Affinity DesignervsFigma

App

Saas

Score Comparison

Overall

Pricing

Usability

Performance

Support

Reliability

Onboarding

Mobile

Security

Integrations

Affinity DesignerFigma

Signals Comparison

Usability

Affinity Designer

No image trace / auto-trace feature(9/10)
Steep learning curve for beginners(6/10)
No plugin or extension support(6/10)
Vector brushes are actually pixel brushes(7/10)
Cannot merge vectors into one layer(5/10)
Artboard layer management is confusing(5/10)
No built-in templates or shape library(4/10)

Figma

UI redesign moved features and broke workflows(7/10)
Steep learning curve with frequent UI changes(6/10)
Responsive design is a major headache(6/10)

Reliability

Affinity Designer

SVG and PDF export bugs(8/10)
Frequent crashes on Windows(8/10)
Intermittent interface bugs and focus issues(5/10)

Figma

Figma Make (AI) constantly hallucinating and breaking designs(7/10)
No true offline mode - internet always required(7/10)
Service outages impact productivity(7/10)

Performance

Affinity Designer

Slow performance with large or complex files(7/10)

Figma

Large files cause severe performance issues and crashes(9/10)
Prototypes have extremely long load times(7/10)

Integrations

Affinity Designer

Cannot export to Adobe Illustrator AI format(7/10)

Figma

Limited print design capabilities - no CMYK or 300dpi export(5/10)

Mobile

Affinity Designer

iPad version has gesture conflicts(6/10)

Figma

No signals

Security

Affinity Designer

Concerns about Canva ownership and AI data usage(6/10)

Figma

No signals

Onboarding

Affinity Designer

Updater requires manual download(3/10)

Figma

No signals

Pricing

Affinity Designer

No signals

Figma

Dev Mode requires separate paid seats - previously free(8/10)
Unexpected seat charges and confusing billing(9/10)
Organization and Enterprise plans very expensive(6/10)

Support

Affinity Designer

No signals

Figma

Woeful customer service and billing disputes(7/10)

Customization

Affinity Designer

No signals

Figma

Limited font support and local font issues(4/10)

Pricing Comparison

Affinity Designer

Free (Current)

Popular

Free

Users: Unlimited

Storage: Local storage only

Limits: Must have Canva account, V1/V2 perpetual licenses no longer receive updates, AI features locked behind Canva Pro

Canva AI features (like AI Studio) require Canva Pro subscription at $120/year

Canva Pro (for AI features)

$120/yr

Users: 1 user

Storage: 1TB cloud storage (Canva)

Limits: AI features require Canva ecosystem, data shared with Canva platform

Monthly billing is $15/month ($180/year), team plans cost more

Legacy V2 (No longer sold)

$69.99/mo

Users: 1 user per platform

Storage: Local storage only

Limits: No longer sold, existing licenses work but won't receive new features, V2 Universal was $169.99

Separate purchase required for each platform (Mac, Windows, iPad)

Figma

Free (Starter)

Free

Users: Unlimited viewers

Storage: 3 Figma files, 3 FigJam files

Limits: 3 file limit per project, No team libraries, Limited version history, No audio conversations, No private projects

Only 3 Figma and 3 FigJam files limit, Dev Mode access limited, No shared team libraries, No advanced prototyping

Professional

Popular

$15/mo

Users: Per editor/month

Storage: Unlimited files

Limits: No SSO/SAML, No centralized admin, No design system analytics, No dedicated support

Dev Mode seats cost extra ($12-15/month each), Collab seats for occasional editors ($5/month), Price shown is with annual billing ($20/month if monthly)

Organization

$45/yr

Users: Per full seat/month (annual only)

Storage: Unlimited

Limits: No dedicated CSM, No custom contracts, No enhanced security features

Annual billing only - no monthly option, Dev seats $25/month, Minimum seat requirements may apply, Implementation costs for SSO setup

Enterprise

$90/yr

Users: Per full seat/month (annual only)

Storage: Unlimited

Limits: Requires sales engagement, Complex procurement, Long implementation timeline

Dev seats at $35/month, Must negotiate with sales, Multi-year commitments may be required, Collab seats still $5/month

Feature Comparison

Feature	Affinity Designer	Figma
Core Features
Vector editing Comprehensive vector tools
Raster/Pixel editing Via Pixel Persona
Image trace / Auto-trace Major missing feature
Collaboration
Real-time Collaboration Industry-leading, multiple cursors, live editing
Branching & Merging Organization plan and above
Version History 30 days on free, unlimited on paid
FigJam (Whiteboard) Included in all plans
Real-time collaboration Not available
Design Systems
Component Libraries Shared team libraries on paid plans
Variables & Tokens Design tokens, modes, themes
Design
Auto Layout Responsive components, padding, spacing
Prototyping Interactive prototypes, limited on free plan
Extensibility
Plugin/Extension support Not supported
Plugins Large ecosystem, community plugins
File Formats
Adobe AI file export Can open but not save
SVG export Some reported issues
PDF export Including PDF/X
Developer
Dev Mode Requires separate paid seats
Platforms
iPad version Full-featured
Windows version Some stability issues
Mac version Native Apple Silicon
Mobile App iOS and Android for viewing/commenting
Cloud Features
Cloud sync Local files only
Reliability
Offline Mode No true offline - basic editing only on open files
Export
CMYK Export RGB only, not suitable for print
300dpi Export No high-res print export
Security
SSO/SAML Organization plan and above
Deployment
Self-Hosting Cloud-only, no on-premise option
AI
AI Features (Make) New feature, still unreliable

