Affinity review

Affinity takes first place because it answers the most common question about Mac photo editors: you can get a full layered, professional editor for nothing. Canva now offers Affinity free to individuals, and its download page says every tool in the Pixel, Vector and Layout studios, plus all export features, can be used with no restrictions or payment. For photo work, the Pixel tools list full RAW editing, tone mapping, lens correction, an inpainting brush, healing tools, dodge and burn, recordable macros for batch work, HDR merge and panorama stitching. It opens PSD, AI, PDF, SVG and IDML files, which matters if you share files with Photoshop users. The trade-offs: you need a Canva account to download it, Canva's Generative Fill and Generative Expand only work with a paid Canva premium plan, and because one app also handles vector design and page layout, the interface holds more than a photo-only editor. It runs natively on Apple silicon and Intel Macs. We compared documented features and published prices.

Who it is for

Mac users who want a full layered photo editor for free

Price

Free for individuals; Canva premium plans add Canva AI tools inside Affinity.

Individuals can use every tool in the Pixel, Vector, and Layout studios (and Sketch for iPad), plus all of the customization and export features, as much as they want, with no restrictions or payment needed.
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 11, 2026.

Key features

• Pixel, Vector and Layout studios in one app, all free for individuals
• Full RAW editing, tone mapping and lens correction
• Inpainting brush, healing tools, dodge and burn for retouching
• Batch processing with recordable macros, HDR merge and panorama stitching
• Opens PSD, AI, PDF, SVG and IDML files

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Every tool and export feature is free for individuals
• Strength: Runs natively on Apple silicon and Intel Macs
• Strength: Opens Photoshop PSD files with layers and structure preserved
• Weakness: Requires a Canva account to download and sign in
• Weakness: Generative Fill and other AI tools need a paid Canva premium plan
• Weakness: One app for design, layout and photos has more to learn than a photo-only editor

Key facts

• Price: $0 for individuals
• Owner: Canva
• Platforms: Mac, Windows and iPad
• Mac support: Native on Apple silicon and Intel
• AI tools: With a Canva Pro, Business, Enterprise or Education plan

Where it ranks

Affinity is No. 1 in our Best Photo Editing Apps for Mac verdict.