<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 4</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="540" src="https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/A-huge-kudos-to-the-team.webp" alt="Canva Made Affinity Free" class="wp-image-33132" srcset="https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/A-huge-kudos-to-the-team.webp 960w, https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/A-huge-kudos-to-the-team-300x169.webp 300w, https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/A-huge-kudos-to-the-team-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></figure>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Synopsis</h4>



<p>Canva has relaunched Affinity — merging its Designer, Photo, and Publisher tools — into one powerful app, now 100% free forever for Windows and macOS. The company insists there&#8217;s no hidden agenda: user data isn’t sold, work isn’t used to train AI, and revenue comes from optional paid <a href="https://octet.design/journal/top-ai-tools/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI tools</a>.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Key takeaways</h4>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Unified App: Affinity Designer, Photo, and Publisher are now combined into a single application with modes for Vector, Pixel, and Layout.</li>



<li>Free Forever: The core <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.affinityafrica.app&amp;hl=en_IN" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Affinity app</a> is completely free with no subscription, and users get access to all primary professional tools.</li>



<li>AI Features Behind Paywall: Advanced AI features (like generative fill, background removal) are available only to Canva Premium subscribers.</li>



<li>Privacy &amp; Ownership Assured: Canva states it does not train its AI on users’ Affinity files, does not sell their data, and that creators retain full ownership of their work.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Affinity becomes one app and free!</h2>



<p>Last week, <a href="https://www.canva.com/newsroom/news/affinity-free/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Canva announced</a> a major overhaul of the <a href="https://www.affinity.studio/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Affinity creative suite</a> (originally from Serif). The company has merged all three separate apps — Affinity Designer, Affinity Photo, and Affinity Publisher — into a single, unified application for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacOS" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">macOS</a> and <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/windows" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Windows</a>.</p>



<p>Instead of switching between programs, users now select between three “studios” or modes: Vector (for illustration), Pixel (for photo editing), and Layout (for publishing).</p>



<p>According to <a href="https://www.canva.com/en_in/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Canva</a> (and echoed in official Affinity messaging), this app is “free, forever”. There’s no stripped-down “lite” version: the full set of professional-grade tools is available without paying.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How is this sustainable? Where’s the revenue?</h2>



<p>Naturally, many in the creative community have asked: “How is this even possible?” In a video (and accompanying communications), Canva’s leadership addressed these concerns directly — stating that there’s no catch. They emphasize three core promises:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>No data selling</li>



<li>No training AI on users’ files</li>



<li>User work remains fully theirs</li>
</ul>



<p>So how does Canva make money? The monetization comes only through advanced AI features. Basic creative tools remain free; but if you want generative fill, automatic background removal, or other AI-powered enhancements, you’ll need a <a href="https://www.canva.com/en_in/pro/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Canva Premium subscription</a>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="How is Affinity now free?" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/v9YR9KeCJDY?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Features &amp; user experience</h2>



<p>Beyond just merging the apps, the relaunched Affinity offers a highly customizable <a href="https://octet.design/journal/user-interface/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">user interface</a>. Users can choose which panels to show, rearrange tools from different “studios,” and save their workspace layouts for specific tasks — even share these setups with their teams or the broader community.</p>



<p>It also introduces a “universal file format”, meaning a seamless workflow across vector, pixel, and layout design within the same document. For users who also use Canva, there’s tight integration: you can export your Affinity projects to your Canva account.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Legacy users &amp; licenses</h2>



<p>If you already own the older Affinity apps (V1 or V2), here’s what changes — and what remains:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The old versions (Designer, Photo, Publisher) will continue to work, but they don’t receive future updates.</li>



<li>Files created in the new Affinity app use the new format; they can be opened in the legacy apps, but saving in the new format makes them incompatible with older versions.</li>



<li>To download the new version, a free Canva account is required.</li>
</ul>



<p><strong>Platform availability</strong>:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Windows &amp; macOS: Available now.</li>



<li>iPad: A version is coming (Canva says “in the future”).</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Risks and criticisms</h2>



<p>While the announcement has been widely praised, some users remain skeptical — pointing out potential downsides:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Terms flexibility: According to the terms of use, Canva reserves the right to modify or disable access to Affinity in the future.</li>



<li>AI opt-in defaults: Some users note that AI-related data usage settings are turned on by default and need to be manually opted out.</li>



<li>Backwards compatibility concern: Once you save in the new app’s format, older V1/V2 versions of Affinity can’t open those new files.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Canva’s bold move could shake up Adobe’s empire!</h2>



