Designers, assemble! The all-new Affinity V3 by Canva is here.
After almost two years of speculation, we now have a much clearer view of the future of this beloved creative software suite.
The most recent update of the Affinity software went live on October 30th, 2025 and brought some undoubtedly big changes.
When Web-based design platform Canva acquired Affinity in March of last year, the news immediately took the design world by storm.
While being a much smaller player compared to industry giants like Adobe, Affinity had quickly built a very loyal customer base. This is, in part, due to its award-winning software focusing on core creative needs, but for the most part, due to its one-time payment model: around £80 for the whole suite — forever.
After the acquisition by Canva, which operates on a subscription model for the Pro tier, speculations started spreading about Affinity adopting the same model. Was the beloved, affordable Affinity about to become unrecognisable?
Fast forward a year and a half later, something big seems to be brewing at Canva x Affinity HQ. At the beginning of October, Affinity took down their storefront, effectively making their three applications Designer, Photo, and Publisher unavailable for purchase.
This was clearly a move gearing up for the release of something new — but what exactly? Well, we finally found out.
The New Update
The latest update unveils a brand-new Affinity V3, neatly repackaged in a shiny new visual identity. And the suite changes? Quite ground-breaking. Let’s go over them.
One App to Rule Them All
Instead of offering three separate applications, Affinity now features the three studios (Vector, formerly Designer; Pixel, formerly Photo; and Layout, formerly Publisher) all in one app.
While each studio has its own dedicated panel, the panels can be rearranged to build your own custom studio based on individual projects and their needs. The custom panels are also fully shareable, to promote collaboration among teams and professionals.
The new Affinity app is now available for MacOs and Windows, with an iPad version coming in the near future.
Software, Updated
The new Affinity app features some exciting updates in the software, too:
- A high-speed engine updates adjustments in real time, edits at 10,000,000% zoom, and allows for thousands of layers.
- Affinity V3 allows users to import any file type (PSDs, AIs, IDMLs, DWGs…) while preserving structure, layers, and creative intent.
- All edits are non-destructive, leaving your original files unscathed and allowing for more experimentation.
- Each studio boasts new and improved capabilities: full-scope photo editing, advanced vector design, and state-of-the-art layout management.
Completely Free, Forever
Now, for the big reveal: the new Affinity app is completely free — and will be forever. No subscriptions, no one-time purchases. It seems too good to be true, but it’s here!
Integration with Canva
While Canva co-founder Cameron Adams has been clear that Affinity will remain a separate application, integrations have always been on the table. The new Affinity app allows to export projects into Canva directly for seamless editing and posting.
On top of that, integration with Canva will give users access to the new Canva AI Studio. The AI Studio is the only paid feature of Affinity by Canva, as it relies on integrating Affinity with Canva Pro. A Canva Pro subscription will set you back £13/month if paid monthly or £100/year if paid yearly. Canva AI Studio includes features like Generative Fill, Background Removal, and Image and Vector Generation.
In their press release, Affinity and Canva stress that “transparency around AI use and data handling is essential”. They guarantee that they’ll have no access to local files, and won’t be using user data to train AI.
What Does This Mean for Designers and Current Affinity Users?
So, how does this news impact designers and current Affinity users?
In short, the older V1 and V2 versions, while no longer available for new purchase or public download, are still functioning and users will be able to access them. To encourage current users to move to V3, even though V2 perpetual licenses will remain available, V2 will no longer be actively maintained or developed.
Only time will tell how this new path will look like for Affinity users old and new, but one thing’s for certain: expectations are high!
