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Yes, you can download Affinity for free on Windows and macOS. The current release is a single all-in-one Affinity app, not separate Designer, Photo and Publisher downloads, and it includes the Vector, Pixel and Layout studios for individual users. There is no iPad or iOS version of the new app yet. Affinity says one is in development but has not announced a release date. This guide covers what you can install today, how to do it, and what to do if you work on iPad.
What the free download includes
The new desktop app combines three workspaces, which Affinity calls studios: Vector for illustration and vector design, Pixel for photo editing and raster work, and Layout for page design. If you searched for Affinity Designer, the Vector studio is the part you are looking for, and it sits in the same download as the other two.
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Is Affinity really free, and do you need Canva premium?
For individual use, yes. Affinity’s official download FAQ answers the question directly: “Yes. You can access all of Affinity’s vector, layout, and pixel tools for free with just a free Canva account.” In practice, the account and plan requirements break down as follows:
- Required: a free Canva account, used to download the app and activate its license.
- Optional: a Canva premium plan, which is needed only to unlock Canva AI features inside Affinity.
- Not required: any payment for the core tools or export features, which Affinity describes as free without restrictions.
How to download and install Affinity
- Open Affinity’s official download page from the Affinity website and select Windows or macOS.
- Sign in with your Canva account, or create a free one when prompted. This account is used to download and activate the license.
- On Windows, choose the personal installer that matches your processor (see the next section). Use an Enterprise installer only for a business-managed deployment.
- Run the installer and activate the app online.
- After activation, you can work offline. Help, lessons, stock libraries, and Canva integrations and AI features need an internet connection when you use them.
Choosing the right Windows installer
Affinity offers personal installers for two processor types, plus separate Enterprise installers for business deployments. To check your processor, open Settings, select System, then About, and read the System type line. A reading of “64-bit operating system, x64-based processor” means you need the Intel/AMD (x64) installer. A reading of “ARM-based processor” means you need the ARM (ARM64) installer.
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- Intel or AMD PC (x64): the Intel/AMD personal installer.
- Windows on ARM device: the ARM (ARM64) personal installer.
- Organization-managed machine: the Enterprise installer that your IT team specifies.
System requirements
These are the minimum requirements Affinity lists on its download page at the time of writing (October 2026). Treat them as the floor for running the app, not a guide to comfortable performance on large files.
| Requirement | macOS | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later | Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit |
| Processor | Apple silicon and Intel supported | x64 with SSE2 support, or ARM64 installer |
| Memory (RAM) | 4 GB minimum | 4 GB minimum |
| Free storage | 3.5 GB | 2.5 GB |
| Display | 1280×768 | 1280×768 |
| Graphics | Not stated on Affinity’s download page | DirectX 10-compatible GPU |
| Input | Mouse, trackpad, or equivalent | Mouse, stylus, or equivalent |
iPad and iOS: what is available now
The new Affinity app is not available for iPadOS or iOS. Affinity’s official pages say an iPad version is coming, but they give no release date, so any date you see elsewhere is unconfirmed. Until then, the new app is limited to Windows and macOS.
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If you already work on iPad with Affinity V2
Keep using the V2 iPad app for your current projects. Because it cannot open newer .af files, moving to the new desktop app is a one-way decision for any project you start or save in it.
Opening existing Affinity files
Compatibility runs in one direction. The new desktop app can open files created in Affinity V1 and V2. V1 and V2 cannot open files created or saved in the new app, and the V2 iPad app in particular cannot open newer .af files.
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![PhotoPad Photo Editing and Image Editor Free [PC Download]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Z1W5q6pVL._SL160_.jpg)
- Edit and Share digital photos and other images
- Improve photo quality, adjust the color balance, crop, rotate, resize, and more
- Add text, frames, clipart, and more to your photos
- Fun filters such as, sepia, oil paint, cartoon and more.
- Use touch-up tools to remove red-eye and blemishes
Before you move an existing project into the new app, keep the original V1 or V2 file. Once a file is saved in the new format, the older apps cannot open it, so a backup of the original is your only route back.
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