Affinity Photo 2
Professional photo editing software with a one-time purchase model, no subscription required.
Quick Take: Affinity Photo 2
Affinity Photo 2 has transformed from an excellent value into an essential free tool for Mac photographers and designers. Following Canva's acquisition and the shift to a zero-cost model, it delivers professional-grade photo editing capabilities that rival expensive subscription alternatives. Native Apple Silicon optimization, comprehensive RAW processing, and on-device machine learning features make it an unbeatable choice for macOS users. The only limitations are the smaller plugin ecosystem and the need for a Canva subscription to access generative AI features—compromises that are easily justified by the absence of any software fees.
Best For
- •Professional photographers seeking zero-cost editing solution
- •Apple Silicon Mac users wanting optimized performance
- •Photoshop users tired of Creative Cloud subscriptions
- •Privacy-conscious creatives preferring offline AI processing
What is Affinity Photo 2?
Affinity Photo 2 is a professional-grade raster graphics editor developed by Serif, offering a powerful alternative to Adobe Photoshop without the recurring subscription costs. Originally launched in 2022 as part of the Affinity 2 suite, it has evolved significantly following Canva's acquisition of Serif in 2024. In late 2025, Canva consolidated Affinity Photo, Designer, and Publisher into a single unified "Affinity" app that is now completely free for all users—a transformative shift in the professional design software landscape.\n\nAs of 2026, Affinity Photo 2 remains a formidable tool for photographers, designers, and creative professionals who demand pixel-perfect precision. The software supports macOS Sonoma, Sequoia, and the latest Tahoe releases, with native optimization for Apple Silicon M-series chips. It delivers comprehensive RAW processing capabilities, HDR merging, panorama stitching, and advanced layer-based editing with non-destructive workflows.\n\nWhat distinguishes Affinity Photo 2 in 2026 is its unique position as a zero-cost professional alternative in an industry dominated by subscription models. While the standalone Affinity Photo 2 version is being transitioned to the unified Affinity experience, its core functionality—including professional photo retouching, frequency separation, advanced selection tools with on-device machine learning, and 360-degree image editing—remains fully accessible without charge. The application handles large files efficiently, supports unlimited layers, and offers end-to-end color management with ICC profile support, making it suitable for professional print workflows.
Install with Homebrew
brew install --cask affinity-photo-2Deep Dive: Affinity's Evolution and Technical Architecture
Affinity Photo 2 represents a significant evolution in professional photo editing software, both technically and commercially. Understanding its architecture helps explain its performance characteristics and recent transformation into a free product.
History & Background
Affinity Photo was originally developed by Serif Europe Ltd, a British software company founded in 1987. The first version launched in 2015 as a direct competitor to Adobe Photoshop, emphasizing a one-time purchase model during Adobe's controversial shift to Creative Cloud subscriptions. Version 2 arrived in 2022 with a rewritten engine and expanded capabilities. In March 2024, Canva acquired Serif for approximately $380 million, signaling ambitious expansion into professional design tools. By October 2025, Canva consolidated the three separate Affinity applications (Photo, Designer, Publisher) into a single unified app and made it completely free, disrupting the traditional creative software pricing model.
How It Works
Affinity Photo 2 is built on a proprietary rendering engine optimized for modern hardware. On Apple Silicon Macs, it leverages Metal 3 for GPU acceleration, delivering real-time previews of complex filter stacks even on high-resolution images. The file format (.afphoto) preserves layers, masks, and adjustment history, supporting files up to gigabytes in size efficiently. Unlike web-based editors, Affinity processes entirely locally, ensuring privacy and offline capability. The Persona system (Photo, Develop, Tone Mapping, Export, Liquify) modularizes different workflow stages while maintaining non-destructive editing chains.
Ecosystem & Integrations
The Affinity ecosystem centers on compatibility with industry standards. It reads and writes PSD files with high fidelity, preserving layer structures for collaboration with Photoshop users. PDF/X support enables professional print workflows. The brush engine supports importing ABR (Photoshop brush) files. While the plugin ecosystem is smaller than Photoshop's, key third-party tools like Nik Collection and Topaz Labs plugins are supported through standard plugin architecture.
Future Development
Under Canva ownership, Affinity's roadmap emphasizes AI integration while maintaining the core free offering. Future updates are expected to bring deeper Canva ecosystem connectivity—direct publishing to Canva's template marketplace and cloud storage integration. The underlying engine continues to evolve with improved machine learning capabilities for selection, masking, and generative workflows, though the most advanced AI features will likely remain tied to Canva Pro subscriptions. Cross-platform parity remains a priority, with Windows and iPad versions receiving simultaneous feature updates.
Key Features
Professional RAW Processing & Develop Persona
Affinity Photo 2 features a dedicated Develop Persona for comprehensive RAW file processing, rivaling Adobe Camera Raw in capability. Users can adjust exposure, white balance, tone curves, and HSL values with real-time previews. The RAW engine supports over 600 camera models and provides lens correction profiles for automatic distortion, chromatic aberration, and vignetting removal. Local adjustments via gradient and brush masks allow selective enhancements, while the Tone Mapping persona enables advanced HDR-style processing on single images or bracketed exposures.
