Affinity Photo
Professional photo editing and digital painting software that provides a powerful alternative to subscription-based tools. Offers advanced features like RAW development, HDR merge, focus stacking, and non-destructive editing with GPU acceleration for smooth performance.
Best for
- Professional photographers seeking Adobe alternatives
- Digital artists and illustrators
- Hobbyist photographers wanting advanced tools
- Budget-conscious creatives needing professional features
Not ideal for
- Limited smart object support compared to Photoshop
- Learning curve when switching from other photo editors
- Some advanced features may be less intuitive
- Smaller community and fewer tutorials than mainstream alternatives
Try Affinity Photo Free
Free plan available · 2 plans available
Visit Affinity Photo →Affinity Photo Overview
Affinity Photo vs Top Alternatives
| Software | Rating | Starting Price | Free Tier | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APAffinity Photo | 4.4 ★ | Free | Yes | |
| PtPhotopea | 4.8 ★ | $5/mo | Yes | Compare → |
| C1Capture One | 4.7 ★ | $14.92/mo | No | Compare → |
| LLuminar Neo | 4.6 ★ | $49/yr | No | Compare → |
| LrAdobe Lightroom | 4.4 ★ | $11.99/mo | No | Compare → |
| DDarktable | 4.3 ★ | Free | Yes | Compare → |
Affinity Photo Features
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Now completely free with full professional features
- Excellent alternative to expensive subscription software
- Fast performance with GPU acceleration
- Supports wide range of file formats including PSD
- One-time purchase model (historically) with no ongoing costs
Cons
- Limited smart object support compared to Photoshop
- Learning curve when switching from other photo editors
- Some advanced features may be less intuitive
- Smaller community and fewer tutorials than mainstream alternatives
Pricing Plans
Free
- Full professional features
- 360 Image Editing
- Digital Painting
- Focus Stacking
- HDR Merge
- Batch Processing
Premium (Historical)
- One-time purchase
- All platforms
- Perpetual license
- Free updates
Affinity Photo Integrations
Affinity Photo connects with 4 services to extend your workflow.
Who Should Use Affinity Photo?
Budget-Conscious Professional Photographers
Photographers doing basic to intermediate retouching work who need fly-away removal, skin retouching, and standard photo editing but don't require the advanced features demanded by hardcore professionals. Specifically built for those seeking an alternative to Adobe's subscription model with built-in tools like frequency separation filters, healing brushes, and lighting modifiers.
RecommendedSmall to Medium-Sized Creative Teams
UI/UX designers, product teams, and marketing teams with 2-10 employees where pricing scales reasonably and features align well with growing team needs. Particularly valuable for teams needing intuitive design solutions with basic to intermediate technical requirements for content marketing and social media management.
RecommendedTransitioning Amateur Creatives
Users making the progression from amateur apps like Photoshop Elements who have issues paying for Adobe's subscription system. Serves as a bridge for freelancers and solopreneurs who need professional-grade tools but want to avoid ongoing subscription costs.
RecommendedWhen to Consider Alternatives
Need extensive automation and batch processing
Limited automation capabilities make it unsuitable for photographers processing large volumes of images. While Affinity Photo supports macros, they don't match Photoshop's actions in functionality and ease of use.
Consider Adobe Lightroom instead →Working extensively with Adobe ecosystem files
Poor support for Adobe's proprietary formats creates serious problems when importing Photoshop files, as Smart Objects are lost and layers become rasterized. This is particularly damaging for product mockups where Smart Objects handle perspective transforms automatically.
Consider Adobe Creative Cloud instead →Requiring extensive plugin ecosystem
Significantly smaller plugin selection compared to competitors restricts access to specialized tools that many professionals rely on. The limited plugin ecosystem constrains workflow customization for specialized tasks.
Consider GIMP instead →Top Affinity Photo Alternatives
Photopea
A free, browser-based photo editor offering Photoshop-like tools for raster and vector graphics. Supports PSD, AI, and RAW files without downloads or uploads, running offline on any device.
Capture One
Professional RAW photo editing software suite with advanced color grading, tethering capabilities, and support for over 650 cameras. Designed for professional photographers, studios, and serious enthusiasts who need precise control over their image processing workflow.
Luminar Neo
AI-powered photo editing software that simplifies complex editing with intelligent tools like sky replacement, object removal, and generative AI features. Designed for photographers of all skill levels seeking professional results without steep learning curves.
Adobe Lightroom
Professional photo editing and organization software with cloud-based storage and AI-powered tools. Offers both cloud-first Lightroom and desktop-focused Lightroom Classic for photographers of all levels.
Darktable
A free and open-source photography workflow application and RAW developer that serves as a virtual lighttable and darkroom for photographers. It manages digital negatives in a database with non-destructive editing, professional color management, and GPU acceleration for improved workflow efficiency.
GIMP
GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free, open-source cross-platform image editor that provides sophisticated tools for photo manipulation, graphic design, and artistic creation. It offers extensive customization through plugins and scripting with no licensing costs or restrictions.
Pixlr
Pixlr is a free online AI-powered photo editor suite available via browser, mobile, and desktop, offering tools for editing, design, and image generation. With over 15 years in operation, it provides intuitive features like AI background removal and filters for users from beginners to professionals.