Affinity Photo vs Photoshop: Which One is the Better Program? (2021)

Affinity Photo or Photoshop, which one should you pick? Watch this video to find out.

Affinity Photo is a raster-based, powerful photo-editing program. It was created by Serif in 2015 and is part of the “Affinity trinity”, which also includes Affinity Publisher and Affinity Designer.

On the other hand, Adobe Photoshop is one of the most popular photo editing programs in the world. It is also raster-based and was created by Adobe in 1987.

In this in-depth video, we will compare both software based on key metrics like features, pricing, user interface workflow, and learning curve.

If you're in a rush, here's a quick summary of this comparison:

In terms of features, Affinity Photo is easily bested by Photoshop, which offers more features and tools than Affinity Photoshop.

If we look at pricing, unlike Adobe Photoshop, Affinity Photo is available as a one-time purchase. At $49.99 for either Windows or Mac, Affinity Photo is an extremely affordable option.

When it comes to longevity, Adobe Photoshop is a clear winner because of its ubiquitous use and support of Adobe’s huge application catalogue.

Speaking of the user interface, both Affinity Photo and Photoshop are identical in many ways. There is no clear winner in this category.

In terms of workflow, Photoshop offers an extremely customizable workspace while Affinity Photo has a seamless Persona feature. On the whole, however, Adobe Photoshop’s workflow is better than its competitor.

Finally, when it comes to the learning curve, both Affinity Photo and Adobe Photoshop have many tutorials online to learn the programs. Both graphics editors are complex and have their own unique set of challenges.

Overall, Photoshop is better than Affinity Photo. It’s the industry-standard tool that can do everything from photo editing and graphic design to animation and digital painting. However, it must be said that Affinity Photo offers better value thanks to its affordable one-time pricing plan.

Disclaimer: We follow strict editorial standards and only recommend the best products. When you buy through links on our videos, we may earn an affiliate commission - at no extra cost to you.

[BeCreativeOkay]

*Which one is your pick and why? Don't forget to like this video :)*

[MichaelLloydDesigner]

This presentation failed to mention that if someone used Photoshop for years, and later discontinued their subscription, that user would no longer be able to open and use their files.
With Adobe, you are renting the software, which means your ability to open your files is dependent on maintaining a subscription.
With Affinity applications, you own the software, therefore you are not held hostage by being forced to maintain a subscription to access your files.

[MichaelLloydDesigner]

Affinity Photo is faster than Photoshop in almost every way.
Photoshop uses legacy, almost useless, preview windows where with Affinity Photo all effects, including brush previews, are live on the document.
Affinity Photo provides optimizations that take full advantage of the host hardware.
About the same time this video was released, all Affinity applications, for all platforms we're upgraded. The upgrade was a complete replacement of memory management and internal optimizations that massively improved performance of large and complex documents, including raw image processing.
It is not possible to make a good faith argument that Photoshop is overall faster than Affinity Photo.

[gregs]

You might as well have slapped an Adobe Ad on this video. For making a point at the beginning of the video, that much research has gone into it you've missed many of the benefits of Affinity as well as claiming many pluses to Adobe that Affinity has as well. Also to claim a compatibility win to Adobe to its own ecosystem is pointless. I dumped Photoshop/Lightroom a few years ago for Affinity Photo and have not once looked back!

[MichaelLloydDesigner]

Using Affinity Publisher with Affinity Photo, workflow with the use of Studio Link is on another level beyond that which Adobe is able to provide.

[MichaelLloydDesigner]

It was expressed as a disadvantage that the iPad version of Affinity Photo was a separate purchase, where the iPad version of Photoshop was "included" and therefore expressed as an advantage.

The iPad version of Affinity Photo is exactly the same as the desktop version, as Affinity applications are written in modules, where the same code that provides the features and capability is used on each platform.
The Affinity iPad applications are the most robust applications provided on the iPad platform, and have won many awards.
In contrast, the Adobe Photoshop iPad application is not nearly as robust as the Affinity iPad application.

The full price for Affinity Photo is $50. Seems unreasonable to suggest the most powerful photo editor for iPad be included with the desktop version. After all, for $20 the iPad version is a steal.

[ZimmZutinZayai]

As a previous Adobe user, I prefer Affinity simply because it's effective and doesn't require a subscription. That said, I do wish Serif would adopt a feature similar to Adobe's workspace.

