Affinity Photo alternatives: where to go without a Canva account, and how to keep your files
Affinity went free under Canva. If that trade doesn't suit you, here are seven editors to move to and a plan to bring your files along.
Quick answer: pick Photopea to reopen your .afphoto files with nothing to install, GIMP for open source software with no account that also runs on Linux, Pixelmator Pro if you're on a Mac and want to pay once, and Photoshop if your clients trade PSDs all day. ON1 Photo RAW suits Windows users who want commercial software paid once, with RAW processing and layers. Krita is for illustration, darktable for open source RAW work. One warning before you go: almost nothing else opens Affinity files. Export them to PSD or TIFF while you still have a working copy of Affinity. We compared these seven destinations in 2026, prices and limits included.
The ranking is editorial: a sponsored spot is always labeled on its card, and no affiliate link changes the order.
Why so many users want to leave Affinity
Affinity Photo built its name on one promise: a serious layer-based editor you bought once, no subscription. Canva's takeover changed that deal. The app is now free, but it comes with strings many long-time buyers never agreed to. These six reasons keep coming up in forums.
A Canva account just to launch it
The new Affinity app requires a Canva account, even a free one. You activate online, then the app runs offline. Users report that it asks for a fresh license check every so often, and that signing out of the account closes the app. If you edit on the road or in a studio with flaky internet, that's a real step back from a license you owned.
Your account runs through Canva
Your account, preferences and online features fall under Canva's privacy policy. Your files stay on your drive unless you push them to Canva's cloud. Even so, forum users suggest reviewing the account's privacy preferences right after sign-up and switching off any data-sharing option you don't need.
AI features cost a Canva plan
The editor is free, but AI tools such as smart selection and generative fill unlock only with a paid Canva plan. Want generative AI in your photo editor? You're back to a subscription, just with a company whose main product is online design.
Still no Linux build
The new app runs on Mac (Apple silicon and Intel), Windows and iPad. Linux isn't on the list. A community AppImage runs Affinity through Wine, but signing into Canva fails there, and heavy filters fall back to the CPU. It's the top complaint from Linux users.
A new file format
The new app saves to a single format, .af. Several users report that a file saved by the new app won't reopen in Affinity Photo 2, and renaming the extension doesn't help. If you keep a V2 machine around, always use Save As on a copy, never plain Save on the original.
A roadmap you no longer control
Canva once pledged to keep perpetual licenses. They're gone, replaced by a free app tied to an account, and the official forum went read-only. All announced development targets the new app, so don't expect new features for your V2. Plenty of users fear a subscription later. Nothing announces one, but nothing rules it out.
You're leaving because… go to…
The right Affinity Photo alternative depends on what's pushing you out. Usually one line fits. Each card jumps to the full write-up.
Reads Affinity Photo files in your browser, free.
You want no account and no cloudGIMPOpen source, installed locally, no sign-up.
You're on a Mac and want to pay oncePixelmator Pro$49.99 one-time, feels close to Affinity.
You're on Windows and want to pay onceON1 Photo RAW$99.99 once, RAW and layers in one app.
Clients send you PSDsPhotoshopThe industry's native format, for a monthly fee.
You just want to avoid the Canva accountStay on Affinity V2Your V2 license works without Canva; keep the installer and never re-save in the new app.
Affinity Photo alternatives, one by one
For each app: why move to it, who it suits, its main limit, how to migrate from Affinity, and what it costs. Prices are what each vendor lists for the US in 2026.
Why not Pixlr, Fotor or Paint.NET, which other lists mention? The first two are built for quick online edits, without Affinity's layer depth. Paint.NET is Windows-only, which solves nothing for a Mac user.
Photopea: reopen Affinity files in your browser
Reads .afphotoWhy move to Photopea. It's the only mainstream editor we found that opens .afphoto files directly. Drag the file into the tab, the layers show up, and you save it as PSD. No install, no account, and it also opens PSD, GIMP's XCF and Sketch files, and saves to PSD.
Who it's for. People who edit a few images a week, hop between computers, or work on Linux or a Chromebook.
Who should skip it. Photographers handling hundreds of RAWs or 2 GB composites: everything runs in browser memory.
Main limit. The free version shows ads. The new .af files from the current Affinity app aren't on its list of supported formats; only V1 and V2 .afphoto files are. Big files slow the tab down fast.
How to migrate. Open photopea.com, drop in an .afphoto, check each layer, then File, Export as PSD. Start with your most complex file: if it survives, the rest will.
Price. Free with ads, no account needed.
