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Affinity by Canva is a standalone desktop app for Windows and macOS, and its core photo-editing, vector-design, and page-layout tools are currently free. You do not need a paid Canva plan for ordinary Affinity work, but you do need a free Canva account to download and activate the application.
Use the official Affinity download page—not a software mirror, torrent, “portable” repack, crack, or activator. Windows users must choose between an Intel/AMD x64 installer and an ARM64 installer for Snapdragon PCs. Mac users download a .dmg file and move Affinity to Applications.
Official Affinity download links
Download Affinity from the official Affinity domain:
The download page may ask you to sign in to Canva or create a free Canva account before downloading. That account requirement is part of the current product and licensing model, not an indication that you have downloaded the wrong application.
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What is Affinity by Canva?
The product is now branded primarily as Affinity. You may also see it described as Affinity by Canva, Affinity 3, or, in some coverage, Affinity Studio. These labels refer to the Canva-era unified desktop app rather than three separate downloads.
Canva announced the unified Affinity app on October 29, 2025. It brings the main disciplines of the former Affinity suite into one application:
- Pixel: raster painting, photo editing, retouching, selections, masks, and other pixel-based work.
- Vector: illustration, shapes, curves, logos, icons, and scalable graphic design.
- Layout: page composition, typography, multi-page documents, and publishing work.
That means the new application combines the roles previously served by Affinity Photo, Affinity Designer, and Affinity Publisher. Canva describes the product and its unified workflow in its Affinity launch announcement.
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Is Affinity really free?
For the core desktop tools, yes. Canva says the unified Affinity app is free for everyone, without requiring a paid Canva subscription for ordinary photo, vector, or layout work. Pixel editing, vector design, layout and publishing tools, and local project work are not presented as a trial or deliberately crippled edition.
There are four separate points to keep straight:
| Question | Current answer |
|---|---|
| Is the core desktop app free to download? | Yes, according to Canva’s product announcement. |
| Is a paid Canva plan required for normal editing and design? | No. |
| Is a Canva account required? | Yes, for download and activation. |
| Are all Canva AI features free? | No. Additional AI access is associated with a paid Canva plan. |
| Do you own a perpetual copy independently of Canva? | No. The current terms describe an account-linked, limited license rather than ownership of the software. |
The most accurate description is: Affinity’s core desktop tools are currently free to use, but activation is tied to a Canva account and the software is licensed rather than sold as a perpetual copy.
Canva’s marketing may use phrases such as “free forever.” Treat that as a product promise in the announcement, not as an irrevocable perpetual-license guarantee. The current Affinity Terms say that access may involve online entitlement verification and reserve rights to suspend, modify, or remove access. They also do not guarantee future updates or continued availability.
What Canva Premium adds
A paid Canva plan is primarily relevant if you want Canva-connected functionality and additional AI tools inside Affinity. Canva specifically identifies features including Generative Fill, Expand & Edit, and Remove Background as examples of Canva AI capabilities available with paid-plan access.
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Plan names, limits, and entitlements can change, so check the current plan information in your Canva account rather than treating a third-party feature list as permanent.
| Capability | Free Canva account | Paid Canva plan |
|---|---|---|
| Pixel editing | Yes | Yes |
| Vector design | Yes | Yes |
| Layout and publishing | Yes | Yes |
| Local project work | Yes, subject to account and activation conditions | Yes |
| Canva AI tools | Limited or unavailable depending on the feature | Additional access |
| Canva-connected brand and collaboration features | Depends on the account and feature | More features may be available |
System requirements
Affinity is a desktop application, not a browser-only Canva feature. It supports current Windows and macOS systems within the documented limits below. Always compare your computer with the current installation help before installing, because requirements and supported releases can change.
Windows requirements
- Operating system: Windows 10 May 2020 Update, version 2004/build 19041, or later; Windows 11 is supported.
- Architecture: 64-bit Windows on Intel, AMD, or supported ARM64 hardware.
- Display: 1280 × 768 or higher.
