Affinity PhotovsProcreate

App

Score Comparison

Overall

Pricing

Usability

Performance

Support

Reliability

Onboarding

Mobile

Security

Integrations

Affinity PhotoProcreate

Signals Comparison

Usability

Affinity Photo

No generative AI or content-aware fill(8/10)
No photo library or asset management(7/10)
Confusing mask layering system(6/10)
No Smart Objects like Photoshop(6/10)
No Save for Web feature(5/10)
Keyboard shortcuts differ from Photoshop(5/10)
UI text too small on high-DPI displays(5/10)
No video or animation timeline(4/10)

Procreate

PSD export loses layer masks entirely(7/10)
No undo history after closing artwork(6/10)
No vector graphics support limits scalability(7/10)
Missing paint bucket tool surprises users(5/10)
Text tool requires rasterization for effects(5/10)

Performance

Affinity Photo

Slow RAW file processing(8/10)
Limited AI noise reduction capabilities(5/10)

Procreate

Layer limits based on iPad RAM frustrate complex projects(8/10)
Apple Pencil lag on some iPad models(7/10)
App crashes and freezes lose unsaved work(8/10)

Integrations

Affinity Photo

Limited plugin ecosystem(7/10)

Procreate

CMYK export is fake - files open as RGB in Photoshop(9/10)

Reliability

Affinity Photo

Crashes during RAW import and export(8/10)

Procreate

No signals

Mobile

Affinity Photo

No iPhone or Android mobile app(5/10)

Procreate

No signals

Security

Affinity Photo

Forum shutdown and Discord migration concerns(4/10)

Procreate

No signals

Customization

Affinity Photo

No signals

Procreate

iPad-only app locks out Android and desktop users(9/10)
No adjustment layers like Photoshop(6/10)

Pricing

Affinity Photo

No signals

Procreate

Separate purchases required for iPad and iPhone versions(4/10)

Pricing Comparison

Affinity Photo

Free (Current)

Popular

Free

Users: Unlimited

Storage: Local storage only

Limits: Must have Canva account, no AI-powered tools in free tier, V1/V2 licenses no longer updated

Canva AI features (Generative Fill, AI expansion) require Canva Pro at $120/year

Canva Pro (for AI features)

$120/yr

Users: 1 user

Storage: 1TB Canva cloud storage

Limits: AI features require Canva ecosystem integration

Monthly billing is $15/month ($180/year), additional team seats cost extra

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 V3 features

Each platform (Mac, Windows, iPad) required separate purchase, V2 Universal was $169.99

Procreate

Procreate for iPad

Popular

$12.99/mo

Users: 1 device per purchase

Storage: Unlimited (device storage)

Limits: Layer count limited by iPad RAM. No CMYK export that works with Photoshop. iPad-only, no Android or desktop version.

Separate purchase needed for iPhone version ($5.99). Premium brush packs from creators cost $2-$25 each. Requires iPad purchase ($449+).

Procreate Pocket (iPhone)

$5.99/mo

Users: 1 device per purchase

Storage: Unlimited (device storage)

Limits: Smaller screen limits precision. Fewer layers than iPad due to less RAM. Some advanced features unavailable.

Not included with iPad version - separate purchase required. Some features reduced compared to iPad version.

Procreate Dreams

$19.99/mo

Users: 1 device per purchase

Storage: Unlimited (device storage)

Limits: Frame rate can only be changed when creating new project. Large animations may cause performance issues on older iPads.

Separate from main Procreate app. Full animation workflow may require both apps ($32.98 total).

Feature Comparison

Feature	Affinity Photo	Procreate
Core Features
Layer-based editing Full layer support
RAW development Non-destructive, but slow
HDR merge Built-in HDR tools
Panorama stitching Automatic stitching
Focus stacking Multi-focus merge
Pricing
One-time purchase No subscription
Platform
iPad app iPad only
iPhone app Separate purchase ($5.99)
Android app Not available
Desktop app Not available
AI Features
AI Generative Fill Requires Canva Pro
Content-Aware Fill Traditional inpainting only
Organization
Photo library/catalog No asset management
Features
Vector graphics Raster only
Animation Basic, Dreams app for advanced
3D painting 3D model texturing
Time-lapse recording Built-in
Brush customization Extensive options
Cloud sync Manual iCloud only
AI features Committed to never adding
Export
CMYK export Emulation only, opens as RGB
PSD export Masks not preserved
File Formats
PSD compatibility Good import/export
Extensibility
Plugin support Limited compared to PS
Platforms
iPad version Full-featured
iPhone/Android app Not available

