It’s not Adobe vs Affinity?
It’s understanding why these tools exist and choosing what fits the job.
I recently looked at Affinity for the first time, and I think the conversation around Adobe vs Affinity needs a little reframing. Most posts I see focus on subscription frustration, brand loyalty, or how familiar each tool feels. But there is a bigger picture here.
Affinity is impressive. It is accessible, affordable, and gives people tools that genuinely feel familiar. And part of that familiarity exists because Adobe shaped so much of what we now consider “standard” in digital design.
A few examples that often get overlooked:
Adobe Photoshop introduced layers (1994) which completely changed digital editing.
Adobe invented the PDF format (1993) and made universal document sharing possible.
Adobe created the PostScript language (1982) which laid the foundation for desktop publishing.
Lightroom transformed nondestructive photo editing and is still the industry standard for photographers.
Illustrator popularized vector drawing tools that newer apps still model today.
InDesign replaced Quark as the modern standard for print layout, shaping typography workflows everywhere.
Affinity benefits from this entire evolution of tools, workflows, and decades of R&D. And that is not a criticism, it is the reality of how innovation works. One tool expands the path, and another builds on it.
At the same time, Adobe’s subscription model creates real barriers for many people. Price, access, and geography matter. I have seen firsthand how designers in areas like the Middle East, North Africa, and South America struggle to access the tools they need. Education, affordability, and language all play a role.
This is why Affinity is important. It opens doors. It gives more people a chance to enter the field without the financial pressure. It creates a more level starting point.
Both sides contribute something valuable:
Adobe Strengths
Deep ecosystem across photo, vector, motion, 3D, and publishing.
Industry-standard workflows for agencies, studios, and enterprise teams.
Continued innovation in AI tools like Firefly and generative features.
Cross-app compatibility that speeds up complex pipelines.
Affinity Strengths
One-time affordable price.
Fast, lightweight apps with clean interfaces.
Great for freelancers, students, and global creators with limited resources.
No subscription barrier, which expands access to design education.
So instead of choosing sides, maybe the real value is recognizing how both tools shape the creative world in different ways. One built the foundation many of us learned on. The other makes the field more accessible for people who never had the chance.
More tools means more opportunity. More voices. More creativity entering the world. And that is something worth celebrating.