Signals Comparison

Usability

Affinity Designer

No image trace / auto-trace feature(9/10)
Steep learning curve for beginners(6/10)
No plugin or extension support(6/10)
Vector brushes are actually pixel brushes(7/10)
Cannot merge vectors into one layer(5/10)
Artboard layer management is confusing(5/10)
No built-in templates or shape library(4/10)

Figma

UI redesign moved features and broke workflows(7/10)
Steep learning curve with frequent UI changes(6/10)
Responsive design is a major headache(6/10)

Reliability

Affinity Designer

SVG and PDF export bugs(8/10)
Frequent crashes on Windows(8/10)
Intermittent interface bugs and focus issues(5/10)

Figma

Figma Make (AI) constantly hallucinating and breaking designs(7/10)
No true offline mode - internet always required(7/10)
Service outages impact productivity(7/10)

Performance

Affinity Designer

Slow performance with large or complex files(7/10)

Figma

Large files cause severe performance issues and crashes(9/10)
Prototypes have extremely long load times(7/10)

Integrations

Affinity Designer

Cannot export to Adobe Illustrator AI format(7/10)

Figma

Limited print design capabilities - no CMYK or 300dpi export(5/10)

Mobile

Affinity Designer

iPad version has gesture conflicts(6/10)

Figma

No signals

Security

Affinity Designer

Concerns about Canva ownership and AI data usage(6/10)

Figma

No signals

Onboarding

Affinity Designer

Updater requires manual download(3/10)

Figma

No signals

Pricing

Affinity Designer

No signals

Figma

Dev Mode requires separate paid seats - previously free(8/10)
Unexpected seat charges and confusing billing(9/10)
Organization and Enterprise plans very expensive(6/10)

Support

Affinity Designer

No signals

Figma

Woeful customer service and billing disputes(7/10)

Customization

Affinity Designer

No signals

Figma

Limited font support and local font issues(4/10)

Pricing Comparison

Affinity Designer

Free (Current)

Popular

Free

Users: Unlimited

Storage: Local storage only

Limits: Must have Canva account, V1/V2 perpetual licenses no longer receive updates, AI features locked behind Canva Pro

Canva AI features (like AI Studio) require Canva Pro subscription at $120/year

Canva Pro (for AI features)

$120/yr

Users: 1 user

Storage: 1TB cloud storage (Canva)

Limits: AI features require Canva ecosystem, data shared with Canva platform

Monthly billing is $15/month ($180/year), team plans cost more

Legacy V2 (No longer sold)

$69.99/mo

Users: 1 user per platform

Storage: Local storage only

Limits: No longer sold, existing licenses work but won't receive new features, V2 Universal was $169.99

Separate purchase required for each platform (Mac, Windows, iPad)

Figma

Free (Starter)

Free

Users: Unlimited viewers

Storage: 3 Figma files, 3 FigJam files

Limits: 3 file limit per project, No team libraries, Limited version history, No audio conversations, No private projects

Only 3 Figma and 3 FigJam files limit, Dev Mode access limited, No shared team libraries, No advanced prototyping

Professional

Popular

$15/mo

Users: Per editor/month

Storage: Unlimited files

Limits: No SSO/SAML, No centralized admin, No design system analytics, No dedicated support

Dev Mode seats cost extra ($12-15/month each), Collab seats for occasional editors ($5/month), Price shown is with annual billing ($20/month if monthly)

Organization

$45/yr

Users: Per full seat/month (annual only)

Storage: Unlimited

Limits: No dedicated CSM, No custom contracts, No enhanced security features

Annual billing only - no monthly option, Dev seats $25/month, Minimum seat requirements may apply, Implementation costs for SSO setup

Enterprise

$90/yr

Users: Per full seat/month (annual only)

Storage: Unlimited

Limits: Requires sales engagement, Complex procurement, Long implementation timeline

Dev seats at $35/month, Must negotiate with sales, Multi-year commitments may be required, Collab seats still $5/month

Feature Comparison

Feature	Affinity Designer	Figma
Core Features
Vector editing Comprehensive vector tools
Raster/Pixel editing Via Pixel Persona
Image trace / Auto-trace Major missing feature
Collaboration
Real-time Collaboration Industry-leading, multiple cursors, live editing
Branching & Merging Organization plan and above
Version History 30 days on free, unlimited on paid
FigJam (Whiteboard) Included in all plans
Real-time collaboration Not available
Design Systems
Component Libraries Shared team libraries on paid plans
Variables & Tokens Design tokens, modes, themes
Design
Auto Layout Responsive components, padding, spacing
Prototyping Interactive prototypes, limited on free plan
Extensibility
Plugin/Extension support Not supported
Plugins Large ecosystem, community plugins
File Formats
Adobe AI file export Can open but not save
SVG export Some reported issues
PDF export Including PDF/X
Developer
Dev Mode Requires separate paid seats
Platforms
iPad version Full-featured
Windows version Some stability issues
Mac version Native Apple Silicon
Mobile App iOS and Android for viewing/commenting
Cloud Features
Cloud sync Local files only
Reliability
Offline Mode No true offline - basic editing only on open files
Export
CMYK Export RGB only, not suitable for print
300dpi Export No high-res print export
Security
SSO/SAML Organization plan and above
Deployment
Self-Hosting Cloud-only, no on-premise option
AI
AI Features (Make) New feature, still unreliable