Affinity resurfaces as an all-in-one illustration, photo editing and layout app

Canva acquired Serif, the developer of Affinity Designer, Photo, and Publisher, in 2024. Following the acquisition, Canva has launched a new, unified application called Affinity by Canva. This new software integrates the functionalities of the previous three separate Affinity apps into a single desktop application. Contrary to many expectations, Affinity by Canva has been made entirely free, adopting a freemium model rather than a subscription. Users can now access Vector, Pixel, and Layout tools within the same interface, with options to customize toolbars. While the core functionality remains similar, the app now requires a free Canva account for use. New integrations allow projects to be sent directly to Canva, and Canva's AI Studio tools, like background removal and Generative Fill, are now available. Existing users can continue using their old Affinity V2 licenses. However, the shift to a free, account-based model with potential AI upsells differs from the previous perpetual license structure. This acquisition follows another similar event in 2024 where Apple acquired Pixelmator.