Affinity Studio now free

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

New model & product changes

  • Three separate apps (Designer, Photo, Publisher) are now merged into a single “Affinity” app with Vector/Pixel/Layout tabs and a separate Canva AI tab.
  • Core tools across those three domains appear to be intact; some users say execution is excellent and workflow switching is improved, others dislike the all‑in‑one approach.
  • New non‑AI features (e.g. long‑requested image trace, vector blend, other tools) are in the new app, not V2.

Licensing, accounts & offline use

  • Old V2 apps are discontinued: activation servers stay up, but no further updates or features.
  • New Affinity is “free” but:
    • Requires a Canva account and online activation.
    • Then reportedly runs offline, though many worry this could change.
  • Mac App Store versions are gone; users lose the benefit of sandboxing and store‑based updates.

Fears of enshittification & trust erosion

  • Many bought Affinity explicitly to avoid Adobe‑style subscriptions and account tethering; they see this as a bait‑and‑switch or “circle of life”: acquisition → funnel → lock‑in → paywall.
  • Common predicted path: shrink free tier, move more features (not just AI) behind subscription, more upsell UI and “dark patterns,” possible future online‑only requirement.
  • Canva staff insist Affinity will be “free, forever,” with only AI as paid, but commenters note similar promises from other companies have not held and say explanations are no substitute for enforceable guarantees.

Impact on existing V1/V2 customers

  • Feelings range from “nothing changed, you still have what you bought” to “my perpetual license was effectively downgraded; V2 became a dead end overnight.”
  • Specific worries:
    • V2’s dependence on activation servers versus fully offline V1.
    • Future OS updates (especially on macOS and iOS) gradually breaking V2 with no fixes.
    • No way to buy a hypothetical V3 under old terms.

AI, data, and business model

  • AI features (generative tools, depth, super‑resolution, etc.) are subscription‑gated; some run locally, some likely in the cloud.
  • Debate whether “free core + paid AI” is sustainable marketing funnel or just a lure that will inevitably ratchet into broader paywalls and data mining.
  • Canva says Affinity local content isn’t used for AI training and Canva uploads are opt‑in; many remain skeptical and expect terms to evolve.

Alternatives & ecosystem impact

  • Some see this as a powerful free competitor that pressures Adobe’s pricing; others view it as the death of the last major non‑subscription pro suite.
  • Increased interest in open‑source tools (Krita, GIMP, Inkscape, Scribus, Graphite, etc.), though many find them less polished.
  • Strong demand for a native Linux version; community Wine wrappers are being updated to handle v3.