- Free
- every feature, with ads
- Best for
- reopening .afphoto and PSD files
- Limit
- doesn't read the new .af format
GIMP: open source, no account, Linux included
No accountWhy move to GIMP. If the Canva account is your reason to leave, GIMP is the cleanest answer: GPL-licensed software installed on your own machine, no account, no connection. Version 3.2 runs on Linux, macOS and Windows, and the 3.x branch added non-destructive filters, which brings it closer to Affinity's live filters.
Who it's for. Linux users, schools, nonprofits, and anyone who wants a tool whose business model won't shift under them.
Who should skip it. Anyone hoping to keep their Affinity muscle memory: the interface and shortcuts differ, so give it a few weeks.
Main limit. Complex PSDs come through rough, with some adjustment layers flattened. CMYK is limited to export (JPEG, TIFF, PSD). GIMP can't read Affinity files.
How to migrate. Export from Affinity to PSD or layered TIFF, after rasterizing live filters. Open the file in GIMP and compare it with a JPEG exported from Affinity to catch color shifts.
Price. Free, with no paid tier.
- Free
- yes, open source, no account
- Platforms
- Linux, macOS, Windows
- Best for
- leaving Canva for good
- Limit
- fragile with complex PSDs
Pixelmator Pro: the closest thing to Affinity on a Mac
One-time purchaseWhy move to Pixelmator Pro. It's what feels most like the old Affinity: a native Mac app, quick on Apple silicon, bought once. Apple acquired it and sells it as a one-time purchase or inside its Creator Studio subscription. It opens and saves PSD, SVG, PDF and Illustrator files.
Who it's for. Mac photographers and designers who want clean layer editing, non-destructive adjustments and no subscription.
Who should skip it. Any team with Windows machines: it's Mac-only, and on iPad only through the subscription.
Main limit. It can't read Affinity files, and its print and layout tools sit well below what Affinity Publisher offered.
How to migrate. Export your .afphoto files to PSD, open them in Pixelmator Pro, then save in its native .pxd format to keep editable layers. Write down your export color profiles first.
Price. $49.99 one-time, or Apple Creator Studio at $12.99 a month or $129 a year, with a 30-day trial.
- One-time
- $49.99
- Subscription
- Creator Studio $12.99/month
- Best for
- Mac, layer editing
- Limit
- Mac only
ON1 Photo RAW: pay once, on Windows or Mac
One-time, WindowsWhy move to ON1 Photo RAW. Plenty of Affinity buyers were there for one reason: pay once and own it. ON1 Photo RAW keeps that model and runs on Windows as well as Mac, where Pixelmator Pro stays Mac-only. One app covers RAW processing, editing, layers and effects, which is the closest match to Affinity's Develop and Photo personas.
Who it's for. Hobbyist and freelance photographers on Windows who want commercial software with a company behind it and no subscription.
Who should skip it. Illustrators, and anyone doing mostly layout or graphic design: ON1 is built around photos.
Main limit. The perpetual license covers that year's version: updates within the year are included, future versions aren't. Getting those means the MAX subscription. It needs Windows 11 or macOS 13 at minimum.
How to migrate. Import your original RAWs rather than Affinity exports, since Affinity's develop settings don't carry over. Keep a PSD copy of layered composites exported from Affinity. Use the 30-day money-back guarantee to run a real shoot through it.
Price. $99.99 one-time for Photo RAW 2027, installable on 2 computers. MAX costs $149.99 one-time or $89.99 a year as a subscription.
- One-time
- $99.99 (2027 version)
- Platforms
- Windows 11, macOS 13+
- Best for
- RAW and layers, no subscription
- Limit
- future versions cost extra
Photoshop: the standard, if your clients live in PSD
Industry standardWhy move to Photoshop. Plenty of people picked Affinity to get away from Adobe. But if you work with agencies, printers or clients who send PSDs, going native removes every round trip that breaks a layer. Photoshop also has the actions and scripting Affinity lacked for batch work.
Who it's for. Professional designers and retouchers who bill by the hour and whose clients work in PSD.
Who should skip it. The hobbyist who left for Affinity to escape subscriptions. That's exactly what they'd be signing up for again.
Main limit. The annual plan billed monthly charges a fee if you cancel early. It doesn't open Affinity files.
How to migrate. Export to PSD from Affinity after rasterizing live filters, then rebuild your Affinity macros as Photoshop actions. Our Photoshop alternatives page covers the traps in Adobe's plans.
Price. Monthly subscription on an annual plan billed monthly; see Adobe's US plans page for the current price.
- Paid
- monthly subscription, annual plan
- Free
- no free plan
- Best for
- trading PSDs with clients
- Limit
- early cancellation fee
Krita: for people who paint more than they retouch
IllustrationWhy move to Krita. If you used Affinity Photo for painting or illustration, Krita does that job better, for free: brush engines, stroke stabilizers, frame-by-frame animation. It's open source and runs on Linux, Windows, macOS and Android.
