Adobe Photoshop is the gold standard of digital art software and equally popular among professionals and hobbyists. Still, Photoshop is not the cheapest and many photographers and digital artists are looking for a more affordable alternative. One competitor is Affinity Photo. But is Affinity Photo as good as Photoshop? Read on to find out which is better!
Which is better: Photoshop or Affinity Photo? That’s the big question we are going to look at in this post.
Adobe Photoshop was released in 1988 and has become the gold standard in digital image editing around the world. Professional photographers, illustrators, and designers use Photoshop, just like hobbyists and art enthusiasts.
In fact, Photoshop is so popular that it made its way into every-day language. We now ‘photoshop’ our images.
Affinity Photo, on the other hand, is much newer. The Serif company started to develop it in 2009 and launched it in 2015. However, Affinity Photo is now a serious alternative to Photoshop, offering a full-fledged array of tools and editing features at a cheaper price than the industry giant.
But is Affinity Photo as good as Photoshop? Or should you better be sticking with the Adobe version?
In this article, I am going to compare Affinity Photo vs Photoshop. I will let you know the advantages and drawbacks of each program and give you my honest opinion as a digital artist who has more than ten years of experience!
So hold tight and read along to find out whether or not Affinity Photo is worth the money or if you are better off using Photoshop!
Is Affinity Photo as good as Photoshop?
Common Things
Both Affinity Photo and Photoshop are powerful image editors. Both have their benefits and drawbacks, but both are capable to serve the needs of most photographers and digital artists.
So before looking into the differences between Affinity vs Adobe, let’s see what both programs actually have in common.
1. Similar user interface
Starting out with the appearance, Affinity Photo and Photoshop have a very similar user interface.
The main menu runs along the top. Below that, you find the options bar with different items depending on the tool you’ve selected. The actual tool panel is on the left, and a number of other panels are on the right-hand side.
And of course, the canvas you are working on is in the center!
2. All standard adjustments
Both programs have all the standard adjustments you would expect from an image editor. These include adjustments like Brightness and Contrast, Curves, Levels, Exposure, Black & White, and so on.
Then, there are also heaps of blending modes and layer styles that you can apply in both programs.
Affinity Photo actually comes with the same set of blending modes as Photoshop, including Soft Light, Overlay, Multiply, Color Burn, Darken, and Lighten.
→ TOP 6 Photoshop Blending Modes Explained (+ FREE Blend Modes Cheat Sheet)
Just like Photoshop, Affinity Photo offers a large selection of layer styles to choose from to create the most different effects that otherwise wouldn’t be possible to achieve.
- Grab your FREE Photoshop Blend Modes Cheat Sheet
Subscribe to get access to the Freebie Library and download your Free Photoshop Blend Modes Cheat Sheet with altogether 22 Pages Full Of Information!
3. Huge array of tools
Both Affinity Photo and Photoshop feature a huuuge array of tools that let you edit your images just the way you want.
You can make complex selections, transform and warp elements, apply filters and adjustments. You can heal skin, crop, resize, and compress images, and add text on top of them. The list goes on…
If you’ve made a mistake, you can simply go back in the history tool and undo it.
4. Layer-based workflow
You can edit in a non-destructive manner in Affinity Photo and Photoshop because both programs offer a layer-based workflow.
That means you can easily create image composites by stacking up multiple elements on different layers. But you can also dodge and burn on a separate layer so your original photo stays completely intact.
5. RAW editing capability
Editing RAW files is particularly interesting for passionate photographers, and the good news is that both programs come with RAW converters.
These allow you to open and edit your camera RAW files both in Photoshop and Affinity Photo. You’ll have all the standard editing options at your fingertips in both programs, including Brightness, Contrast, Vibrancy, and many more.
6. Mobile versions
Many photographers today want to edit images on the go, using their tablets or phones wherever they are. Luckily, both Affinity Photo and Adobe Photoshop have a solution for that.
Affinity Photo has an iPad version that’s available at a reduced fee. It comes with most of the functionality of the desktop version and can also open Affinity’s native file format (.afphoto) and PSD files.
As for Adobe, there is Photoshop Express that you can use on your smartphone and tablet. The basic version is completely free and includes the most used features. For more functionality, you can upgrade to the premium version for only US$4.99 per month.
Affinity Photo vs. Photoshop: Differences
Now that we’ve looked at the common grounds between the two programs, let’s see the differences, so you can make an informed decision on whether Affinity Photo is as good as Photoshop for your needs.
When considering Affinity Photo vs Photoshop, it’s important to remember that there is no one best program for everyone. Each photographer and digital artist has different requirements.
In the end, it’s not about which is the better program, but rather which program suits your needs best.
Here are 9 major differences that you should be aware of before ultimately deciding for Photoshop or Affinity Photo:
1. Affinity Photo hasn't as many features as Photoshop
The first thing you need to know is that Affinity Photo doesn’t have the huge quantity of features that Photoshop provides.
Many of Photoshop’s features are never used by a lot of amateur and hobbyist creators. But if you are a professional photographer or digital art, this is something to keep in mind.
