Affinity DesignervsSketch

App

Score Comparison

Overall

Pricing

Usability

Performance

Support

Reliability

Onboarding

Mobile

Security

Integrations

Affinity DesignerSketch

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)

Sketch

Mac-only platform excludes Windows users(9/10)
No real-time collaboration compared to Figma(9/10)
Recent updates made the app worse and less intuitive(7/10)
Limited prototyping requires third-party plugins(7/10)
Steep learning curve for beginners(6/10)
Object selection behavior frustrates users(6/10)
Limited vector illustration and photo editing(5/10)
EPS file import no longer supported on macOS Sonoma(4/10)

Reliability

Affinity Designer

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

Sketch

Text rendering bugs at extreme sizes(5/10)

Performance

Affinity Designer

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

Sketch

Severe lag with large files and 50+ artboards(8/10)

Integrations

Affinity Designer

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

Sketch

Plugin updates frequently break with Sketch updates(8/10)
Developer handoff is limited and incomplete(7/10)

Mobile

Affinity Designer

iPad version has gesture conflicts(6/10)

Sketch

iOS app has limited functionality and ads(4/10)

Security

Affinity Designer

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

Sketch

No signals

Onboarding

Affinity Designer

Updater requires manual download(3/10)

Sketch

No signals

Pricing

Affinity Designer

No signals

Sketch

Shift to subscription model frustrates long-time users(7/10)

Support

Affinity Designer

No signals

Sketch

Billing disputes and trial charge complaints(6/10)

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)

Sketch

Standard

Popular

$12/mo

Users: Per editor

Storage: Unlimited documents

Limits: No SSO, No advanced permissions, No dedicated support, Standard terms only

Billed yearly only ($144/year per editor), Monthly billing not available on this tier

Business

$24/mo

Users: Per editor

Storage: Unlimited documents

Limits: No SCIM provisioning, No BYOK encryption

Billed yearly only ($288/year per editor), Significant price jump from Standard

Enterprise

$44/mo

Users: 25+ editors minimum

Storage: Unlimited documents

Limits: Requires 25+ editors commitment

25 editor minimum ($1,100/month or $13,200/year minimum), Custom pricing may vary

Private Cloud

$74/mo

Users: 50+ editors minimum

Storage: Unlimited with private hosting

Limits: Requires 50+ editors commitment, Custom setup required

One-time setup fee applies, 50 editor minimum ($3,700/month or $44,400/year minimum)

Mac-only License

$120/mo

Users: 1 seat

Storage: Local storage only

Limits: No collaboration features, No online sharing, No iOS preview access, No web app, No version history sync

Updates stop after one year without renewal, No cloud features included

Feature Comparison

Feature	Affinity Designer	Sketch
Core Features
Vector editing Comprehensive vector tools
Raster/Pixel editing Via Pixel Persona
Image trace / Auto-trace Major missing feature
Usability
Offline mode Full offline support, major advantage over browser tools
Platform
Windows support Mac-only, no Windows version planned
Extensibility
Plugin/Extension support Not supported
Design
Built-in prototyping Basic prototyping, advanced features require plugins
Symbols/Components Powerful symbol system for design consistency
Auto-layout Smart Layout for responsive design
File Formats
Adobe AI file export Can open but not save
SVG export Some reported issues
PDF export Including PDF/X
Collaboration
Developer handoff Free viewer access, basic CSS/HTML export
Version history Subscription plans only
Real-time collaboration Not available
Platforms
iPad version Full-featured
Windows version Some stability issues
Mac version Native Apple Silicon
Integrations
Plugin ecosystem 2,600+ plugins but ecosystem is declining
Pricing
One-time purchase $120 Mac-only license available
Free tier 30-day trial only, no permanent free option
Security
SSO/SCIM Business plan and above
Cloud Features
Cloud sync Local files only

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)

Sketch

Mac-only platform excludes Windows users(9/10)
No real-time collaboration compared to Figma(9/10)
Recent updates made the app worse and less intuitive(7/10)
Limited prototyping requires third-party plugins(7/10)
Steep learning curve for beginners(6/10)
Object selection behavior frustrates users(6/10)
Limited vector illustration and photo editing(5/10)
EPS file import no longer supported on macOS Sonoma(4/10)

Reliability

Affinity Designer

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

Sketch

Text rendering bugs at extreme sizes(5/10)

Performance

Affinity Designer

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

Sketch

Severe lag with large files and 50+ artboards(8/10)

Integrations

Affinity Designer

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

Sketch

Plugin updates frequently break with Sketch updates(8/10)
Developer handoff is limited and incomplete(7/10)

Mobile

Affinity Designer

iPad version has gesture conflicts(6/10)

Sketch

iOS app has limited functionality and ads(4/10)

Security

Affinity Designer

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

Sketch

No signals

Onboarding

Affinity Designer

Updater requires manual download(3/10)

Sketch

No signals

Pricing

Affinity Designer

No signals

Sketch

Shift to subscription model frustrates long-time users(7/10)

Support

Affinity Designer

No signals

Sketch

Billing disputes and trial charge complaints(6/10)

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)

Sketch

Standard

Popular

$12/mo

Users: Per editor

Storage: Unlimited documents

Limits: No SSO, No advanced permissions, No dedicated support, Standard terms only

Billed yearly only ($144/year per editor), Monthly billing not available on this tier

Business

$24/mo

Users: Per editor

Storage: Unlimited documents

Limits: No SCIM provisioning, No BYOK encryption

Billed yearly only ($288/year per editor), Significant price jump from Standard

Enterprise

$44/mo

Users: 25+ editors minimum

Storage: Unlimited documents

Limits: Requires 25+ editors commitment

25 editor minimum ($1,100/month or $13,200/year minimum), Custom pricing may vary

Private Cloud

$74/mo

Users: 50+ editors minimum

Storage: Unlimited with private hosting

Limits: Requires 50+ editors commitment, Custom setup required

One-time setup fee applies, 50 editor minimum ($3,700/month or $44,400/year minimum)

Mac-only License

$120/mo

Users: 1 seat

Storage: Local storage only

Limits: No collaboration features, No online sharing, No iOS preview access, No web app, No version history sync

Updates stop after one year without renewal, No cloud features included

Feature Comparison

Feature	Affinity Designer	Sketch
Core Features
Vector editing Comprehensive vector tools
Raster/Pixel editing Via Pixel Persona
Image trace / Auto-trace Major missing feature
Usability
Offline mode Full offline support, major advantage over browser tools
Platform
Windows support Mac-only, no Windows version planned
Extensibility
Plugin/Extension support Not supported
Design
Built-in prototyping Basic prototyping, advanced features require plugins
Symbols/Components Powerful symbol system for design consistency
Auto-layout Smart Layout for responsive design
File Formats
Adobe AI file export Can open but not save
SVG export Some reported issues
PDF export Including PDF/X
Collaboration
Developer handoff Free viewer access, basic CSS/HTML export
Version history Subscription plans only
Real-time collaboration Not available
Platforms
iPad version Full-featured
Windows version Some stability issues
Mac version Native Apple Silicon
Integrations
Plugin ecosystem 2,600+ plugins but ecosystem is declining
Pricing
One-time purchase $120 Mac-only license available
Free tier 30-day trial only, no permanent free option
Security
SSO/SCIM Business plan and above
Cloud Features
Cloud sync Local files only