What Is Affinity’s New Design Platform?

Affinity’s new design platform combines everything into one app, merging Affinity Designer, Photo, and Publisher into a single, all-in-one creative suite. After Canva acquired Serif in 2024, the platform has been reimagined to rival Adobe — but with a twist: it’s completely free. The unified app offers professional tools for photo editing, vector illustration, and page layout, making it a top choice for designers who want power without subscriptions.

Why Did Canva Merge Affinity Into One App?

Canva’s integration of Affinity’s tools reflects a clear mission — to simplify professional design workflows. The new Affinity platform supports one universal file type, allowing seamless movement between tasks like image retouching and layout design. It also connects directly to Canva accounts, so users can export or collaborate online. Canva Premium users even get access to AI-powered features like instant background removal, content cleanup, and smart copy generation — all within the Affinity interface.

Is the New Affinity App Really Free Forever?

Yes — and Canva wants you to remember that. The company emphasizes that Affinity’s new design platform is “free forever,” with no subscription requirements. While older standalone Affinity apps (Designer, Photo, Publisher) will still function, the new platform replaces them as the official suite. That said, advanced AI tools remain available only for Canva Pro users, which may spark debate among long-time Affinity fans who prefer purely manual creative control.

How Does It Compare to Adobe’s Creative Cloud?

Affinity’s all-in-one app challenges Adobe’s subscription-heavy model with a streamlined, affordable alternative. Designers can now create, edit, and export without worrying about monthly fees or switching between separate programs. For professionals tired of Adobe’s ecosystem, this move could reshape the creative software landscape — especially with Canva’s AI features and cross-platform accessibility (Windows, macOS, and soon iPad).Affinity’s new design platform combines everything into one app, balancing the professional depth of traditional creative software with Canva’s accessibility and AI innovation. For freelancers, agencies, and hobbyists alike, this could be the start of a new era in digital design — powerful, connected, and finally free.