Who it's for. Illustrators, comic artists and concept artists.
Who should skip it. Photographers: no RAW processing, no lens correction, basic photo retouching only.
Main limit. Photoshop brushes (ABR) import, but only their tip shapes, not their settings. Affinity brushes (.afbrushes) don't import at all.
How to migrate. Export your files to PSD. For brushes, go back to the original ABR packs if you kept them, then Settings, Manage Resources, Import.
Price. Free from krita.org. The builds sold on Steam, the Microsoft Store, the Epic Games Store and the Mac App Store are identical and exist to fund the project.
- Free
- yes, open source
- Platforms
- Linux, Windows, macOS, Android
- Best for
- illustration, digital painting
- Limit
- basic photo editing
darktable: open source RAW processing, Linux included
Free RAWWhy move to darktable. It's the reference open source RAW processor: non-destructive RAW processing, a catalog and masks, under GPL 3.0. It runs on Linux, Windows and macOS with no account. On Mac, the official build targets Apple silicon and needs macOS 13.5 or later: there's no Intel Mac build.
Who it's for. Hobbyist and expert photographers on Linux, and anyone who wants a RAW workflow without a subscription.
Who should skip it. Beginners in a hurry: the interface is dense and the module list is long.
Main limit. No Affinity-style layer compositing. Pair it with GIMP, which opens straight from darktable to finish an image. Our best photo editing software ranking compares it with paid tools.
How to migrate. Point darktable at your original RAW folder. Affinity's adjustments won't come across, so build a base style and apply it in batches.
Price. Free, open source.
- Free
- yes, GPL 3.0
- Platforms
- Linux, Windows, macOS (Apple silicon only)
- Best for
- RAW without a subscription
- Limit
- no layers
All 7 alternatives side by side
Our default picks: Photopea to rescue your files, GIMP to leave with no account, Pixelmator Pro on a Mac. One row per app: price and platforms on the left, file support and main limit on the right.
| Price and platforms | Files it reads and main limit | |
|---|---|---|
| Affinity (Canva)Where you start | Free for individuals; AI with a paid Canva plan; Mac, Windows, iPad | Imports PSD, AI, IDML; Canva account required, no Linux |
| PhotopeaFile rescue | Free with ads; browser | Reads .afphoto and PSD; not the new .af |
| GIMPNo account | Free, open source; Linux, macOS, Windows | PSD with possible losses; no Affinity files |
| Pixelmator ProMac, pay once | $49.99 once or $12.99/month; Mac | PSD, SVG, PDF; no Affinity files |
| ON1 Photo RAWWindows, pay once | $99.99 once; Windows 11, macOS 13+ | RAW and layers; future versions cost extra |
| PhotoshopPSD standard | Subscription, annual plan; Mac, Windows, iPad, web | Native PSD; no Affinity files |
| KritaIllustration | Free, open source; Linux, Windows, macOS, Android | PSD, ABR brush tips; basic photo editing |
| darktableOpen source RAW | Free, GPL 3.0; Linux, Windows, macOS (Apple silicon only) | RAW; no layers |
US prices listed by each vendor in 2026, before tax and subject to change. Always check your most complex files before you switch.
Move off Affinity Photo in seven steps
Order matters. The big risk isn't picking the wrong editor. It's ending up with files nothing can open.
Back up your originals first
Day 1Copy your whole .afphoto folder to an external drive or separate storage. If you've already installed the new Affinity app, never hit Save on an old file: use Save As on a copy. Several users report that a re-saved file no longer opens in V2.
Keep your V2 installer and license key too. You'll want them the day a client asks for a file from three years ago.
- Time
- about an hour
- Risk if rushed
- unreadable files
Inventory what lives inside Affinity
Day 1List your brushes, macros, styles, color profiles and export presets. A screenshot of each panel is enough. None of it moves on its own, and it's what people forget most.
- Write down
- brushes, macros, color profiles
Decide which files deserve layers
Saves timeNot every file needs a layered conversion. Delivered, archived jobs can go out as flattened TIFF or high-quality JPEG. Save the layered PSD export for files you'll still edit. On an archive of several hundred images, this triage cuts the work dramatically.
- Archive
- flattened TIFF
- Active work
- layered PSD
Export to PSD after rasterizing live filters
The coreIn Affinity: File, Export, PSD. Live filters (Affinity's non-destructive filters) have no PSD equivalent, so duplicate the layer, rasterize the copy and keep the original hidden. Try it on your busiest file and compare the export with the original.
