Affinity Photo

Affinity Photo is a professional raster image editor competing with Adobe Photoshop through advanced layer management, RAW processing, retouching tools, HDR merging, focus stacking, and comprehensive color adjustment capabilities—all available via one-time purchase instead of subscription. Developed by Serif, the software handles professional photography workflows, detailed photo manipulation, digital painting, and complex compositing with full support for 16-bit and 32-bit color workflows. The application includes live filter layers, adjustment layers, and non-destructive editing essential for professional image work.

Best For

Affinity Photo excels for professional photographers, retouchers, and digital artists seeking Adobe Photoshop alternatives without subscription costs. It's particularly valuable for portrait and wedding photographers doing high-volume retouching who need professional tools at predictable costs. Landscape photographers appreciate the RAW processing, HDR merging, and focus stacking capabilities matching dedicated tools. Digital artists use it for matte painting, texture creation, and concept art with comprehensive brush engines and blend modes. The $69.99 one-time purchase appeals to photography studios controlling operating expenses and photographers building sustainable business models without recurring software fees.

The platform serves image editing professionals prioritizing ownership and performance over Adobe ecosystem integration.

Common Questions

Can Affinity Photo open Photoshop PSD files?
Yes, Affinity Photo opens PSD files with excellent layer, mask, and adjustment layer preservation. It maintains editability of most Photoshop features including smart objects, blend modes, and layer effects. Some Photoshop-specific features (certain adjustment layers, proprietary filters) may require conversion, but standard photography and retouching workflows transfer seamlessly.

How does RAW processing compare to Lightroom?
Affinity Photo's Develop Persona provides complete RAW processing with exposure, white balance, tone curves, HSL adjustments, lens corrections, and noise reduction. It matches Lightroom's technical capabilities for single-image processing but lacks Lightroom's catalog management, batch processing efficiency, and cloud sync. Photographers often use Affinity Photo as a Photoshop replacement while keeping Lightroom for organization, or pair it with free alternatives like Darktable for RAW workflow.

Does Affinity Photo work on iPad?
Yes, Affinity Photo for iPad ($21.99) delivers the full desktop feature set optimized for Apple Pencil pressure sensitivity and touch gestures. The iPad version handles the same .afphoto file format, enabling seamless work across Mac, Windows, and iPad without cloud subscriptions. Photographers appreciate on-location retouching with full professional tools.

What's missing compared to Photoshop?
Affinity Photo lacks Photoshop's extensive plugin ecosystem (many third-party plugins won't work), generative AI features, comprehensive video editing, 3D tools, and deep Adobe ecosystem integration (no Creative Cloud Libraries, Adobe Stock integration). The user community and learning resources are smaller. However, core photography and retouching capabilities match or exceed Photoshop for most professional workflows.

Pricing & Plans

Affinity Photo V2: $69.99 one-time purchase (Mac or Windows)

Affinity Photo for iPad: $21.99 one-time purchase (separate from desktop)

Universal License: $169.99 one-time (all three Affinity apps—Designer, Photo, Publisher—across Mac, Windows, iPad)

Free Trial: 30 days full-featured (no credit card required)

No subscription, no recurring costs, no forced upgrades. V2 owners receive free updates within that major version. Future major versions would be paid upgrades, not subscription requirements.

Getting Started

Download 30-day free trial from affinity.serif.com. Import RAW files and use Develop Persona for initial processing (exposure, color, detail). Switch to Photo Persona for retouching using healing brush, clone stamp, and dodge/burn tools. Experiment with layer adjustments and live filter layers for non-destructive editing. Import a PSD file to test compatibility with existing workflows. Review Affinity's video tutorials covering photography workflows and advanced techniques.

Limitations

• No catalog management or batch processing like Lightroom
• Plugin ecosystem much smaller than Photoshop
• No generative AI features for content-aware fill or object removal
• Fewer learning resources and third-party tutorials
• No cloud storage or mobile sync (files are local)
• Separate purchase required for iPad version ($21.99)
• Some Photoshop plugins incompatible
• No collaborative editing features
• Advanced 3D and video tools limited compared to Photoshop