Canva Relaunches Affinity as Free All-in-One Design App

[MacRumors]

After acquiring Serif last year, Canva has overhauled its Affinity design suite, consolidating three creative tools into a single free app for Mac and Windows.

The newly launched Affinity by Canva unifies vector, photo, and layout capabilities that were previously spread across separate Designer, Photo, and Publisher apps. So instead of juggling multiple apps, users can now switch between the three modes through dedicated Vector, Pixel, and Layout tabs within one interface.

The redesigned app includes a customizable workspace where creators can mix tools from different studios, rearrange panels, and save multiple setups for specific project types. Custom configurations can also be shared with teams and communities for standardizing workflows.

Following Canva's 2024 acquisition of Serif, the integration brings some other changes that might give longtime Affinity users pause. Everyone now needs a Canva account to access the software, but signing up is free. Canva premium subscribers also get AI tools directly within Affinity, including Generative Fill, Expand & Edit, and Remove Background features.

In a clear bid to rival Adobe, Canva's decision to ship the app for free is likely to be a welcome surprise for users who feared a subscription model was looming. "There's no catch, no stripped-back version, and no gotchas," said Ash Hewson, CEO of Affinity, commenting on the launch. But while Affinity insists the core app will remain free without restrictions, the account requirement and AI upsells signal a freemium approach. Whether longtime users will appreciate trading a one-time purchase for ongoing Canva integration remains to be seen.

An iPad version is planned for release next year, and existing Affinity V2 license holders can continue using their purchased software if they prefer to stick with the older model without the Canva integrations. Affinity can be downloaded from the Affinity Studio website.

Article Link: Canva Relaunches Affinity as Free All-in-One Design App

 

[anakin44011]

Two thoughts --
1. While I though their original prices were steals (esp compared to Adobe subscriptions), this is an even better deal for people who aren't full time graphic designers, but occasionally need to edit jpgs, svgs, etc...without AI.
2. I wonder if this puts a kink in Apple's "pro subscription" plans for FCP, Pixelmator Pro, etc

 

[MadDog31]

Ah yes, free. What are we unknowingly giving up when we use this free offering? Images and designs scraped for AI? I've come to realize free isn't free at all...

 

[jakebrosy]

As a long-time Affinity suite user I’m concerned how the capabilities of a ‘free’ tool will compare with the one I purchased? That said, I get my light video editing done with the free version of DaVinci Resolve…so maybe?

 

[Danilamak]

Ah yes, free. What are we unknowingly giving up when we use this free offering? Images and designs scraped for AI? I've come to realize free isn't free at all...

It depends on canva reputation about this, how is it right now?

 

[Orange Bat]

Hey, that’s great.

What’s the catch?

 

[cicalinarrot]

Sounds a little too good to be true.
Since we all adored Affinity as it was, I'm pretty afraid.

 

[rikki_t]

'Images and designs scraped for AI? I've come to realize free isn't free at all...' well the people at Canva have to pay wages, stay in business etc, and while we are at it do you work for free ?

 

[Gherkin]

Ah yes, free. What are we unknowingly giving up when we use this free offering? Images and designs scraped for AI? I've come to realize free isn't free at all...

I don’t think there’s anything nefarious right now, but I’m guessing more subscription options will eventually come. Then we’ll get the super cheap subscription like $2/mo or something. Few more years and it’ll be $10/mo.

Either way I’m grabbing this now for sure. I have LR and PS sub but this will be nice to have a free (for now) vector and layout software.

 

[tech_enthusiast_]

I don’t think there’s anything nefarious right now, but I’m guessing more subscription options will eventually come. Then we’ll get the super cheap subscription like $2/mo or something. Few more years and it’ll be $10/mo.

Either way I’m grabbing this now for sure. I have LR and PS sub but this will be nice to have a free (for now) vector and layout software.

My suspicion is that it will be like Figma, where you can create a certain number of projects for free but you have to subscribe to collaborate on files, share prototypes, etc.

 

[theerimatheia]

No, thanks.

 

[adamlbiscuit]

It's ok for now, I think. The only upsell here is the AI elements, which if you were using Affinity before, were never part of the original package anyway.

However, in the long term, I don't expect it to stay this way. A cynical take maybe, but I expect eventually features will start to be removed and sold back later as part of a subscription. There's also a concern they'll use your work to train their AI models, perhaps not now, but in future.