Signals Comparison

Usability

Affinity Photo

No generative AI or content-aware fill(8/10)
No photo library or asset management(7/10)
Confusing mask layering system(6/10)
No Smart Objects like Photoshop(6/10)
No Save for Web feature(5/10)
Keyboard shortcuts differ from Photoshop(5/10)
UI text too small on high-DPI displays(5/10)
No video or animation timeline(4/10)

Procreate

PSD export loses layer masks entirely(7/10)
No undo history after closing artwork(6/10)
No vector graphics support limits scalability(7/10)
Missing paint bucket tool surprises users(5/10)
Text tool requires rasterization for effects(5/10)

Performance

Affinity Photo

Slow RAW file processing(8/10)
Limited AI noise reduction capabilities(5/10)

Procreate

Layer limits based on iPad RAM frustrate complex projects(8/10)
Apple Pencil lag on some iPad models(7/10)
App crashes and freezes lose unsaved work(8/10)

Integrations

Affinity Photo

Limited plugin ecosystem(7/10)

Procreate

CMYK export is fake - files open as RGB in Photoshop(9/10)

Reliability

Affinity Photo

Crashes during RAW import and export(8/10)

Procreate

No signals

Mobile

Affinity Photo

No iPhone or Android mobile app(5/10)

Procreate

No signals

Security

Affinity Photo

Forum shutdown and Discord migration concerns(4/10)

Procreate

No signals

Customization

Affinity Photo

No signals

Procreate

iPad-only app locks out Android and desktop users(9/10)
No adjustment layers like Photoshop(6/10)

Pricing

Affinity Photo

No signals

Procreate

Separate purchases required for iPad and iPhone versions(4/10)

Pricing Comparison

Affinity Photo

Free (Current)

Popular

Free

Users: Unlimited

Storage: Local storage only

Limits: Must have Canva account, no AI-powered tools in free tier, V1/V2 licenses no longer updated

Canva AI features (Generative Fill, AI expansion) require Canva Pro at $120/year

Canva Pro (for AI features)

$120/yr

Users: 1 user

Storage: 1TB Canva cloud storage

Limits: AI features require Canva ecosystem integration

Monthly billing is $15/month ($180/year), additional team seats cost extra

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 V3 features

Each platform (Mac, Windows, iPad) required separate purchase, V2 Universal was $169.99

Procreate

Procreate for iPad

Popular

$12.99/mo

Users: 1 device per purchase

Storage: Unlimited (device storage)

Limits: Layer count limited by iPad RAM. No CMYK export that works with Photoshop. iPad-only, no Android or desktop version.

Separate purchase needed for iPhone version ($5.99). Premium brush packs from creators cost $2-$25 each. Requires iPad purchase ($449+).

Procreate Pocket (iPhone)

$5.99/mo

Users: 1 device per purchase

Storage: Unlimited (device storage)

Limits: Smaller screen limits precision. Fewer layers than iPad due to less RAM. Some advanced features unavailable.

Not included with iPad version - separate purchase required. Some features reduced compared to iPad version.

Procreate Dreams

$19.99/mo

Users: 1 device per purchase

Storage: Unlimited (device storage)

Limits: Frame rate can only be changed when creating new project. Large animations may cause performance issues on older iPads.

Separate from main Procreate app. Full animation workflow may require both apps ($32.98 total).

Feature Comparison

Feature	Affinity Photo	Procreate
Core Features
Layer-based editing Full layer support
RAW development Non-destructive, but slow
HDR merge Built-in HDR tools
Panorama stitching Automatic stitching
Focus stacking Multi-focus merge
Pricing
One-time purchase No subscription
Platform
iPad app iPad only
iPhone app Separate purchase ($5.99)
Android app Not available
Desktop app Not available
AI Features
AI Generative Fill Requires Canva Pro
Content-Aware Fill Traditional inpainting only
Organization
Photo library/catalog No asset management
Features
Vector graphics Raster only
Animation Basic, Dreams app for advanced
3D painting 3D model texturing
Time-lapse recording Built-in
Brush customization Extensive options
Cloud sync Manual iCloud only
AI features Committed to never adding
Export
CMYK export Emulation only, opens as RGB
PSD export Masks not preserved
File Formats
PSD compatibility Good import/export
Extensibility
Plugin support Limited compared to PS
Platforms
iPad version Full-featured
iPhone/Android app Not available