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    Affinity Photo Reviews, pricing and alternatives 2026

    Professional photo editing, free since 2024.

    Free.

    Best for
    DesignerFreelance

    Affinity Photo

    ToolTrim Verdict
    4.1/5
    Very good

    Free and powerful, Affinity Photo is hard to ignore for individual professional use.

    Try for freeExplore around Affinity Photo

    Pricing verified on

    Our take

    Understanding Affinity Photo.

    Affinity Photo is a professional photo editing application for photographers and designers. It covers layers, masks, RAW processing, color correction, and multi-image compositing. A serious Photoshop competitor for years, it became free in 2024 after Canva acquired Serif. For anyone looking to avoid an Adobe subscription, the pricing question is settled.

    Practical uses

    • Advanced photo editingLight, color and fine detail correction
    • Photomontage and multi-layer compositing
    • Precise cutoutsColor selection and pen tool
    • RAW file processing for photographers

    Pros and cons

    What Affinity Photo does especially well — and the limits to anticipate.

    Pros

    • Free since 2024, no subscription or hidden fees
    • RAW processing, non-destructive layers, masks and curves. the core tools are there
    • PSD compatible: import and export Photoshop files
    • Available on Mac, Windows and iPad under a single licence
    • Cleaner interface than Photoshop for everyday use

    Cons

    • Real learning curve if you're coming from a basic editor
    • Less integrated in agency workflows already on Adobe. no Creative Cloud, no sync
    • Smaller community and fewer learning resources than Photoshop
    • No built-in cloud storage

    Affinity Photo: when it makes sense.

    Free and powerful, Affinity Photo is hard to ignore for individual professional use. The only real friction is integration into an already-Adobe environment.

    Keep if

    You regularly edit photos and want a serious alternative to Photoshop. You're a photographer or independent creator and Adobe's ecosystem isn't imposed on you

    Challenge if

    Your team or clients work in an integrated Adobe workflow. Compatibility isn't seamless.. You only need occasional light edits: a simpler tool is enough

    How much does Affinity Photo cost?

    Free0 €

    Free since 2024 (Canva acquisition)

    Official pricing sourceverified on

    Best alternatives to Affinity Photo.

    Affinity Photo logo

    Affinity PhotoCurrent

    Professional photo editing, free since 2024.

    4.1ToolTrim score
    Monthly price
    Free
    Free plan
    Included
    Adobe Photoshop preview
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    Adobe Photoshop

    The world standard for photo editing and compositing.

    3.8ToolTrim score
    Monthly price
    26€
    Free plan
    No
    Adobe Lightroom preview
    Adobe Lightroom logo
    Adobe Lightroom

    The standard for RAW photo management and editing.

    3.8ToolTrim score
    Monthly price
    Free
    Free plan
    No
    Capture One preview
    Capture One logo
    Capture One

    The RAW editing software preferred by professional photographers.

    3.8ToolTrim score
    Monthly price
    24€
    Free plan
    No
    Luminar Neo preview
    Luminar Neo logo
    Luminar Neo

    AI retouching for Photoshop/Lightroom: sky replacement, AI portrait, atmosphere.

    3.5ToolTrim score
    Monthly price
    12€
    Free plan
    No
    The AI angle

    Affinity Photo vs AI

    AI augments this tool
    Go further with AI

    Affinity Photo remains a manual editing tool with a one-time purchase, with no native generative AI — its differentiation remains price (no subscription) rather than AI features like Photoshop.

    Can AI replace it?

    Replace Affinity Photo with an AI? No, but it lags behind Photoshop's generative AI features (generative fill). Its value remains precise manual control with no subscription. Verdict: challenged on generative AI, but differentiated by its no-subscription business model.

    Affinity Photo Summary

    Category
    productivity tool.
    Price from
    Free (Universal / one-time license).
    Best for
    professionals.
    Avoid if
    Your team or clients work in an integrated Adobe workflow. Compatibility isn't seamless.; You only need occasional light edits: a simpler tool is enough.
    Alternatives
    Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, Capture One, Luminar Neo.
    ToolTrim verdict
    Free and powerful, Affinity Photo is hard to ignore for individual professional use.

    Our verdict on Affinity Photo.

    Why this verdict

    Very good

    Affinity Photo is fairly easy to replace with an alternative, a free tier to test before paying, clearly documented use cases.

    Tool FAQ

    Frequently asked questions about Affinity Photo

    Pricing, usage, alternatives, and context: useful answers before adding one more tool to your stack.

    What is Affinity Photo used for?

    Professional photo editing, free since 2024.

    How much does Affinity Photo cost?

    Affinity Photo costs €0 (free) (Universal / one-time license plan). Price verified on 2026-06-15.

    Is Affinity Photo suitable for beginners?

    Affinity Photo suits most professionals. See the "Who is it for" section for details.

    Is Affinity Photo worth the price?

    Free and powerful, Affinity Photo is hard to ignore for individual professional use. The only real friction is integration into an already-Adobe environment.

    What are the best alternatives to Affinity Photo?

    The main alternatives to Affinity Photo are: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, Capture One, Luminar Neo. Free alternatives: Adobe Lightroom.