I breathe a (small) sigh of relief for now, but you know, en********ation happens.

 

[JMalone]

If commercial software is “free” it’s because you’re the product or because they know they’ll push you into subscriptions either now or later.

The only true definition of free software is open source or non-commercial with no catch.

The paid version of this Affinity thing is a bad deal anyway. $15 a month for one hodge-podge app when you can get something like 30 much more mature Adobe apps for $30 a month if you grab the discount seasons like Black Friday. Those Adobe apps cover everything from photo to video to VFX to audio to animation.

 

[jlc1978]

Just installed it. It does require you to login to the app on startup, so at a minimum it requires connectivity when you first open it. I quit, disconnected wifi and reopened it with no issues. It looks like you stay signed in until you signet via a dropdown. On first opening it it asked if I wanted to share usage data.

 

[bradman83]

Ah yes, free. What are we unknowingly giving up when we use this free offering? Images and designs scraped for AI? I've come to realize free isn't free at all...

Canva has publicly stated that user projects are not used to train their AI models, nor can content from either Affinity or Canva be used to train third party models.

 

[benwiggy]

Ah yes, free. What are we unknowingly giving up when we use this free offering? Images and designs scraped for AI? I've come to realize free isn't free at all...

There are clear opt-in switches for how much "analytics" they can collect; and you can always block outgoing connections with Little Snitch or similar if you don't trust them.

I can only hope that the money-making side of their business does sufficiently well to support the freemium platform.

The only true definition of free software is open source or non-commercial with no catch.

There was a fair bit of outrage about the "telemetry" that MuseGroup was collecting in Audacity and MuseScore, both of which are open-source.

 

[cateye]

No, thanks.

seriously. It’s like Canva hasn’t already made it perfectly clear the extent to which it devalues the work of professional creatives. Never, not at any price.

 

[MacTwick]

This is a good move for the short term. Acquiring Adobe customers by promoting legitimately free software, with the incentive of offering AI options which is still significantly cheaper than Adobe.

In a few years I could see them going monthly subscription, but for the short term this is genius of them, thinking about it as a business standpoint.

I hate Adobe, I love Affinity. Hope they stay free forever.

 

[abracadaver]

I'm a big fan of the Affinity suite in general, although I've really only used Photo. I've recommended it to everyone I can, and I'm definitely intrigued by the updated release. But, "free" is almost never free... I can't find anything on the Affinity site about possible AI training - has anyone seen something one way or the other?

Would blocking any outgoing connections insulate from that?

 

[JMalone]

As a long-time Affinity suite user I’m concerned how the capabilities of a ‘free’ tool will compare with the one I purchased? That said, I get my light video editing done with the free version of DaVinci Resolve…so maybe?

Blackmagic is a hardware company. Resolve’s actual use case was always high end grading, masking and comping - all of which are neutered in the free version. The only reason for the free version was to include a basic NLE with their cameras and then upsell to customers if they want to make the most of the camera.

 

[Capeto]

Yup, also waiting for the inevitable catch which I'm guessing will be that they will use your projects to train AI.

 

[jecowa]

It’s convenient having it all in one app. I hope they don’t ruin Affinity because I don’t want to have to learn something new again.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Ah yes, free. What are we unknowingly giving up when we use this free offering? Images and designs scraped for AI? I've come to realize free isn't free at all...

It far easier to change user rights when the product is “free.” Today, there’s likely very little that is worrisome, but they can alter the deal at any time in one of those “our privacy policy has changed” pop ups that requires a law degree to comprehend. We all know how much the landscape has changed on “free” accounts like MSA, Google, Meta, Twitter/X since their inceptions.

 

[JMalone]

This is a good move for the short term. Acquiring Adobe customers by promoting legitimately free software, with the incentive of offering AI options which is still significantly cheaper than Adobe.

It’s not cheaper for the paid version if you look at the whole suite. For $30-40 (Black Friday and other sales) you get around 30 high end apps with Creative Suite compared to one mid level hodge-podge app from Canva/Affinity.

The “free” version looks compelling but needs a Canva log in, which probably means it won’t be free forever. Pirates will probably try to crack Affinity to disable the log in.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

They sure don't want you to know how much Canva Premium costs! I could not find it anywhere on their site, so I suppose you have to sign up and download the free stuff before you're presented with upgrade (paid) options?

Sort of shady if that's true. I'd like to know if it's an annual contract subscription like Adobe or a month-to-month?