Affinity Photo is a professional photo editing app that challenges Photoshop. One-time purchase, no subscription required. Full RAW editing, retouching, and compositing capabilities. HDR merge, focus stacking, and panorama stitching. Available for Mac, Windows, and iPad with file compatibility. The Photoshop alternative professionals actually switch to.

Louis Corneloup Updated Jul 20, 2026 · how we evaluate Source affinity.serif.com ↗

Ratings Across the Web

4.6 (333 reviews)

Affinity Photo holds an aggregate rating of 4.6 out of 5 from 333 reviews across G2 and Capterra, last checked September 17, 2026.

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

RAW photo processing with 16-bit per channel editing
Advanced retouching tools with frequency separation
HDR merge and focus stacking capabilities
Non-destructive editing with live filters
PSD file import and export support
360° image editing for panoramas
Batch processing for multiple images
GPU acceleration for fast performance

Pricing Plans

Free Trial

Pricing checked Oct 3, 2026

Affinity Photo plans and prices, checked October 2026
Plan	Price	Details
Affinity Photo 2	$69.99/one-time	Full version for Mac or Windows All professional editing features Free updates No subscription required
Affinity Photo 2 iPad	$21.99/one-time	Full-featured iPad version Complete desktop features Apple Pencil support iCloud sync
Universal License	$169.99/one-time	All platforms + all Affinity apps Affinity Photo, Designer, Publisher Mac, Windows, and iPad Best value for creators

Calculate your cost View full pricing

Is Affinity Photo worth the price?

Great value

Affinity Photo's one-time purchase model is exceptionally fair and generous compared to the subscription-heavy market.

The $69.99 for a full desktop license is a steal, and even the $169.99 Universal License for all apps across all platforms offers incredible long-term value. This pricing is best for professional and hobbyist creators seeking powerful tools without recurring costs.

Hidden Costs & Gotchas

No cloud storage included, must use third-party.

Full Affinity Photo pricing: every plan, hidden costs and alternatives

How Affinity Photo's pricing compares

At $21.99/mo, billing unit not specified, Affinity Photo is mid-range of its 2 comparable direct competitors ($5 to $49.99/mo across the set).

Photopea

Affinity Photo

$21.99

Pixelmator Pro

$49.99

Entry paid plan, monthly. Pricing checked Oct 3, 2026.

Reviews

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4.6/5

Across 333 verified user reviews on G2, Capterra

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Best Affinity Photo Alternatives

Top alternatives based on features, pricing, and user needs.

Adobe Photoshop Paid

The industry-standard image editing and graphic design software for creative professionals.

3.0

GIMP Free

Professional image editing, free and open-source

3.7

Pixelmator Pro Paid

Professional image editing for Mac

4.6

Photopea Freemium

Powerful Photoshop-like image editor, no installation needed

4.5

Capture One Paid

Professional photo editing software

4.5

See all image editing tools →

Still deciding?

Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.

Affinity Photo vs Adobe Photoshop Head-to-head: features, pricing, who wins Affinity Photo vs GIMP Head-to-head: features, pricing, who wins Affinity Photo vs Pixelmator Pro Head-to-head: features, pricing, who wins

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Affinity Photo FAQ

How does Affinity Photo handle advanced photo manipulations?

Affinity Photo offers professional features for comprehensive photo manipulation, including full RAW editing, retouching, and compositing. It also supports advanced techniques like HDR merge, focus stacking, and panorama stitching for detailed image work.

Which teams would benefit most from using Affinity Photo?

Teams involved in graphic design, image editing, and color correction would find Affinity Photo suitable. Its professional features and one-time purchase model make it a strong option for creative professionals seeking a powerful editing suite.

How is Affinity Photo priced?

Affinity Photo is offered as a one-time purchase, meaning users pay a single fee to own the software. There is no permanently free tier available for this product.

What kind of trade-offs might users experience with Affinity Photo compared to competitors?

Users might find that Affinity Photo has a smaller community and fewer available plugins compared to some other established editing software. However, it still provides professional-grade features and great performance.

Can Affinity Photo be used across different operating systems?

Yes, Affinity Photo is available for Mac, Windows, and iPad, ensuring broad accessibility for users. It also maintains file compatibility across these different platforms.

How does Affinity Photo compare to Adobe Photoshop?

Affinity Photo is presented as a professional photo editing application that challenges Adobe Photoshop, offering a similar suite of features like RAW editing, retouching, and compositing. A key difference is its one-time purchase model, eliminating the need for a subscription.

Source: affinity.serif.com

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