Affinity Photo vs Photoshop: The $50 Photoshop Killer?

Affinity Photo has been called the "Photoshop killer" since its release. With a one-time payment of $54.99 and no subscription, it is tempting. Here is how it compares.

Pricing: One-Time vs Subscription

Affinity Photo costs $54.99 one-time on Windows or Mac, $18.99 on iPad. Photoshop costs $22.99/month or $275.88/year. Over three years, Affinity Photo costs $54.99 while Photoshop costs $827.64. The value gap is enormous.

Performance

Affinity Photo is significantly faster than Photoshop. It uses hardware acceleration more efficiently, opens files instantly, and handles large documents with less lag. Its workspace feels more modern and responsive, especially on Apple Silicon Macs.

Features Comparison

Affinity Photo offers layers, masks, curves, levels, adjustment layers, raw processing, HDR merging, focus stacking, and panorama stitching. It lacks Photoshop's Content-Aware Fill, neural filters, and Camera Raw plugin. It supports PSD files but with limitations on smart objects and adjustment layers.

Ecosystem and Community

Photoshop has decades of tutorials, plugins, brushes, and community resources. Affinity Photo's ecosystem is smaller but growing. Essential plugins and brushes are available. The Affinity community is active and supportive, but you will find fewer resources than for Photoshop.

Is It a Photoshop Killer?

Affinity Photo is an excellent alternative for most photo editing tasks. It lacks some advanced Photoshop features but covers 90% of what most users need at a fraction of the cost. For professional photographers and designers who do not rely on Adobe-specific features, Affinity Photo is the better value.