Canva Unveils Unified Affinity App With Freemium Model
Graphic design platform provider Canva has made its first major update to the Affinity image-editing and publishing apps, now rebranded as "Affinity by Canva". The new unified app is available for free use with a Canva user account, but it gates advanced features like generative AI behind Canva's existing paid subscription plans.
The move marks a significant shift in Canva's approach to software licensing, as the company had previously offered perpetual licenses for its Affinity apps. However, users of the classic Affinity apps will still be able to use them without any changes, but they won't receive future updates and will eventually stop working on newer versions.
In a statement, Ash Hewson, CEO of Affinity, said that the new app was built in collaboration with the community of creators who have used Affinity for ten years. The updated software reflects what professionals told Canva matters most: performance, reliability, and creative freedom.
The unified Affinity by Canva supports Windows and Mac operating systems and features three apps - Photo, Designer, and Publisher – all under one roof. Users can now access the "Canva AI Studio" with paid subscriptions which includes tools like Generative Fill and Expand & Edit, but those tools are built with privacy and control in mind.
The new Affinity by Canva also introduces significant changes to its file format; older versions of the apps will not be able to open files created in the new app, and vice versa. However, users who already own the existing apps can still keep using them without juggling multiple accounts.
While some users may welcome the free availability of the updated software, others might find it unsettling due to Canva's shift towards subscription-based models. Nevertheless, the change seems to be a good news for existing Affinity app users in the near term, as all three apps' core features are now free to use.
Graphic design platform provider Canva has made its first major update to the Affinity image-editing and publishing apps, now rebranded as "Affinity by Canva". The new unified app is available for free use with a Canva user account, but it gates advanced features like generative AI behind Canva's existing paid subscription plans.
The move marks a significant shift in Canva's approach to software licensing, as the company had previously offered perpetual licenses for its Affinity apps. However, users of the classic Affinity apps will still be able to use them without any changes, but they won't receive future updates and will eventually stop working on newer versions.
In a statement, Ash Hewson, CEO of Affinity, said that the new app was built in collaboration with the community of creators who have used Affinity for ten years. The updated software reflects what professionals told Canva matters most: performance, reliability, and creative freedom.
The unified Affinity by Canva supports Windows and Mac operating systems and features three apps - Photo, Designer, and Publisher – all under one roof. Users can now access the "Canva AI Studio" with paid subscriptions which includes tools like Generative Fill and Expand & Edit, but those tools are built with privacy and control in mind.
The new Affinity by Canva also introduces significant changes to its file format; older versions of the apps will not be able to open files created in the new app, and vice versa. However, users who already own the existing apps can still keep using them without juggling multiple accounts.
While some users may welcome the free availability of the updated software, others might find it unsettling due to Canva's shift towards subscription-based models. Nevertheless, the change seems to be a good news for existing Affinity app users in the near term, as all three apps' core features are now free to use.
. Giving users free access to most of the core features is a solid starting point. The Generative AI tools with Canva AI Studio seem like game-changers. Still think Canva could have done more to ease the transition for classic Affinity app users, though...
. But at the same time, I don't know how much longer the classic Affinity apps will be supported and it's a bit of a shame that they're not getting future updates... what if some users just prefer the old way of doing things? 
about this new unified Affinity app by Canva! It's like, totally free 
and still super powerful 
, but with some extra fancy AI tools 
that require a paid sub 
. I think it's awesome they listened to the community 
who've been using Affinity for ages, 'cause now they can focus on performance 
and creative freedom 
. Still, some ppl might be like "wait, what about my old apps?" 
...the free stuff is still solid 
!
I mean, I get it, Canva wants to make some extra cash, but sometimes I feel like they're trying to nickel and dime us. Like, I love using their apps and all, but when you tell me I have to pay for some fancy tools just because I want to use them... 
.
. But at the same time, I'm a bit worried about the impact on user data and control 
. It's like they're asking for our trust without fully explaining how it all works 
. And don't even get me started on the file format changes... older files won't be compatible with the new app? That's just gonna cause headaches 
. But hey, I guess it's good for existing users in the short term...
!
. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or just a clever way to get more subs 
.
. On one hand, it's awesome that they're making some of the most powerful creative tools available for free 
... well, not entirely free, but still pretty affordable 
.