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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

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Krita logoKritaOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +14 of 453.6
2Canva logoCanvaFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +21 of 348.3
3Adobe Photoshop logoAdobe PhotoshopPaidNoWindows, macOS, Web +25 of 538.6
  1. Krita logo

    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 logo

    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)
  3. Adobe Photoshop logo

    3. Adobe Photoshop

    Best for: Professionals who need the standard retouching and compositing tool and PSD compatibility

    PaidWindows, macOS, Web, iOS, Android

    38.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Affinity

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

    Pros

    • Deepest retouching, masking and compositing toolset available
    • PSD is the de facto exchange format for layered images
    • Generative Fill and other AI tools built into the normal workflow
    • Huge pool of tutorials, plug-ins and trained users

    Cons

    • Subscription only, with no perpetual licence
    • Steep learning curve for occasional users
    • Heavy on system resources for large documents
    Visit Adobe Photoshop Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.37
    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 Adobe Photoshop a good Affinity alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Purchase options
    Subscription only (Creative Cloud)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adobe.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    7 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adobe.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Refund window
    14 days after trial ends
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adobe.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free mobile version
    Yes, with paid premium features
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adobe.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Generative AI
    Generative Fill and Generative Expand
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adobe.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Affinity alternative for…

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

Adobe Illustrator logo

Best Affinity alternative for most people

Adobe Illustrator

The industry standard if clients or agencies require Adobe files.

Inkscape logo

Best Affinity alternative for a free option

Inkscape

Free and open source, and also runs on Linux.

Figma logo

Best Affinity alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Figma

Better for UI design and real-time collaboration.

Krita logo

Best Affinity alternative for open source

Krita

Free, open-source painting app for digital illustration.

CorelDRAW logo

Best Affinity alternative for Mac

CorelDRAW

Professional vector suite with a long print and signage heritage.

Canva logo

Best Affinity alternative for Windows

Canva

Far simpler template-based design for non-designers.

GIMP logo

Best Affinity alternative for Linux

GIMP

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

Adobe Photoshop logo

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.

CorelDRAW logo

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.