[gkmediastudio]

workflow in affinity publisher used with affinity photo and affinity designer far passes workflow that photoshop offers, I know i have used both

[gkmediastudio]

I switched from photoshop to affinity phone and will never go back, some things in this video are wrong

[Technology-Gadgets]

I used Adobe Photoshop and Indesign for several years, but when I found Affinity Photo and Publisher, Adobe was the end of the story for me. Apart from the fact that everything works much faster, I won't even mention the price. In addition, I also use the iPad and work on Photo and Publisher on it, and everything works great and fast. The interface is similar to Adobe programs and I got used to all the options that I used in Adobe very easily. All in all, Adobe is a thing of the past for me. Primarily because of the prices, which are too high, but also because of the superior performance of the Affinity program. That's my opinion for all those who two.

[nelsonmwombeki]

I use Affinity Designer it handles pdf much more easily and its much faster, can do effects much easier than Adobe Illustrator, no hair pulling, and also I prefer Adobe photoshop for image editing, its just a preference.

[TheJoker-ztnk]

IMHO You're bit biased here as there are ONLY links for Adobe, yet Affinity runs sales. I picked up AP & AD for under $25. each. A sale Affinity ran during the height of the Pandemic to help out Designers affected by the Pandemic (TY), but never saw that from Adobe! As a Professional Designer (Product Design & Development of Fashion Pattern Designs & Consumer Product Packaging) w/ a Bachelor's in Commercial Art/ Minor in Fine Art, I've used AI & PSD since it was Illustrator '88 & Photoshop .87 but obvi I'm new to Affinity. However @1:01 PS has only a few more tools, none that I've missed thus far (but we'll see, I don't work with RAW files, but do quite a bit of Retouch work). @1:39 & @9:15 Affinity Files can be saved as .PSD making them compatible with other Raster programs, including PS & Gimp. @4:55 Thus far ALL my fonts work in AD & AP plus they have access to OTHER (FREE) stock photos. @7:15 You mean because Adobe's products have been around for the past 30+yrs (*I know I myself have been using them for that long) where Affinity Designer & Photo were released only in 2014/2015? Rme, yes I know SERIF's been around nearly as long as Adobe, albeit AD & AP have not been around as long as AI & PS. @8:20 Yeah, this can be done in AP too. So time will tell!

[jabulaniharvey]

the only thing that sucks on Adobe software is the subscription model for access to use....Adobe's automation and scripting features add a dimension that affinity does not have

[danielvillalobos]

I liked the video, but it seems like it focused on Adobe... starting with where are the links for Affinity discount? Was this an Adobe sponsor?Hahaha
I have always used Photoshop, maybe 'cause it worked then I didn't need anything else, but there's a lot of headaches behind Adobe. Affinity look like the best option to bring down Adobe's reign. Thinking about it, Adobe has an eternity of existence and watching how Affinity is becoming better and better being newer, cheaper with no subscription chains and getting to Adobe's level or even passing it, it's just crazy good and embarrassing for Adobe.
Honestly, looking at the comments and people's thoughts, I'm ready to switch. The only need is patience to learn the software, but I'm into it.

[MichaelLloydDesigner]

Only Affinity Photo provides excellent Photoshop PSD compatibility.
Photoshop compatibility provided by other applications is significantly flawed in comparison.

[pkh]

Anyone else find it curious that they rave about Adobe and only have a discount code for Adobe and nothing for Affinity…

[jcinaz]

I am not a sophisticated photo editor. Hence, Photoshop left me behind with its complexity and price. Affinity Photo is my go to app now. It is also more sophisticated than I need. For any feature in Ps, there is a way to do the same thing in AP. Pixelmator Pro (for the Mac) is the least sophisticated, but I get frustrated with its limitations for features that I am used to using in Affinity Photo. For some, Photoshop Essentials is more than adequate, but also a bit more expensive than AP.

[lucaurrr]

You can actually buy the ipad version independently from the desktop version so for ipad all you need to pay is 20$ which is equivalent to 1 month photoshop. Also you can actually create your personal workspace in affinity as well as in photoshop by adding presets

[marceloaanascimento]

The compatibility part does not make any sense. How can photoshop be better if it can't read any other program file despite the others can read and export into PSD?

[irenedaul]

I use LR6 stand alone version with Affinity Photo as a plugin. It works fine.