Affinity Photo — A full RAW editor and retouching studio, free for good, with layers that never lock you in.
What it is
Affinity Photo is the raster editing and RAW development workspace of the unified Affinity app, covering compositing, retouching and non-destructive RAW workflows.
Editor's review
Long-form introduction by the BetterPicker editors · checked against the official site · Oct 23, 2026
Affinity Photo is the workspace that made the Affinity name, and under Canva it now ships free - a full RAW developer, layer-based retoucher and compositing studio that used to sell as a one-time purchase and now costs nothing at all. Reviewers who compared it against Photoshop have consistently landed on the same summary: a mixed bag in the best sense, missing a few modern conveniences while nailing the fundamentals. The RAW pipeline is the standout - embedded or linked RAW layers stay live inside the document, luminosity masks let you target contrast to specific tonal ranges, and every adjustment remains re-editable without flattening anything. Official materials add stacking, batch processing and macros for workflow automation, plus full RAW development from first adjustment to export. The stacking and macro systems extend it beyond single images: focus merges, exposure stacks and batch runs cover technical shooting styles without plugins. What it does not have is AI: Photoshop's generative upscaling and similar tricks have no counterpart yet, with those features announced for a future Canva premium tie-in.
What it does well
Non-destructive RAW editing: RAW layers can be embedded or linked, adjustments stack as live layers, and luminosity masks apply changes only where the tonal range calls for them. Reviewers highlight the RAW output options - embedded, linked or pixel - as the kind of control normally reserved for pricier suites - reviewers call this combination genuinely professional.
Retouching and compositing depth: healing and cloning tools, layer masks with distinct icons per type, and blend modes that hold up for photo composites and multi-layer visual work. Blend-mode previews update live, which keeps composite experiments quick.
Free with file compatibility: PSD files open with structure intact, the app runs natively on Apple Silicon and Windows, and the zero-price tag removes the upgrade math reviewers used to agonize over.
Who it's for
Photographers who want a perpetual, subscription-free editor with real RAW control; retouchers and compositors working in layers; and Photoshop users who need a second seat or a fallback license that never expires. Hobbyists upgrading from free editors get a professional ceiling without a bill.
Where it falls short
No AI tooling today: generative fill, AI upscaling and background removal are announced but not shipped, and they will sit behind a Canva premium subscription when they arrive.
Interface quirks persist: reviewers note icons that are harder to tell apart than in version one, small UI text, and dialogs that demand extra clicks to preview presets.
Blur and edge behavior: mask feathering uses a Gaussian-style blur that grows the masked area rather than a median blur that preserves edges, which changes how soft selections behave compared to Photoshop.
Specs at a glance
Facts from the official site · not editorial opinion
| What it is | RAW development and raster editing workspace of the unified Affinity app: non-destructive layers, luminosity masks, retouching, compositing, stacking, batch and macros |
|---|---|
| Price | Permanently free under Canva; announced AI features will require a Canva premium subscription |
| Platforms | Windows 10 (2004 or later) and macOS 10.15 or later, native on Apple Silicon; iPadOS version announced as upcoming |
| Open source | No - proprietary, owned by Canva |
| File support | Opens PSD with layers preserved; RAW files stay live as embedded or linked layers inside documents |
| Core capability | Full RAW pipeline, luminosity masks, healing and cloning, live filter layers, focus merging and image stacking |
| Best for | Photographers and retouchers who want professional RAW and layer editing without a subscription |
Frequently asked questions
▸Is Affinity Photo free?
Yes. The unified Affinity app includes the Photo workspace and is permanently free on Windows and macOS. Future AI features will require a Canva premium subscription.
▸Does it replace Photoshop?
For RAW editing, retouching and compositing, reviewers consider it a serious replacement. It lacks Photoshop's AI features for now, and those are coming as Canva premium add-ons rather than built-ins.
▸Can I open my PSD files?
Yes. PSD files import with layers and structure preserved, and documents can be saved back in Affinity's own format or exported widely.
▸What happened to the one-time purchase price?
The old paid licenses for the standalone Affinity Photo 2 era are gone; the unified app is free. Existing standalone installs keep working, but new users simply download the free unified app.
Video reviews
3 review videos aggregated · praise and criticism included alike · click through to the original video
Channels that covered it
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