The Design Rivalry: Canva vs. Affinity

Canva is a design-centric platform boasting over 100 million users, aiming to democratize design. In contrast, the Affinity Suite offers professional-grade software available for a one-time fee, rivaling Adobe’s offerings. The question arises: why did Canva opt to purchase Affinity?

While Canva's ambition to compete with Adobe is commendable, many users, myself included, harbor concerns. The primary appeal of Affinity lies in its independence and avoidance of subscription fees.

The Concern Over Perpetual Licenses

Is this the beginning of the end for perpetual licensing software? Many Affinity users, including myself, transitioned to avoid Canva’s subscription model. Fortunately, Serif assures that current pricing structures remain intact and that users will continue receiving free upgrades to version 2. However, the phrase "at this time" raises some red flags.

Canva's Commitment: A Double-Edged Sword?

Understanding that perpetual licensing is a major factor for many Affinity users, Canva released a blog post outlining four community commitments. Among them is a promise that perpetual licenses will remain available for purchase. Users will also have the option to switch to a subscription model if it becomes available.

This seems reassuring, akin to Capture One’s dual model. Yet, I can’t shake the feeling that this should have been part of the initial announcement, given how aware they must have been of user concerns.

If Canva had no intention of altering pricing, why phrase it as “no plans to change the pricing at this time”? Such wording implies that a subscription model may be on the horizon.

The Future for Affinity Users

I’m keen to see how this situation unfolds. While I understand that subscription models can provide businesses with steady revenue, I also worry that this acquisition may alienate many users. Serif has seen growth, with 90 employees and $60 million in annual sales, yet the shift to a subscription model could deter customers.

Perhaps we are being overly dramatic and everything will ultimately be fine. Still, we've heard similar reassurances before, and every change comes with its pros and cons. As it stands, the most notable change is that Canva is now the parent company, though I’m relieved to hear that Serif employees will retain their jobs.

Concerns about change are natural, and my apprehension about Affinity’s future lingers.

Final Thoughts

After four years of using Affinity applications, I feel confident with both versions one and two. I’ve concluded that it's acceptable to continue using them indefinitely, as Affinity Photo remains my preferred editor. Please share in the comments which Affinity app you find most useful.