fast and well made, with a smaller plugin and tutorial ecosystem than Adobe’s.

Best for

  • Freelance designers who want professional vector tools without a subscription
  • Print and layout work that needs CMYK and spot colour
  • Designers who want a fast app on modest hardware

Key strengths

  • Fast, responsive performance on large files
  • Professional vector, text and print features
  • Now free, with a Canva account required
  • Works well alongside other Affinity personas

Key weaknesses

  • Smaller plugin and tutorial ecosystem than Adobe
  • Requires a Canva account, which some users will not want
  • AI features sit behind a paid Canva plan
  • Some Illustrator-specific workflows need adjustment

Alternatives

  • Adobe Illustrator — The industry standard for print vector work, at a higher cost.
  • Affinity Photo — The pixel and RAW side of the same app.
  • Figma — For interface design rather than print and illustration.

How this was assessed. Desk-based assessment using Affinity and Canva’s public announcements, product information and independent reporting on the change to the app’s distribution and licensing. This edition does not describe hands-on testing.

Affinity Designer built a reputation as the sensible alternative to Illustrator: a professional vector application that was fast, precise and sold for a one-time fee rather than a subscription. In late 2025, Canva, which had acquired Affinity, merged Designer, Photo and Publisher into a single Affinity app and made it free to use. The review below covers the Designer side of that app, with the new distribution terms in mind. It is worth reading the current terms yourself, because the rules around accounts and AI features are the parts most likely to change.

What changed in late 2025

The Affinity app brings vector, pixel and layout work together under one installation, with the Designer, Photo and Publisher tools available as modes or personas inside it. The announcement described the app as free for everyone. In practice, a free Canva account is required to download and use it, and the AI features are reserved for paid Canva customers. Previous owners of the separate apps should check how their licences map to the new app before they assume anything about upgrades or support.

  • Vector persona. Pen, node and shape tools, boolean operations, text on a path and professional export options are all there.
  • Layout tools. Multi-page documents, master pages and PDF export cover most brochure and print work.
  • Colour and print. CMYK, spot colours and colour profiles are available for print production.
  • Performance. The app is fast on large files, which is a consistent strength of the Affinity line.

Vector work in practice

Designer handles logos, icons and illustration with precision. Node editing is smooth, boolean and compound path operations behave predictably, and the snapping and alignment tools make tidy layouts straightforward. For identity design, the important questions are whether the app can produce clean, scalable artwork and export it for print and screen. It can. The export options cover SVG, PDF, EPS and common raster formats, and the print settings are mature enough for professional use.

Where it trails Illustrator

Illustrator’s advantages are ecosystem and familiarity rather than raw capability. Printers, agencies and freelancers are used to receiving Illustrator files, and that matters when a client insists on a specific format. Affinity’s plugin ecosystem is smaller, and the volume of tutorials and third-party resources is far below Adobe’s. Some Illustrator-specific features, such as certain effects and symbol behaviours, do not map directly, so existing Illustrator users will need to adjust their habits.

Layout and print

The layout capability is a real reason to consider Designer. Multi-page documents with master pages, styles and linked images handle brochures, reports and small books well, and the export controls support print PDFs with bleed and crop marks. It is not a full replacement for InDesign in every case, particularly for very large documents, complex interactive publications or workflows that depend on InDesign-specific features. For most freelance and small-studio print work, it is sufficient.

AI and the paid tier

The AI features in the Affinity app are tied to a paid Canva subscription. If you do not pay for Canva’s AI tier, you get the professional toolset without the generative features. For many designers, that is an acceptable trade. For those who expected AI tools as part of the free app, it is worth checking the current feature list before downloading.

Value

At the time of writing, the core app is free, which makes the value case straightforward for anyone who does not need a subscription-only feature. The real cost is the requirement for a Canva account and your willingness to rely on a product whose ownership and terms may change. That is a judgement each designer should make for their own work, and it is reasonable to keep a backup of your files in open formats as a precaution.

Affinity Designer against common design work

Affinity Designer against common design work
WorkFitNotes
Logo and identity designStrongPrecise vector tools and clean export
Print brochures and layoutsStrongMaster pages, CMYK and PDF export
Icon sets and UI graphicsAdequateWorks well, though design tools built for interfaces are faster for systems
Client files for Illustrator-only studiosAdequateRound-tripping needs testing first
Heavy photo retouchingWeakUse the Photo persona or Photoshop instead

Pros

  • Professional vector and layout tools
  • Fast performance on large files
  • Free to use, with a Canva account
  • Strong print and PDF export

Cons

  • Smaller plugin and tutorial ecosystem
  • Requires a Canva account
  • AI features need a paid Canva plan
  • Round-tripping with Illustrator needs testing

Final verdict

Affinity Designer, now within the free Affinity app, is one of the best value propositions in professional design software. It is fast, precise and capable enough for most vector and print work. The Canva account requirement and the smaller ecosystem are the trade-offs. For freelancers and small studios, it deserves a serious look. Our Illustrator vs Affinity Designer comparison explains when the Adobe option is still the better choice.

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