- Memory: 8 GB RAM recommended. Large documents, high-resolution painting, and complex layouts can benefit from more.
- Storage: About 1 GB of available space at minimum, with additional space required during installation and for documents, caches, previews, and exports.
- Graphics: DirectX 10-compatible graphics hardware. Hardware acceleration requires a Direct3D 12.0-capable graphics card.
macOS requirements
- Operating system: macOS Catalina 10.15 or later.
- Processor: Intel Macs and Apple silicon Macs are supported.
- Display: 1280 × 768 or higher.
- Memory: 8 GB RAM recommended.
- Storage: Leave several gigabytes free for the installer and application, plus additional room for working files, caches, and exports. Public listings can differ because application size, installation space, and working space are not the same measurement.
Some machine-learning features have more specific requirements than the main application. In particular, local machine-learning functions may require newer macOS and hardware combinations, especially on Apple silicon Macs. This is a feature-specific limitation, not a requirement for ordinary Affinity editing. See the independent Digital Camera World review for additional context.
Checking your Windows architecture
Do not select ARM just because you use a laptop. Choose according to the processor:
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- Qualcomm or Snapdragon Windows PC: choose Windows ARM64.
To check in Windows:
- Open Settings.
- Select System, then About.
- Read System type or the listed processor information.
- Download the matching x64 or ARM package.
How to install Affinity on Windows
- Open the official Affinity download page.
- Sign in with an existing Canva account, or create a free Canva account.
- Select Windows x64 for an Intel or AMD computer, or Windows ARM for a supported Snapdragon/ARM64 computer.
- Choose the available
.EXEor.MSIXinstaller. - Open the downloaded file and follow the Windows installation prompts.
- Launch Affinity from the Start menu.
- Sign in when prompted, using the Canva account associated with the download.
- Allow the browser-to-app handoff if Windows or your browser asks for permission.
- Create a test document and confirm that the Pixel, Vector, and Layout capabilities are available.
Should you choose EXE or MSIX?
Both are official Windows installation routes:
- EXE: the conventional installer. It is often the practical choice if MSIX or Microsoft App Installer is unavailable, damaged, or blocked by an organization.
- MSIX: Microsoft’s modern packaged installation format. It can be a good default on a normally configured personal Windows PC, but it depends more heavily on Windows’ app-installation components and organizational policies.
Use the package offered on the official Affinity page. Do not replace it with a “fixed” or “portable” copy downloaded from a forum.
How to install Affinity on macOS
- Open the official Affinity download page.
- Sign in or create a free Canva account.
- Download the macOS
.dmginstaller. - Open the downloaded
.dmgfile from your Downloads folder. - Drag Affinity into the Applications folder.
- Open Affinity from Applications.
- Sign in with the same Canva account used during download.
- Approve a normal macOS security prompt only after confirming that the installer came from the official Affinity domain.
- Create a small test document before importing important legacy projects.
If macOS reports that the application cannot be opened, do not immediately replace it with a modified copy from a download forum. First verify the source, redownload the official installer if necessary, and use macOS Privacy & Security controls only for a verified application.
First launch, sign-in, and activation
Affinity’s current activation model is account-linked. The app may open a browser so that you can authenticate with Canva, then return to the desktop application. Use the same Canva account throughout the process; signing into a different account in your default browser is a common cause of confusion.
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On first launch:
- Start Affinity.
- When the sign-in screen appears, choose the Canva sign-in option.
- Complete authentication in the browser.
- Approve the handoff back to Affinity if prompted.
- Wait for entitlement verification to complete.
- Open a blank document and save a test file locally.
The Affinity Terms state that account access and online entitlement verification may be required. That is why a successful download does not necessarily mean the application can be activated without network access.
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It can work with files stored locally, but it should not be described as a guaranteed permanently offline application. Canva says Affinity stores work locally on the device and lets users decide whether to export or upload work to Canva. However, initial activation, account verification, entitlement checks, updates, Canva integration, and AI services may require an internet connection.