Layer-Based Non-Destructive Editing
At the core of Affinity Photo 2 is a sophisticated layer system supporting unlimited layers with blend modes, masks, and adjustment layers. Live Filter layers enable non-destructive effects that remain editable at any time—including depth of field, lighting, blur, and distortion effects. Adjustment layers for curves, levels, black and white conversion, and color balance can be stacked and masked independently. This Photoshop-compatible workflow ensures professionals can transition seamlessly while maintaining familiar organizational structures.
Machine Learning Object Selection
Version 2.6 introduced on-device machine learning features including Object Selection and Select Subject. These tools analyze image content locally on Apple Silicon Macs (M-series chips) or compatible Intel systems to automatically identify and select subjects with remarkable accuracy. Unlike cloud-based AI tools, these features process entirely on-device, ensuring privacy and working offline. The object selection tool intelligently segments complex subjects like hair and fur, dramatically accelerating masking workflows.
HDR Merge, Panoramas & Focus Stacking
Affinity Photo 2 includes advanced image stitching capabilities including HDR merge for combining bracketed exposures, panorama stitching with spherical and cylindrical projection options, and focus merge for extended depth-of-field photography. The tone mapping algorithm produces natural-looking results without the exaggerated halos common in automated HDR tools. For astrophotography, dedicated astro stacking features align and composite multiple exposures to reduce noise and enhance faint celestial details.
Frequency Separation & Professional Retouching
Professional portrait retouching is enabled through built-in frequency separation, allowing photographers to independently edit texture and color/tone layers for skin smoothing without losing pore detail. The Inpainting tool provides content-aware fill capabilities for removing blemishes, objects, and distractions seamlessly. Dodge and burn tools, clone stamping, and healing brushes complete the retouching toolkit, all supporting pressure-sensitive tablet input for natural brush dynamics.
360° Image Editing & Equirectangular Projection
Unique among professional photo editors, Affinity Photo 2 offers native 360-degree image editing capabilities. Users can import equirectangular panoramas and paint, clone, or apply adjustments directly on the spherical projection. This is essential for virtual tour creators and immersive content producers who need to remove tripods, patch nadir points, or enhance sky and ground details in panoramic photography without converting to flat projections.
Who Should Use Affinity Photo 2?
1Professional Portrait Photographer
A wedding photographer imports RAW files from a weekend shoot into Affinity Photo 2's Develop Persona to batch-adjust exposure and white balance across hundreds of images. Using the frequency separation technique on key portraits, they smooth skin texture while preserving natural pore detail. The Inpainting tool removes distracting background elements, while dodge and burn layers sculpt facial lighting. The final images are exported in both high-resolution TIFF for print albums and compressed JPEG for digital delivery, all without monthly software subscription costs eating into profit margins.
2Landscape & Astrophotography Enthusiast
An astrophotographer uses the Focus Merge feature to stack multiple exposures of the Milky Way, achieving sharp star points from foreground to infinity. They employ the Tone Map persona to balance shadow detail in foreground rocks with bright sky gradients without creating artificial HDR artifacts. The panorama stitching tool combines a 180-degree sweep of the horizon, automatically correcting for lens distortion. Using the selective color adjustment with luminosity masks, they enhance the saturation of the galactic core while preserving natural sky colors—processing entirely offline during a remote camping trip.
3Graphic Designer & Content Creator
A social media content creator uses Affinity Photo 2 to composite product photography for an e-commerce brand. They leverage the machine learning object selection to quickly isolate products from white backgrounds, then place them into lifestyle scenes using layer masks and blend modes. Live filter layers apply consistent color grading across the campaign, remaining editable when client feedback requires adjustments. The 360-degree editing capability allows them to create immersive product views for web embeds, exporting directly to web-optimized formats.
How to Install Affinity Photo 2 on Mac
Affinity Photo 2 is available through the Mac App Store or as a direct download. Following Canva's acquisition, the unified Affinity app (combining Photo, Designer, and Publisher) is now completely free. System requirements: macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later, with Apple Silicon M-series chips or Intel Core processors supported.
Download from Mac App Store
Open the Mac App Store and search for "Affinity" (the unified app) or "Affinity Photo 2" for the legacy version. Click "Get" or "Install"—the app is completely free with no purchase required. Alternatively, download directly from affinity.studio.
Install and Launch
The app will automatically install to your Applications folder. Launch Affinity Photo 2 from Launchpad or the Applications folder. On first run, macOS may prompt you to confirm opening an app downloaded from the internet—click "Open."
Grant Permissions
Navigate to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Files and Folders, then grant Affinity Photo 2 access to folders where you store images. For full functionality including machine learning features, ensure your Mac meets the system requirements (macOS 10.15+, Apple Silicon or compatible Intel).
Pro Tips
- • The new unified Affinity app (free) replaces Affinity Photo 2, Designer 2, and Publisher 2—consider migrating to access all three workflows in one interface.
- • For machine learning features (Object Selection, Select Subject), ensure you're using an Apple Silicon Mac or compatible Intel system with sufficient RAM.
- • Legacy Affinity Photo 2 license holders can continue using their version indefinitely, though transitioning to the free unified app provides the most current features.