<p>When Canva acquired Serif’s Affinity suite in 2024, many expected tighter integrations or a freemium model — not a complete removal of the price tag.</p>



<p>Now, with the “100% free forever” announcement, Canva has done something even Adobe hasn’t dared: turned premium creative software into an open-access tool.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A direct challenge to Adobe’s subscription model</h3>



<p>Adobe dominates creative software, but its <a href="https://www.adobe.com/in/creativecloud/plans.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Creative Cloud pricing</a> — $60/month for the full suite — has long frustrated independent designers, freelancers, and small businesses. </p>



<p>Canva’s move directly undercuts this, offering pro-level design tools for $0 upfront. For many, this could be the final push to cancel Adobe subscriptions, especially for non-enterprise users who don’t rely on niche Adobe-only features.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">User sentiment shifting toward trust and freedom</h3>



<p>Canva’s messaging — “no data selling, no AI training, your work stays yours” — taps into growing frustration around AI ethics and user data exploitation. </p>



<p>It positions Canva as the ethical, creator-first alternative in a space where big tech companies are often viewed as extractive. This trust-building narrative could earn Canva long-term loyalty beyond just affordability.</p>



<p>While it looks altruistic, this move is strategically brilliant. By making Affinity free, Canva can:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Expand its user base exponentially, bringing millions into its ecosystem.</li>



<li>Upsell AI-powered tools via its paid Canva Pro plans.</li>



<li>Collect product insights (within ethical limits) to refine both Affinity and Canva’s collaborative design tools.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Pressure on Adobe to rethink accessibility</h3>



<p>If Canva sustains this model successfully, Adobe will be forced to rethink its subscription-first approach. Industry analysts predict Adobe may need to introduce lighter or free-tier versions of its apps to compete for early-career creators.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A potential shift in the creative software market</h3>



<p>We’re witnessing a possible paradigm shift — from gatekeeping design tools behind paywalls to making creativity accessible for everyone. </p>



<p>Much like how <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/create" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Google Docs</a> disrupted <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/microsoft-365/microsoft-office">Microsoft Office</a>, Canva could do the same to Adobe’s Creative Suite — not by matching feature for feature, but by changing the rules of access.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bottom line</h2>



<p>Canva isn’t just giving away software — it’s rewriting the economics of creativity.<br>If this “free forever” model holds, Adobe’s long reign as the industry default may finally have a worthy challenger.</p>
<footer class="author-bio-section" ><div class="author-flex"><div class="author-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="90" height="90" src="https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/PicGrid_20241110_22085166-150x150.webp" class="attachment-90x90 size-90x90" alt="Jinali Shah’s Articles" /></div><div class="author-info"><div class="author-name"><strong>Jinali Shah</strong></div><p class="author-bio">&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;&gt;Jinali is a senior UX Designer with 4+ years of experience crafting SaaS and B2B platforms. She is research-driven, analytical, and purpose-led, focused on solving real user problems through thoughtful, scalable, and functional design.&lt;/span&gt;</p></div> </div><div class="authorbox-social-icons"> <a href="mailto:jinali@octet.design" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" title="E-mail" class="tooltip"><i class="fa fa-envelope-square fa-2x"></i> </a></div></footer>

This Is Insane! Canva Just Made Affinity Completely Free Forever

Discover 15+ best font pairing generator and tools to avoid typography mistakes. Explore free font pairing website for professional designs.

15+ Best Font Pairing Generator To Avoid Typography Mistakes

Find 20 website animation examples, from hero scroll effects, parallax to 3D rotations, micro-interactions & more. Boost user engagement with top examples!

Top 20 Website Animation Examples That Will Inspire Your Next Design

Discover the 12 essential types of 3D animation every designing team must know, from character, product animation to VFX, VR & motion captures and more.

12 Types Of 3D Animation Every Designing Team Must Know

Discover 20 free fonts for commercial use curated from trusted sources like Google Fonts. These options deliver impact without licensing fees.

20 Free Fonts For Commercial Use Ideal For Branding

Discover 50 stunning CSS text animations that grab attention instantly. Explosive effects, 3D flips, glitch styles, and more.

Top 50 CSS Text Animations Every Motion Designer Should Try

Effective slide design supports clear business communication for products.

This Is Insane! Canva Just Made Affinity Completely Free Forever

Tags:

Jinali Shah

Inspire the next generation of designers

Read Next