Overview
Affinity Studio (often called Affinity V3) is the result of Canva’s 2024 acquisition of Serif. It takes what used to be three separate "pro" applications (Photo, Designer, and Publisher) and merges them into a single, unified interface.
If you are a creative professional tired of juggling multiple heavy applications, this is built for you. The concept is simple. Instead of exporting a file from Photoshop to open it in Illustrator, you just toggle a switch in the toolbar. It keeps the high-performance engine legacy users loved (specifically the million-percent zoom and real-time rendering) but removes the friction of swapping software.
The biggest shift here is the business model. To challenge Adobe’s dominance, Canva has made the core "pro" engine completely free. You get the vector, pixel, and layout tools without a monthly fee. The catch? You need a Canva account to log in, and the generative AI features require a paid subscription.
Note: This is the creative design suite found at Affinity.studio. If you are looking for the relationship intelligence platform used by VCs, that is a different company located at Affinity.co.
Key Features
The Unified "Studios" System
This is the main draw. Affinity Studio eliminates file switching by using "Personas" or "Studios." You can be working on a complex page layout (Publisher tools), realize you need to retouch an image, and simply click the Pixel Studio icon. The toolbar instantly swaps to photo-editing tools like dodge, burn, and frequency separation, all without leaving the document or breaking your flow.
Customizable Workspaces
Because the tools are no longer segregated by app, you can build custom hybrid workspaces. If your workflow involves heavy vector illustration mixed with bitmap texturing, you can create a "Social Media" or "Illustration" studio that houses your favorite vector pens right next to your raster brushes. It allows for a fluidity that segregated apps just cannot offer.
Canva AI Studio
This is where the software integrates with the Canva ecosystem. Located within the pro interface, this module brings in generative tools like Generative Fill, Expand & Edit, and vector generation. These features run on Canva’s server-side tech. While powerful, keep in mind that unlike the local tools, these features require an internet connection and a paid subscription.
Advanced Vector & Path Operations
Despite the Canva branding, the "pro" depth hasn't been watered down. V3 introduces Mesh Gradient Fills and a new Hatch Fill tool that technical illustrators have been asking for. They also added a native Image Trace function that rivals the industry standard, allowing you to convert pixel data into editable vector paths cleanly.
Privacy-First System
In an era where creative tools are quietly scraping user data, Affinity has taken a hard stance. They have an explicit "no-AI-training" policy. Your local designs and manual work are not used to train machine learning models. This is a significant selling point for agencies working with sensitive IP who cannot risk their work feeding a public algorithm.
Pricing
The pricing structure is aggressive and clearly aims to undercut Adobe Creative Cloud.
- Core Application (Free): The full desktop application is free to download and use. This includes the complete set of professional vector, pixel, and layout tools. There are no watermarks or "pro-only" restrictions on the manual tools.
- Canva AI Studio (Paid): To access the generative AI features (magic erase, gen fill), you need a Canva Pro, Business, or Enterprise subscription. This starts at roughly $12.99/month or $119.99/year.
- Requirement: You must create a free Canva account to log in and activate the software.
- Legacy Users: If you owned Affinity V2, you get the V3 upgrade automatically.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Unified Workflow: Editing photos, vectors, and layouts in one file without context switching saves a massive amount of time.
- Performance: The engine remains incredibly light and fast. It handles complex files with real-time rendering better than most competitors.
- Price: Getting a professional-grade design suite for free is unheard of. It lowers the barrier to entry significantly.
- File Support: It handles PSD, AI, and PDF files well, making it easy to slot into an existing pipeline.
Cons
- Login Wall: You cannot use the app without logging into a Canva account. For privacy-focused legacy users, this requirement is a nuisance.
- AI Paywall: Features that feel like standard utilities in other software (like smart background removal) are locked behind the Canva Pro subscription.
- No iPad App (Yet): The unified V3 experience is desktop-only for now. The iPad version is delayed until 2026, which breaks the ecosystem for tablet-first designers.
- UI Readability: The switch to monochrome icons looks modern but can be harder to parse quickly compared to the color-coded UI of previous versions.
Verdict
Affinity Studio is a formidable piece of software. By merging three apps into one and making the core engine free, Canva has created the most compelling alternative to the Adobe ecosystem we have seen to date.
If you are a freelancer or a budget-conscious creative, downloading this is a no-brainer. You get professional power for zero dollars. However, if you rely heavily on generative AI or iPad workflows, you might find the current iteration slightly disjointed due to the subscription paywall and the lack of a mobile app.
Recommendation: Download the free core version. It likely covers 90% of what you need without costing a dime. Upgrade to the Pro plan only if you find yourself needing the generative AI tools on a daily basis.