Adobe Creative Cloud vs Affinity: Subscription Suite or Free Design App?
"Affinity" now means two different things. Until 2025, Serif sold Affinity Designer 2, Photo 2 and Publisher 2 as one-time purchases, including a Universal Licence covering Windows, macOS and iPad. In October 2025 Canva, which bought Serif in 2024, replaced them with one free Affinity app. This comparison covers both, against Adobe Creative Cloud.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Adobe Creative Cloud | Affinity |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Subscription (monthly or annual). Full suite is Creative Cloud Pro; single-app plans also available. | New Affinity (2025): free to download. Former V2 Universal Licence: one-time purchase, now withdrawn from sale. |
| Apps included | Separate apps incl. Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, After Effects, Lightroom and Acrobat Pro (full suite). | New Affinity: one app combining vector, photo and page-layout tools. V2: three separate apps (Designer, Photo, Publisher). |
| Video and motion | Yes: Premiere Pro and After Effects. | No dedicated video or motion app. |
| Desktop platforms | Windows and macOS; requirements vary by app and version. | New Affinity: Windows and macOS at launch, iPad announced for later. V2 Universal Licence: Windows, macOS and iPad. |
| Generative AI | Adobe Firefly features inside the apps; allowance depends on plan. | New Affinity: Canva AI tools require a paid Canva plan. |
| Account | Adobe account required. | New Affinity: Canva account sign-in. V2: Serif/Affinity account licence. |
| Sold on Ventrevo | Yes: 12-month plans for the suite and single apps. | No. |
Our verdict
Choose Adobe Creative Cloud if you need industry-standard file workflows, video and motion apps (Premiere Pro, After Effects), Acrobat Pro, or you collaborate with teams that already work in Adobe formats.
Choose the new Affinity if your work is photo editing, illustration or layout on Windows or macOS and you want a capable tool without a subscription. Its AI features need a paid Canva plan.
If you already own an Affinity V2 Universal Licence, your installed apps keep working. Canva has not published a long-term support timeline for V2, so test the new app before relying on it for client work.
Frequently asked questions
Is Affinity really free now?
Canva made the new Affinity app free to download and use in October 2025. Some AI features inside it require a paid Canva subscription.
What happened to the Affinity V2 Universal Licence?
The V2 apps (Designer 2, Photo 2 and Publisher 2) and their Universal Licence were withdrawn from sale before the new app launched. Existing owners can keep using the versions they bought.
Can Affinity replace Premiere Pro or After Effects?
No. Affinity covers vector, photo and layout work. It has no dedicated video editing or motion graphics app.
Does Ventrevo sell Affinity?
No. Ventrevo sells Adobe Creative Cloud 12-month plans. The new Affinity is downloaded directly from Canva.