For instance, Photoshop has AI-powered tools, more layer controls and masking options, as well as tools for creating and editing videos and 3D objects.
However, if you mainly want to work with 2D images (which includes anything from digital painting to photo manipulation), then those features are probably not so important.
2. Photoshop is updated more often than Affinity Photo
One reason why Photoshop has more features than Affinity Photo is that Adobe makes frequent updates to their program.
With the Creative Cloud subscription model, these updates are automatically integrated into Photoshop CC and available to all subscribers at no additional cost.
Serif do not update their Affinity Photo as often, but if you have a standard set of tools you work with, you may be able to do without fancy updates of AI-based tools to make people smile or look into a different direction…
3. Affinity Photo is easier to learn than Photoshop
One advantage of having fewer features than Photoshop is that Affinity Photo is easier to learn.
Photoshop comes with a pretty steep learning curve and getting to grips with all the tools, panels, filters, and other functions takes time.
In that respect, Affinity Photo is much more beginner-friendly, as you will be able to learn things more quickly and get started to create art faster. Nevertheless, Affinity Photo is quite powerful.
→ How To Teach Yourself Digital Art – 5 Tips For Beginners To Get Started
4. Photoshop’s tools have more workflow options
As we said above, Affinity Photo and Photoshop have very similar user interfaces with the tool panel on the left.
What’s different, however, is that Photoshop’s tools have more workflow options. For example, there are three selection tools in Photoshop: the Marquee, Lasso, and Magic Wand tool. Each of these tools has at least two sub-options.
If you look at the Marquee Tool, for example, you have the Rectangular, Elliptical, Single Row and Single Column Marquee Tool.
From a workflow perspective, this is where Photoshop has an edge over Affinity Photo. Once you got familiar with all the different tools and sub-tools, you have significantly more editing options at your disposal in Photoshop.
5. Affinity Photo uses different shortcuts
Once you memorized the dozens of keyboard shortcuts, Photoshop can drastically speed up your editing time. But getting all the shortcuts off pat takes some time and a lot of practice.
While Affinity Photo uses many of the common keystrokes also used in Photoshop, not all of them are the same.
If you are used to working with Photoshop’s shortcuts, you might find yourself pressing the wrong keys when you switch over to Affinity Photo. The same is true for the other way round.
That’s why transitioning from one program to the other might be a bit rocky.
6. File formats are not compatible
Both Photoshop and Affinity Photo have their native file format. Photoshop uses the ‘famous’ PSD format that is known throughout the industry.
Affinity Photo comes with its own AFPHOTO format. Both file formats are non-destructive, meaning they preserve layers, adjustments, effects, and other elements of an image that can be edited.
Affinity Photo can open and read PSD files, and also allows you to export files in PSD format. Adobe Photoshop, on the other hand, can’t handle AFPHOTO files.
This can be a problem if you want to share AFPHOTO files with Adobe Photoshop users. While it’s easier the other way round, just know that things might not always run smoothly.
7. There are more tutorials available for Photoshop
When considering Affinity Photo vs. Photoshop, it’s important to bear in mind that you will need some training to understand each program.
While Photoshop takes has more features and takes more time to learn, there are also more tutorials around than for Affinity Photo.
There are tons of free Photoshop tutorials online that teach you just about anything. You can find learning resources on YouTube, Facebook groups, and forums. And the classic e-learning sites like Skillshare, Udemy, or LinkedIn Learning offer Photoshop courses led by Adobe-certified instructors.
This resource richness stems from the sheer number of years that Photoshop has been around. Affinity Photo, on the other hand, is pretty new; that’s why there are not as many tutorials available as yet.
Sure, Affinity Photo provides its own video tutorials and sample images you can work with to learn the basics.
However, the resources are just not as comprehensive and you cannot expect to find a tutorial on every feature that you might want to get to know.
8. Affinity Photo doesn’t offer cloud storage
As opposed to Adobe’s Creative Cloud, Affinity Photo doesn’t come with cloud storage.
The advantage of joining the Adobe Creative Cloud subscription is that you will get online storage for storing and synching your files. That means you can upload all your images (including PSD files) to your Creative Cloud, and share and edit them across devices.
Everything is synched automatically and in real time.
Since you don’t get that infrastructure with Affinity Photo, you will need to transfer your files manually from one device to the other or upload them to a separate cloud storage platform.
9. Photoshop has higher system requirements
When deciding whether Affinity Photo or Photoshop is better for you, one thing you need to look at is the system requirements.
Adobe Photoshop is the code-heavier version with higher system requirements. In contrast, Affinity Photo also runs on older hardware.
Here are the specs you’ll need to have on your Mac or Windows computer, or on your iPad, to run the programs.
System requirements for Photoshop:
Mac OS
- OS: macOS Catalina (version 10.15) or later
- Processor: Intel processor with 64-bit support, 2 GHz or faster processor with SSE 4.2 or later
- RAM: 8GB
- Graphics: GPU with Metal support and 1.5 GB of GPU memory
- Storage: 4GB of available hard drive space
- Display: 1280×800 or better
Windows
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit (version 1909) or later
- Processor: Intel or AMD processor with 64-bit support (2 GHz or faster processor with SSE 4.2 or later)
- RAM: 8GB
- Graphics: GPU with DirectX 12 support and 1.5 GB of GPU memory
- Storage: 4GB of available hard drive space
- Display: 1280×800 or better
iPad
- OS: iPadOS (14.0). Compatible with Pad Pro (all models), iPad 5th generation or newer, iPad Air 2 or newer, iPad mini 4 or newer.
