Affinity Photo review
A free desktop editor with deep controls for RAW, layers, masking, retouching, and batch work.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026
Affinity Photo is professional photo-editing software for photographers, designers, and other visual creators. It runs on macOS and Windows and combines non-destructive editing, RAW development, layered compositions, masks, retouching, HDR Merge, Focus Merge, astrophotography stacking, macros, batch processing, and export tools. Its free desktop offering is suited to users who want detailed control over individual images and larger editing workflows without a time-limited trial. PSD import also supports layers, masks, groups, and adjustments, while the current Affinity app includes photo editing alongside vector and layout capabilities.
The published plan is Free, with no time limit. It includes the full photo-editing toolkit, RAW development, unlimited layers, and batch processing. The plan also covers reversible adjustments and filters, lens profiles, noise reduction, channel, luminosity, and depth masks, frequency separation, liquify, HDR and focus merging, astrophotography stacking, macros, and PSD import. Optional Canva AI tools can add generative fill, generative expand, smart selections, depth-aware masking, portrait blur, colorization, and enhancement features through a Canva premium plan.
Affinity Photo falls short for users who need a mobile-first editor today, since the current product is available for macOS and Windows and iPad support is coming soon. Some AI capabilities also sit outside the free Affinity plan through Canva’s premium offering. The breadth of controls may be unnecessary for simple crops, quick adjustments, or lightweight social edits. Choose an alternative if you need an established iPad workflow now, prefer a simpler interface, or want all desired AI editing features within one clearly defined desktop plan.
Affinity Photo pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free plan includes RAW development, unlimited layers, and batch processing
- Advanced masking, retouching, HDR Merge, and Focus Merge tools
- Generative fill, expand, smart selections, and depth-aware masking
- Where it doesn't
- Available for macOS and Windows; iPad support is coming soon
- Some optional Canva AI tools require a Canva premium plan
- The extensive toolset may be more than casual editors need
Affinity Photo fact sheet, pricing and score →
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