Affinity alternatives: 9 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Affinity: AI features need a paid Canva plan, and requires a Canva account to use. We ranked 9 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Affinity, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Adobe Illustrator currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Krita	Open source	Yes	Windows, macOS, Linux +1	4 of 4	53.6
2	Canva	Free plan + paid	No	Web, Windows, macOS +2	1 of 3	48.3

1. KritaTop pick
Best for: Illustrators and concept artists who want a free, full-featured painting app
Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, Android
53.6
score / 100
Why switch from Affinity
Free, open-source painting app for digital illustration.
Pros
Free and GPL-licensed
Excellent brush engines and drawing assistants
Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android
Cons
Not built for photo editing
Can slow down on very large canvases
No iPad version
Visit Krita Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.357
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Krita a good Affinity alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
License
GPL-3.0
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Price
Free
Checked Oct 25, 2026krita.org(opens source in a new tab)
Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
Checked Oct 25, 2026krita.org(opens source in a new tab)
Android
Google Play builds
Checked Oct 25, 2026krita.org(opens source in a new tab)
2. Canva
Best for: Non-designers creating social, marketing and presentation graphics
Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
48.3
score / 100
Why switch from Affinity
Far simpler template-based design for non-designers.
Pros
Huge template library
Very easy to use
Generous free plan
Cons
Limited precision for UI design
Premium assets require Pro
Visit Canva Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.363
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1538
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Canva a good Affinity alternative?
Verified facts
1 of 3 verified
Free plan
Yes
Not checked yetcanva.com(opens source in a new tab)
Templates
Large built-in library
Not checked yetcanva.com(opens source in a new tab)
Platforms
Web, desktop, mobile
Checked Oct 24, 2026canva.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Affinity alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Best Affinity alternative for most people

Adobe Illustrator

The industry standard if clients or agencies require Adobe files.

Best Affinity alternative for a free option

Inkscape

Free and open source, and also runs on Linux.

Best Affinity alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Figma

Better for UI design and real-time collaboration.

Best Affinity alternative for open source

Krita

Free, open-source painting app for digital illustration.

Best Affinity alternative for Mac

CorelDRAW

Professional vector suite with a long print and signage heritage.

Best Affinity alternative for Windows

Canva

Far simpler template-based design for non-designers.

Best Affinity alternative for Linux

GIMP

Fully open source with no account needed, and it runs on Linux as well.

Best Affinity alternative for iPhone and Android

Adobe Photoshop

The industry-standard raster editor, if clients expect PSD-native files and Adobe's generative tools.

Best Affinity alternative for working in the browser

CorelDRAW

Professional vector suite with a long print and signage heritage.

Affinity alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Affinity?

Adobe Illustrator ranks first right now. The industry standard if clients or agencies require Adobe files. Inkscape and CorelDRAW follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Affinity?

Yes. Inkscape (open source), Figma (free plan + paid), Krita (open source) and Canva (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Affinity?

Yes: Inkscape, Krita and GIMP.

Which Affinity alternatives work on Linux?

Inkscape, Krita and GIMP run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Affinity?

The complaints we hear most: AI features need a paid Canva plan; requires a Canva account to use; no iPad version yet after the merger.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Affinity, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.