Configuration Tips
Set Up Color Management for Print Work
Navigate to Preferences > Color to configure your ICC color profiles. For professional print workflows, enable "Convert opened files to working space" and select an appropriate CMYK profile for your print provider. This ensures color consistency from screen to final output.
Customize the Studio Panels
Affinity Photo 2's Studio panels can be arranged to match your workflow. Drag panels to create floating windows or dock them to the sides. Save your layout via Studio > Studio Presets so your preferred tool arrangement loads automatically for different project types.
Configure Keyboard Shortcuts
Import Photoshop-compatible shortcuts via Preferences > Keyboard Shortcuts, or create custom bindings for frequently used tools. Assign shortcuts to personas (Develop, Photo, Tone Mapping, Export) for rapid context switching during complex editing sessions.
Alternatives to Affinity Photo 2
While Affinity Photo 2 offers exceptional value as a free professional tool, several alternatives cater to different workflows and preferences within the Mac design ecosystem.
Adobe Photoshop
Pixelmator Pro
GIMP
Capture One Pro
Pricing
Following Canva's acquisition of Serif in 2024, Affinity Photo 2 has transitioned to a completely free model as part of the unified Affinity app (combining Photo, Designer, and Publisher functionality). As of late 2025 and into 2026, the full professional feature set is available at no cost. Legacy standalone versions of Affinity Photo 2 previously sold for a $69.99 one-time purchase. Note: While the core Affinity app is free, advanced AI-powered features (generative fill, background removal) require a separate Canva Pro subscription starting at $12.99/month.
Pros
- ✓Completely free professional-grade photo editor with no subscription required
- ✓One-time purchase legacy option for those preferring standalone Affinity Photo 2
- ✓Native Apple Silicon optimization delivers excellent performance on M-series Macs
- ✓Photoshop-compatible layer workflows with non-destructive live filters
- ✓On-device machine learning features (Object Selection) work offline without cloud dependency
Cons
- ✗Advanced generative AI features require separate Canva Pro subscription
- ✗Smaller plugin ecosystem compared to Adobe Photoshop's extensive third-party support
- ✗Learning curve remains steep for users new to professional layer-based editing
- ✗No built-in cloud sync or asset management system comparable to Adobe Creative Cloud
Community & Support
The Affinity community has grown substantially following the free release, with active forums on Reddit (r/Affinity, r/AffinityPhoto), the official Affinity forums, and numerous YouTube tutorial channels. Serif provides comprehensive video tutorials and documentation through their learning platform. User-contributed assets including brushes, styles, and templates are shared freely within the community. Support is available through email tickets with responsive technical assistance, and the community-driven knowledge base addresses common workflows and troubleshooting. The transition to Canva ownership has not diminished the vibrant ecosystem of photographers and designers who champion Affinity as a viable professional alternative.
Frequently Asked Questions about Affinity Photo 2
Our Verdict
Affinity Photo 2 has transformed from an excellent value into an essential free tool for Mac photographers and designers. Following Canva's acquisition and the shift to a zero-cost model, it delivers professional-grade photo editing capabilities that rival expensive subscription alternatives. Native Apple Silicon optimization, comprehensive RAW processing, and on-device machine learning features make it an unbeatable choice for macOS users. The only limitations are the smaller plugin ecosystem and the need for a Canva subscription to access generative AI features—compromises that are easily justified by the absence of any software fees.
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Sources & References
Fact-CheckedLast verified: May 7, 2026
Key Verified Facts
- Canva acquired Serif, the developer of Affinity, in March 2024 for approximately $380 million.[cite-1, cite-2]
- Affinity Photo 2 is now completely free following Canva's consolidation of Photo, Designer, and Publisher into a unified app in late 2025.[cite-3, cite-4]
- Machine learning features (Object Selection, Select Subject) in Affinity Photo 2 work on-device for Apple Silicon M-series chips and compatible Intel systems.[cite-5]
- Affinity Photo 2 requires macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later and supports both Apple Silicon and Intel processors.[cite-6]
- Advanced generative AI features in Affinity require a Canva Pro subscription starting at $12.99/month, while core editing features remain free.[cite-7]
- 1Canva Acquires Affinity Suite Developer Serif - TechCrunch
Accessed May 7, 2026
- 2Canva completes acquisition of Serif - Canva Newsroom
Accessed May 7, 2026
- 3Affinity is now free - Canva Newsroom
Accessed May 7, 2026
- 4Affinity review: Now completely free - Digital Camera World
Accessed May 7, 2026
- 5Machine Learning System Requirements - Serif Support
Accessed May 7, 2026
- 6Affinity System Requirements - Serif Labs
Accessed May 7, 2026
- 7Canva Pricing - Canva Official Site
Accessed May 7, 2026
- 8Affinity's entire suite goes completely free on Mac - AppleInsider
Accessed May 7, 2026
Research queries: Affinity Photo 2 pricing 2026 Canva free; Affinity Photo 2 vs Photoshop features comparison; Affinity Photo 2 Mac system requirements macOS Sonoma Sequoia; Canva Affinity acquisition Serif 2024