"Creative Freedom Is Free Forever"
The all-new Affinity creative suite has officially launched, marking a major shift in the design software industry. The redesigned platform is an all-in-one professional app for creatives — and, in a surprising move, it’s now available to everyone for free.
Following Canva’s $380 million acquisition of Affinity in March 2024 (as reported by Forbes), the company has been undergoing extensive internal changes. Earlier this month, Affinity stopped selling its apps altogether, teasing users with the message, “Making space for what’s next.” That next chapter has arrived — and it’s completely reshaping the creative landscape.
Unlike previous versions, the new Affinity doesn’t cost a cent. The company says it listened to long-standing frustrations across the design community — from rising software prices and subscription fatigue to the hassle of switching between multiple programs. The result is a unified, subscription-free platform for photographers, illustrators, and designers alike.
The revamped app features a single, nondestructive file format that supports every type of creative work while maintaining full layer and editing capabilities. It also supports all major file types, including PSD, AI, PDF, SVG, TIFF, and IDML, ensuring seamless compatibility with industry standards.
Canva Premium users can also access Canva AI Studio directly inside Affinity, integrating advanced tools such as Generative Fill, Expand & Edit, and Remove Background. These AI-powered features streamline repetitive tasks while keeping designers in total control of their creative process.
“Today is just the beginning,” Affinity said in its announcement. “We’re continuing to invest in both Affinity’s professional design tools and Canva’s all-in-one platform, building a future where everyone can design at the highest level — without barriers.”
The features that made Affinity a top choice among creative professionals remain intact — speed, precision, and depth — but now they’re faster and more powerful than ever, all inside a single cohesive app.
Powered by a new high-performance engine, Affinity delivers real-time, nondestructive editing, supports projects with thousands of layers, and allows zooming up to an astonishing 10,000,000%.
Users can fully customize their workspace — rearranging panels, adding or removing tools, and saving unique layouts for specific tasks. These Custom Studios can even be shared or downloaded, making collaboration and workflow sharing easier for creative teams and communities.
Affinity summed up its new philosophy in one line: “Creative freedom shouldn’t come with a cost.”
The all-new Affinity is available now for macOS and Windows, with an iPad version scheduled for release next year.
