Canva Relaunches Affinity as Free All-in-One Design App

Canva has integrated Serif's Affinity design suite, creating a unified design tool. This new Affinity by Canva combines Designer, Photo, and Publisher functionalities into one application for Mac and Windows. Users can now seamlessly switch between vector, photo, and layout modes using dedicated tabs. The app features a customizable workspace that allows users to mix and match tools, arrange panels, and save specific project setups. These custom setups can be shared among teams to standardize workflows. Canva's acquisition necessitates a Canva account for access, although signing up is free. Canva premium users gain access to AI-powered features within Affinity, such as Generative Fill and Background Removal. The app is launched for free, promising no restrictions on the core features. This move positions Canva as a competitor to Adobe, eliminating the subscription model. However, the requirement of a Canva account and the inclusion of AI upsells suggest a freemium model. It's uncertain how existing Affinity users will perceive this shift towards ongoing Canva integration.