Affinity Photo vs Photopea (March 2026)
| APAffinity Photo | PtPhotopea | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4/5 | 4.8/5 |
| Free Tier | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Best For | Professional photographers seeking Adobe alternatives, Digital artists and illustrators | Quick photo edits without software installation, Freelance work on multiple devices |
Photopea takes the lead with a 4.8/5 rating compared to Affinity Photo's 4.4/5, though both are solid choices depending on your priorities.
Quick Overview
Affinity Photo
Professional photo editing and digital painting software that provides a powerful alternative to subscription-based tool...
- Best for: Professional photographers seeking Adobe alternatives, Digital artists and illustrators
- Starting price: Free
- Category: Photo Editing Software
- Founded: 2015
- Pricing model: freemium
Photopea
A free, browser-based photo editor offering Photoshop-like tools for raster and vector graphics. Supports PSD, AI, and R...
- Best for: Quick photo edits without software installation, Freelance work on multiple devices
- Starting price: Free
- Category: Photo Editing Software
- Founded: 2013
- Pricing model: freemium
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Affinity Photo | Photopea |
|---|---|---|
| RAW Development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Non-destructive Editing | ✓ | ✗ |
| HDR Merge | ✓ | ✗ |
| Focus Stacking | ✓ | ✗ |
| Digital Painting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Batch Processing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Smart Selections | ✓ | ✗ |
| GPU Acceleration | ✓ | ✗ |
| 360° Image Editing | ✓ | ✗ |
| PSD Support | ✓ | ✗ |
| Layers and Masks | ✗ | ✓ |
| Smart Objects | ✗ | ✓ |
| RAW File Support | ✗ | ✓ |
| AI Background Removal | ✗ | ✓ |
| Magic Replace | ✗ | ✓ |
| Vector Graphics Editing | ✗ | ✓ |
| PSD Import/Export | ✗ | ✓ |
| Adjustment Layers | ✗ | ✓ |
| Filters and Effects | ✗ | ✓ |
| Animated GIF Support | ✗ | ✓ |
| Offline Editing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Multi-format Export | ✗ | ✓ |
Pricing Comparison
Prices last verified: March 16, 2026
Affinity Photo
Pros & Cons
Affinity Photo
- 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
- 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
Photopea
- Completely free with professional features
- No installation required - runs in browser
- Supports complex file formats like PSD and RAW
- Works offline on any device
- Performance can lag with large files
- Free version includes distracting ads
- Not 100% identical to Photoshop features
- AI features are limited in free tier
Which Is Best for You?
Choose Affinity Photo if:
- Professional photographers seeking Adobe alternatives
- Digital artists and illustrators
- Hobbyist photographers wanting advanced tools
- Budget-conscious creatives needing professional features
- You want to start with a free plan
- Budget is a priority (Free vs $5)
Choose Photopea if:
- Quick photo edits without software installation
- Freelance work on multiple devices
- Educational projects and presentations
- Creating promotional materials and product photos
- You want to start with a free plan
- Higher user rating matters to you (4.8 vs 4.4)
Our Verdict
After thorough analysis, Photopea takes the lead in this comparison with a higher rating of 4.8/5 versus Affinity Photo's 4.4/5.
Photopea is best for Quick photo edits without software installation and Freelance work on multiple devices. Completely free with professional features.
Affinity Photo remains a strong alternative, especially for Professional photographers seeking Adobe alternatives and Digital artists and illustrators. Now completely free with full professional features.
Pricing-wise, Affinity Photo is the more affordable starting option. Evaluate free trials of both before committing.