System requirements for Affinity Photo:
Mac OS
- OS: 10.9 Mavericks or later
- Processor: M1/M1 Pro/M1 Max chip or Intel
- RAM: 2GB minimum
- Storage: Up to 2.8GB of available hard drive space
- Display: 1280×768 display or better
Windows
- OS: Windows 7 64-bit (Service Pack 1, Platform Update KB2670838, Aero enabled) or later
- Graphics: DirectX 10-compatible Graphics Cards and above
- RAM: 2GB
- Storage: 953MB of available hard drive space
- Display: 1280×768 display or better
iPad
- OS: iOS 12 or above. Compatible with iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air (2, 3 & 4), iPad (2017 onwards) and iPad Mini (5 & 6)
Is Affinity Photo worth the money?
Affinity Photo and Adobe Photoshop come with two totally different pricing schemes.
Affinity Photo is significantly cheaper than Photoshop. Thus, it’s a great alternative for beginners or artists on a budget.
To get Affinity Photo on your MacBook or Windows PC, you need to make a one-time payment of US$54.99. That gives you a perpetual license and life-long usage rights to the software.
The iPad version is even cheaper, the one-off price being US$21.99 only. With each purchase, you will receive software updates for the duration of the current version. No matter what version you choose, you can always benefit from a Free Affinity Photo Trial before making your final decision!
Photoshop CC is a subscription-based software package for Mac and Windows. The currently cheapest Photography Plan costs US$9.99 per month or US$119.88 per year with an upfront payment. With that plan, you will get access to Photoshop, Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, and Adobe Bridge, as well as 20GB cloud storage.
The great thing about the subscription is that you’ll always get the respectively latest updates to the software for free!
Moreover, Adobe offer attractive discounts of up to 60% for students and teachers.
Here is an overview of the different pricing plans for both Adobe Photoshop and Serif’s Affinity Photo.
Adobe Photoshop CC Pricing Plans:
Adobe Photoshop
Photography Plan (20GB)
FREE 7-Day Trial.
-
Photoshop on desktop and iPad, Lightroom on desktop and mobile, Lightroom Classic.
Adobe Photoshop
Single App Plan
FREE 7-Day Trial.
-
Photoshop on desktop and iPad, 100GB of cloud storage, plus Photoshop Express on mobile.
Adobe Photoshop
All Apps Plan
FREE 7-Day Trial.
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Photoshop on desktop and iPad, plus the entire collection of apps available in the Creative Cloud.
Adobe Photoshop
Student & Teacher Discount
60% Off & FREE 7-Day Trial.
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Save over 60% on Photoshop, Lightroom and all Creative Cloud apps as student or teacher.
Affinity Photo Pricing Plans:
Affinity Photo
Desktop App
FREE 30-Day Trial.
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Affinity Photo with a perpetual license on Windows and Mac desktop computers.
Affinity Photo
iPad App
FREE 30-Day Trial.
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Affinity Photo with a perpetual license for touch-controlled iPad versions.
Do professional photographers use Affinity Photo?
When it comes to professional image editing, most photographers and digital artists will go for Photoshop because of its additional tools and features and the ease of use across devices with Adobe’s Creative Cloud storage.
Another benefit that justifies the higher cost is the other useful software apps that you can get with the subscription, such as Lightroom, Illustrator, and InDesign.
In conclusion, which is better: Photoshop or Affinity Photo?
Ultimately, there are good reasons to buy Affinity Photo and to subscribe to Adobe Creative Cloud.
Whether Photoshop or Affinity Photo is better boils down to your specific artistic needs and your budget.
Affinity Photo is a fantastic choice for beginners and hobbyists. It doesn’t cost a ton of money but still is a full-blown image editor that caters to most creative requirements. It comes with an extensive set of tools and is capable of handling complex editing tasks. If you aren’t actively making money with your digital art yet, then the one-off price of around US$50 is a worthwhile investment you cannot go wrong with.
Subscribe to Photoshop CC if you want the full range of tools and features that live up to sophisticated, professional editing needs. You will be able to use Adobe’s online storage to automatically synch your files across all your devices without any problem. Plugins allow you to extend Photoshop’s core functionality and there are heaps of tutorials and courses to help you with about anything.
Both Affinity Photo and Adobe Photoshop offer free trials. I recommend getting the FREE 7-DAY Photoshop Trial and the FREE Affinity Photo Trial before making your choice. Test the waters, try out things with both apps, and then stick with the one you like better!
More about Digital Art Software:
My name is Angie and I’m a self-taught digital artist. On this blog, I am sharing my knowledge and discussing the best software and hardware for different artistic needs. My desire is to offer options for all creative stages and budgets so that everyone can follow their dream and create art!