Faster if Affinity is already gone: open the .afphoto in Photopea and save it as PSD.
- Trap
- live filters lost
- Plan B
- Photopea opens .afphoto
Bring your brushes back
Often forgottenAffinity exports brushes as .afbrushes, a format no other app reads. Go back to the original ABR files if you bought Photoshop-format packs: Photoshop reads them fully, Krita takes the tip shapes, GIMP opens them too. Otherwise, list your favorites and find equivalents in the new app.
- Affinity format
- .afbrushes, read nowhere else
Rebuild your macros
ManualAffinity macros don't convert. Replay each one step by step in the new app: actions in Photoshop, scripts in GIMP, styles in darktable. Start with the two or three you run most.
- Conversion
- none, rebuild by hand
Switch, then keep Affinity around for a while
Safety netWork in the new app for a month before uninstalling Affinity. You'll find a forgotten file, a missing brush or a color profile that didn't carry over. If you created a Canva account only for Affinity, delete it at the end, once every export is done.
- Overlap
- one month
Is your tool missing from this page? Email us: hello@hackceleration.com
What makes an Affinity migration go wrong
The same mistakes show up across forum threads since the Canva switch. None is truly technical. They're oversights, and each one costs hours.
Re-saving an old file
Opening an .afphoto in the new app and hitting Save converts it. If you wanted to reopen it in V2 later, it's too late. Always work on a copy.
Trusting PSD to keep everything
Live filters, some blend modes and Affinity-specific adjustments don't survive. Check every important file by eye next to the original.
Forgetting brushes and macros
That's often years of tuning, and neither exports to another app. Take inventory before you uninstall anything.
Picking a tool by reputation
GIMP, Krita and darktable are all open source, but they do different jobs. Choose the one that matches your main work: retouching, illustration or RAW processing.
Counting on Affinity under Linux
The community AppImage can't sign into a Canva account. For a Linux machine, go straight to GIMP, Krita or darktable.
Deleting the Canva account too soon
Users report that the new app stops opening without a signed-in account. Finish every export first. Our Canva alternatives guide explains how to get your designs out too.
- Original .afphoto files copied off the machine
- Active files exported to PSD, archives to TIFF
- Original ABR brush packs located
- Macros listed and rebuilt
- Color profiles and export presets noted
- Canva account deleted only at the very end
Affinity Photo alternative: frequently asked questions
Is Affinity really free now?
Yes, for individuals. The new Affinity app, which combines Photo, Designer and Publisher, is free with a Canva account. AI tools require a paid Canva plan. The old V1 and V2 apps are no longer sold.
Can I use Affinity without a Canva account?
Not the new app: it asks for the account at activation. A V2 license bought before the acquisition keeps working without Canva. If the account is your only reason to leave, keeping V2 on one machine can buy you time.
Does Canva use my Affinity files to train its AI?
We found no official Canva statement on that point, so we won't claim either way. What you can do: your files stay on your drive unless you upload them to Canva's cloud, and your Canva account has privacy preferences. Review them right after sign-up and switch off any data-sharing option you don't need.
Can I still buy Affinity Photo 2?
No. The store that sold V1 and V2 licenses has closed, and the free app replaced them. If you already own V2, keep the installer and your license key somewhere safe.
How do I open an .afphoto file without Affinity?
Use Photopea in your browser: it reads Affinity Photo files and saves them as PSD. GIMP, Krita, Pixelmator Pro and Photoshop can't open them. The newer .af files aren't on Photopea's format list, so export those to PSD from Affinity.
Does Affinity run on Linux?
Not officially. The new app ships for Mac, Windows and iPad. A community AppImage runs it through Wine, but signing into Canva fails there. On Linux, GIMP, Krita and darktable are the natural picks.
What's the best free Affinity Photo alternative?
GIMP for local layer editing, Photopea for browser work and reopening Affinity files. Krita if you paint, darktable if you process RAW. Our best photo editing software ranking covers the paid options too.
Affinity Photo or Photoshop in 2026?
Affinity if you work solo and the Canva account doesn't bother you: it's free. Photoshop if clients send PSDs or you need actions for batch work on a monthly subscription; check Adobe's US plans page for the current price.
What happens to my Affinity brushes?
They stay in Affinity. No other app reads the .afbrushes format. If your brushes came from Photoshop packs, dig out the original ABR files: Photoshop reads them fully, GIMP opens them, and Krita keeps the tip shapes.
What's the best alternative for RAW photographers?
ON1 Photo RAW if you want to pay once, on Windows or Mac, darktable for free and open source. ON1 also handles layers; with darktable, keep GIMP alongside for compositing. Our Lightroom alternatives page goes deeper on RAW tools.
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