In practice:
- You can keep ordinary Affinity documents on your computer rather than automatically placing them in Canva cloud storage.
- You may need internet access when installing or signing in for the first time.
- Periodic entitlement verification may be required under the current terms.
- Canva-connected features and cloud-based AI depend on network services.
- A network outage should not be treated as proof that the application will remain usable indefinitely without reauthentication.
For travel or unreliable connections, activate the app and test the documents and workflow you need before going offline.
File-format support and migration
Canva’s launch announcement lists support for major formats including PSD, AI, PDF, SVG, TIFF, and IDML, along with other formats. This makes Affinity relevant to people moving from Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, or the older Affinity applications.
However, opening a format is not the same as perfect round-tripping. Effects, fonts, plug-ins, blend modes, transparency, clipping masks, linked assets, live text behavior, and page-layout details may not reproduce identically between applications.
Moving from Affinity V2
Independent coverage indicates that the unified app can open legacy Affinity files but uses its own newer file format, which creates potential backward-compatibility concerns. Treat that as a reason to test, not as proof that every V2 file will fail.
Moving from Adobe or other applications
Before opening a client or production file:
- Make a copy of the original. Never use the first import as your only copy.
- Collect or embed linked images and other placed assets where possible.
- Install or identify the fonts used by the source document.
- Check clipping masks, transparency, blend modes, effects, text flow, page breaks, and placed files.
- Export a PDF proof from the source application and compare it with an export from Affinity.
- Test a representative complex file—not just a simple sample.
- Keep the old application available until the migrated document has passed review.
Affinity can fit well into a mixed production workflow, but it should not be marketed as a guaranteed replacement for every Adobe plug-in, automation system, or exact InDesign/Illustrator round-trip. Canva has also announced integrations connecting Affinity output with Canva; its 2026 Canva Create announcement mentions Brand System integration and native .af workflows with Capture One and DaVinci Resolve. See the Canva Create 2026 announcement for the announced integrations.
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Troubleshooting installation and activation
Windows MSIX does nothing
An MSIX file may fail to open if Microsoft App Installer is disabled or damaged, an organization blocks MSIX packages, a system-tuning utility removed app-installation components, or the download is corrupt.
- Delete the failed download and download it again from the official Affinity page.
- Try the official
.EXEinstaller instead, if it is offered. - Repair or reinstall Microsoft App Installer through Windows.
- On a work or school computer, ask IT whether MSIX packages are blocked.
- Do not solve the problem with an unofficial repackaged installer.
Canva’s installation help documents both the Windows .EXE and .MSIX routes.
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The wrong Windows version was downloaded
If you selected ARM on an Intel/AMD PC, or x64 on a Snapdragon Windows device, return to the official download page and choose the package that matches your processor architecture. “Laptop” is not an architecture; Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm/Snapdragon are the relevant clues.
Login loops or activation does not complete
- Confirm that the browser is signed into the Canva account you intend to use.
- Temporarily test without an unusual VPN, proxy, ad-blocking filter, or restrictive network.
- Update or change the default browser temporarily.
- Finish the browser sign-in, then restart Affinity.
- Check that the computer’s date, time, and time zone are correct.
- Try the other official Windows installer format.
- Reinstall only after preserving local project files and confirming where they are stored.
These checks address the account and network dependencies described in the current Affinity Terms.
macOS shows a security warning
First confirm that the .dmg came from affinity.studio. If the file is damaged or the source is uncertain, redownload it. Do not disable Gatekeeper indiscriminately and do not replace the app with a “fixed” copy from an unofficial site. Only use macOS’s normal Privacy & Security approval controls after verifying the installer.
The app opens, but the document looks wrong
This is usually a migration or asset issue rather than an installation issue. Check fonts, linked images, clipping masks, transparency, effects, text wrapping, page dimensions, and placed files. Compare against a PDF exported from the original application, and return to the original file if the result is not acceptable.
