Affinity Publisher
UnclaimedProfessional desktop publishing software for creating stunning layouts and designs.
Visit WebsiteTL;DR - Affinity Publisher
- Professional desktop publishing app now free after Canva acquisition
- Advanced layout, typography, and StudioLink integration with Photo and Designer
- Available on macOS, Windows, and iPad with no subscription
Pricing: Free forever
Best for: Individuals & startups
4.7/5 across review platforms
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Now completely free with no subscription or purchase required
- Professional-grade features competitive with Adobe InDesign
- StudioLink provides photo and vector editing within the layout app
- One-time file format with no cloud dependency
- Runs natively on macOS, Windows, and iPad
- No recurring costs or feature-gated tiers
Cons
- Smaller plugin ecosystem compared to InDesign
- No native scripting support for automation workflows
- Fewer third-party templates and resources available
- Future development roadmap uncertain after Canva acquisition
- No built-in IDML import for seamless InDesign migration
Ratings Across the Web
4.7(133 reviews)
Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more
Preview
Key Features
Advanced page layout with master pages and facing spreadsFull OpenType typography with variable font supportLinked text frames with auto-flow across pagesStudioLink integration with Affinity Photo and DesignerProfessional PDF export with bleed and crop marksEPUB, SVG, TIFF, JPEG, and PNG export formatsTables with custom formatting and stylesFootnotes and endnotes with style controlData merge for personalized documentsAvailable on macOS, Windows, and iPad
Pricing
Free
Affinity Publisher is completely free to use with no hidden costs.
About Affinity Publisher
By Toolradar Team·
Affinity Publisher is a professional desktop publishing application for creating books, magazines, brochures, posters, and marketing materials. It offers advanced typography, master pages, linked text frames, and precise layout tools rivaling Adobe InDesign. StudioLink technology lets users access Affinity Photo and Designer editing directly within Publisher. Originally a one-time purchase from Serif, the app became free in 2025 after Canva's acquisition, with no subscription required.
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Affinity Publisher FAQ
Is Affinity Publisher really free now?
Yes. After Canva acquired Serif in 2024, Affinity Publisher (along with Photo and Designer) became free to download and use in 2025. There are no subscriptions, ads, or feature restrictions.
Can Affinity Publisher replace Adobe InDesign?
For most desktop publishing tasks, yes. Affinity Publisher handles books, magazines, brochures, and marketing materials with professional layout tools. However, InDesign has deeper scripting support, more plugins, and broader industry adoption for production workflows.
What is StudioLink?
StudioLink is a technology that lets you access Affinity Photo (raster editing) and Affinity Designer (vector editing) tools directly within Publisher without switching applications. All three apps must be installed on the same device.
Does Affinity Publisher support EPUB export?
Yes. Publisher can export documents as EPUB files for e-book distribution, along with PDF (with professional print marks), SVG, TIFF, JPEG, and PNG formats.
Will Affinity Publisher continue to receive updates?
Canva has committed to maintaining the Affinity apps, though the long-term roadmap is unclear. Existing V2 licenses remain valid, and the free version includes all current features.
Source: affinity.serif.com