Affinity review

Affinity is the strongest Photoshop replacement on this list for people who edit photos and also design graphics or layouts. Canva now offers it free for individuals on Mac, Windows and iPad, with vector, pixel and layout tools in a single app, so a poster, a retouched photo and a print layout can live in one .af file. Affinity says it opens PSD, AI, IDML and DWG files with layers and structure preserved, which matters most when clients or colleagues still send Photoshop files. Edits are non-destructive and the undo history is saved with the document, so you can step back from a final export to the first edit. Finished assets export directly to Canva for team review. The tradeoffs: the AI features need a paid Canva premium plan, and organizations that want SSO have to contact Canva Enterprise or Canva Education. The app also covers far more ground than a basic photo editor, so expect a learning period if you only need quick fixes.

Who it is for

designers and photographers who want pro tools at no cost

Price

Free for individuals; enterprise SSO through Canva.

Affinity is free for individuals (seriously).
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 13, 2026.

Key features

• Pixel, vector and layout tools in a single app and file format
• Opens PSD, AI, IDML and DWG files with layers and structure preserved
• Non-destructive editing with saved undo history
• Exports finished assets straight to Canva for team collaboration
• Optional AI tools for users on a Canva premium plan

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Free for individuals on Mac, Windows and iPad
• Strength: PSD files open with layers and structure preserved, according to Affinity
• Strength: Replaces three apps: photo editor, vector tool and page layout
• Weakness: AI tools require a paid Canva premium plan
• Weakness: Organizations that need SSO must go through Canva Enterprise or Canva Education
• Weakness: One app covering three jobs has more to learn than a simple photo editor

Key facts

• Price: Free for individuals
• Platforms: Mac, Windows, iPad
• Photoshop files: Opens PSD with layers preserved
• AI: Optional, with a Canva premium plan

Where it ranks

Affinity is No. 1 in our Best Photoshop Alternatives verdict.