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Privacy, local files, and ownership
Canva says that creative work made in Affinity remains the user’s and that Affinity content is not used to train Canva AI features. That specific assurance should not be expanded into a claim that Canva never processes any associated data.
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The distinction matters:
- Local Affinity documents: files saved on your computer are not automatically the same thing as Canva cloud designs.
- Uploading or exporting to Canva: using Canva’s platform invokes Canva’s platform terms and privacy practices.
- Using Canva AI: your input is sent through the relevant AI service and is governed by Canva’s AI Product Terms.
- Account and connected-service data: Canva’s broader Privacy Policy covers account information, activity, content, uploads, and connected services, with privacy controls available to users.
If you are working with confidential client material, review those policies and your organization’s requirements before enabling Canva-connected or AI features. Keeping a file local is different from uploading it to a cloud service.
How Affinity compares with alternatives
Affinity is a strong choice for Windows and Mac users who want serious desktop photo, vector, and layout tools without a recurring fee for the core application. It may not be the right choice if you need Linux, Android, Chromebook, or browser-native support; guaranteed operation with no account checks; an independent perpetual license; exact Adobe compatibility; or Adobe’s plug-ins, automation, and Creative Cloud workflows.
| If you need… | Consider | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Free raster and photo editing | GIMP | Not a unified vector and page-layout application. |
| Free vector illustration | Inkscape | Focused on vector work rather than an all-in-one photo/layout workflow. |
| Free desktop publishing | Scribus | Primarily a publishing tool, not a combined pixel/vector studio. |
| Browser-based Photoshop-style editing | Photopea | Browser and account/network considerations; not the same local desktop workflow. |
| Fast templates and collaboration | Canva | More template-driven and cloud-oriented than Affinity’s desktop workflow. |
| Adobe-specific production, plug-ins, or automation | Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign | Strong ecosystem compatibility, but subscription-based. |
| Mac-focused photo and design work | Pixelmator Pro | Mac-focused and not a direct replacement for every Affinity layout workflow. |
| Browser-based collaborative interface and product design | Figma | Designed primarily for collaborative UI/product work rather than traditional desktop publishing. |
Version information
Affinity uses rolling updates, so avoid relying on an old download article for the current build. The latest publicly indexed release located for this research was Affinity 3.2.3, build 3.2.3.4646, listed in mid-July 2026 for Windows 10, Windows 11, and macOS. Check the official Affinity release notes immediately before publishing or installing; a newer build may already be available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Canva Pro or Canva Premium to use Affinity?
No. A paid Canva plan is not required for Affinity’s core Pixel, Vector, and Layout tools. You do need a free Canva account to download and activate the app. A paid Canva plan adds access to additional Canva AI and connected features, such as Generative Fill, Expand & Edit, and Remove Background, subject to current plan entitlements.
Which Affinity download should I use on Windows?
Use Windows x64 on a conventional Intel or AMD PC. Use Windows ARM64 on a supported Qualcomm Snapdragon/ARM Windows computer. The choice depends on processor architecture, not whether the machine is a laptop. You may also be offered an EXE or MSIX installer; both are official installation formats.
Is the new Affinity the same as Affinity Photo, Designer, and Publisher V2?
No. It is a separate unified application that combines Pixel, Vector, and Layout workflows. It can support major formats and may open legacy Affinity files, but migration is not guaranteed to preserve every effect, font, link, or layout. Keep V2 and your original files until testing is complete.
Can I use Affinity without an internet connection?
You can store and work on files locally, but initial activation, account verification, possible entitlement checks, updates, Canva integration, and AI features may require internet access. It is not guaranteed to be a permanently account-free or fully offline application.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Download Affinity from affinity.studio, choose Windows x64, Windows ARM64, or macOS according to your hardware, and activate it with a free Canva account. The core desktop tools are currently free and capable enough for serious painting, photo, vector, and layout work. The trade-off is that Affinity is account-linked and Canva-controlled—not an independently owned perpetual copy—and Canva Premium is needed for additional AI features. Preserve your older Affinity or Adobe files and test complex documents before making it your only production application.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
