Affinity DesignervsZeplin

App

Saas

Score Comparison

Overall

Pricing

Usability

Performance

Support

Reliability

Onboarding

Mobile

Security

Integrations

Affinity DesignerZeplin

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)

Zeplin

Steep learning curve for new users(6/10)
No screen version history comparison(7/10)
Limited project management capabilities(6/10)
Poor asset management and search(5/10)
Components and styleguides don't work reliably(6/10)
No prototyping capabilities(5/10)

Reliability

Affinity Designer

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

Zeplin

No offline mode available(5/10)

Performance

Affinity Designer

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

Zeplin

Slow performance with large workspaces(6/10)
Frequent software update interruptions(4/10)

Integrations

Affinity Designer

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

Zeplin

Sketch plugin compatibility issues(7/10)

Mobile

Affinity Designer

iPad version has gesture conflicts(6/10)

Zeplin

No signals

Security

Affinity Designer

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

Zeplin

No signals

Onboarding

Affinity Designer

Updater requires manual download(3/10)

Zeplin

No signals

Pricing

Affinity Designer

No signals

Zeplin

Billing issues and unauthorized charges(9/10)

Support

Affinity Designer

No signals

Zeplin

Inadequate customer support response(7/10)

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)

Zeplin

Free

Users: Unlimited members

Storage: 1 project, 100 screens

Limits: Limited to 1 project and 100 screens, 30-day version history only, no advanced permissions

Only owners can publish/delete designs, no Flow Boards

Basic 1 Pack

$13.75/mo

Users: Unlimited members

Storage: 1 project, 1000 screens

Limits: Single project only, no team workspace features, no role-based permissions

No Flow Boards or advanced permissions, price shown is annual (pay upfront)

Basic 12 Pack

$118.25/mo

Users: Unlimited members

Storage: 12 projects, 1000 screens each

Limits: No team workspace, no advanced permissions or admin controls

Annual billing required for discount, no Flow Boards

Advanced

Popular

$12/mo

Users: Per seat, unlimited reviewers free

Storage: 50 projects, unlimited screens

Limits: 50 project limit, AI features scale per seat (10 reviews/week/seat)

Per-seat pricing adds up quickly with larger teams, 2 months free only on annual

Enterprise

Free

Users: Unlimited

Storage: Unlimited projects and screens

Limits: Must contact sales for pricing, no self-serve option

Custom pricing requires sales call, long-term contract likely required

Feature Comparison

Feature	Affinity Designer	Zeplin
Core Features
Vector editing Comprehensive vector tools
Raster/Pixel editing Via Pixel Persona
Image trace / Auto-trace Major missing feature
Core
Design handoff with code snippets CSS, Swift, Android XML, React Native
Styleguide generation Colors, typography, components
Flow boards Advanced and Enterprise plans only
Usability
Offline mode Not available
Extensibility
Plugin/Extension support Not supported
Design
Prototyping Not available
File Formats
Adobe AI file export Can open but not save
SVG export Some reported issues
PDF export Including PDF/X
Collaboration
Version history 30 days free, 1 year paid - no visual diff
Real-time collaboration Not available
Integrations
Figma integration Plugin available
Sketch integration May have compatibility issues with newest versions
VS Code extension Access specs without leaving editor
Platforms
iPad version Full-featured
Windows version Some stability issues
Mac version Native Apple Silicon
Security
SSO/SAML Enterprise plan only
Cloud Features
Cloud sync Local files only
AI
AI design review Limited weekly reviews based on plan

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)

Zeplin

Steep learning curve for new users(6/10)
No screen version history comparison(7/10)
Limited project management capabilities(6/10)
Poor asset management and search(5/10)
Components and styleguides don't work reliably(6/10)
No prototyping capabilities(5/10)

Reliability

Affinity Designer

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

Zeplin

No offline mode available(5/10)

Performance

Affinity Designer

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

Zeplin

Slow performance with large workspaces(6/10)
Frequent software update interruptions(4/10)

Integrations

Affinity Designer

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

Zeplin

Sketch plugin compatibility issues(7/10)

Mobile

Affinity Designer

iPad version has gesture conflicts(6/10)

Zeplin

No signals

Security

Affinity Designer

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

Zeplin

No signals

Onboarding

Affinity Designer

Updater requires manual download(3/10)

Zeplin

No signals

Pricing

Affinity Designer

No signals

Zeplin

Billing issues and unauthorized charges(9/10)

Support

Affinity Designer

No signals

Zeplin

Inadequate customer support response(7/10)

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)

Zeplin

Free

Users: Unlimited members

Storage: 1 project, 100 screens

Limits: Limited to 1 project and 100 screens, 30-day version history only, no advanced permissions

Only owners can publish/delete designs, no Flow Boards

Basic 1 Pack

$13.75/mo

Users: Unlimited members

Storage: 1 project, 1000 screens

Limits: Single project only, no team workspace features, no role-based permissions

No Flow Boards or advanced permissions, price shown is annual (pay upfront)

Basic 12 Pack

$118.25/mo

Users: Unlimited members

Storage: 12 projects, 1000 screens each

Limits: No team workspace, no advanced permissions or admin controls

Annual billing required for discount, no Flow Boards

Advanced

Popular

$12/mo

Users: Per seat, unlimited reviewers free

Storage: 50 projects, unlimited screens

Limits: 50 project limit, AI features scale per seat (10 reviews/week/seat)

Per-seat pricing adds up quickly with larger teams, 2 months free only on annual

Enterprise

Free

Users: Unlimited

Storage: Unlimited projects and screens

Limits: Must contact sales for pricing, no self-serve option

Custom pricing requires sales call, long-term contract likely required

Feature Comparison

Feature	Affinity Designer	Zeplin
Core Features
Vector editing Comprehensive vector tools
Raster/Pixel editing Via Pixel Persona
Image trace / Auto-trace Major missing feature
Core
Design handoff with code snippets CSS, Swift, Android XML, React Native
Styleguide generation Colors, typography, components
Flow boards Advanced and Enterprise plans only
Usability
Offline mode Not available
Extensibility
Plugin/Extension support Not supported
Design
Prototyping Not available
File Formats
Adobe AI file export Can open but not save
SVG export Some reported issues
PDF export Including PDF/X
Collaboration
Version history 30 days free, 1 year paid - no visual diff
Real-time collaboration Not available
Integrations
Figma integration Plugin available
Sketch integration May have compatibility issues with newest versions
VS Code extension Access specs without leaving editor
Platforms
iPad version Full-featured
Windows version Some stability issues
Mac version Native Apple Silicon
Security
SSO/SAML Enterprise plan only
Cloud Features
Cloud sync Local files only
AI
AI design review Limited weekly reviews based on plan