As the world of digital design continues to evolve, the debate between Affinity Photo and Adobe Photoshop has intensified. With 2025 ushering in new updates for both platforms, creative professionals and hobbyists alike are reconsidering their go-to image editing software. This comprehensive comparison explores how the two programs stack up in terms of features, performance, pricing, and usability.
Cost and Accessibility
One of the biggest differences between Affinity Photo and Photoshop is the pricing model. Adobe Photoshop operates on a subscription-based model, requiring users to pay a monthly fee (through Adobe Creative Cloud), which can add up over time. Conversely, Affinity Photo offers a one-time payment—which many users find more cost-effective in the long run.
- Photoshop: Starting at $20.99/month
- Affinity Photo: One-time fee of $69.99 (no subscription)
For freelancers or professionals working on a budget, Affinity Photo’s pricing is notably attractive. That said, Photoshop users benefit from Creative Cloud integration, giving them access to other Adobe apps like Illustrator and After Effects.
User Interface and Learning Curve
Both platforms offer intuitive yet feature-rich interfaces, but there are notable differences in usability. Photoshop has a more established interface that long-time users are familiar with, while Affinity Photo takes a more modern, streamlined approach.
Affinity Photo uses Personas—dedicated workspaces for specific tasks like editing or exporting—which help to declutter the UI. Photoshop, on the other hand, provides customizable panels and workspace presets tailored for different workflows.
Features and Tools
In terms of functionality, both apps offer robust tools for photo manipulation, retouching, compositing, and digital painting. However, Photoshop still has a slight edge due to its longer development history and bigger ecosystem.
- Content-Aware Fill: Available in Photoshop, still missing in full form in Affinity Photo
- AI-Powered Features: Photoshop’s integration with Adobe Sensei brings advanced AI tools for sky replacement, object selection, and auto-masking
- RAW Editing: Both apps offer strong RAW support, though Adobe Camera RAW tends to be more mature
Affinity Photo is quickly catching up, especially with its non-destructive live filters, real-time performance, and vector layer support—features that rival even the most essential Photoshop capabilities.
Performance and Compatibility
In 2025, performance is paramount. Affinity Photo continues to be praised for its fast processing speeds and low system requirements. Its native support on macOS (including Apple Silicon), Windows, and even iPadOS makes it remarkably versatile.
Photoshop, while powerful, can be resource-intensive and may not run as smoothly on lower-end hardware. However, it excels in compatibility, easily accommodating hundreds of plugins and file formats including its native PSD, which remains an industry standard.
Community and Ecosystem
Adobe’s massive user base brings with it vast resources—tutorials, plugins, brushes, scripts, and forums. Affinity Photo’s community is also growing, and its development team is known for listening to user feedback and rolling out frequent updates.
Both platforms support extensions and customization, but Photoshop’s ecosystem is more mature, particularly in professional and enterprise environments. Integration with services like Adobe Stock and Creative Cloud Libraries enhances team collaboration and workflow management.
Conclusion: Which One Is Better in 2025?
The choice between Affinity Photo and Photoshop in 2025 largely depends on your needs and budget:
- Choose Affinity Photo if you’re looking for a powerful, modern tool without the subscription commitment.
- Choose Photoshop if you need advanced AI tools, industry-standard compatibility, and seamless integration with other Adobe apps.
For most users, especially newcomers and indie creatives, Affinity Photo presents a solid alternative to Photoshop—with a rapidly growing set of features and community support.
FAQ
- Is Affinity Photo as good as Photoshop?
Affinity Photo offers most of what Photoshop does, especially for photo editing tasks. While it may lack some advanced AI features, it excels in performance and pricing. - Can Affinity Photo open PSD files?
Yes, it can open and edit PSD files, though some advanced Photoshop features like smart objects or adjustment layers may not fully translate. - Is Affinity Photo a one-time purchase?
Yes. As of 2025, Affinity Photo remains a one-time purchase with free updates for the current major version. - Does Photoshop still require a subscription?
Yes, Photoshop continues to be available through Adobe’s Creative Cloud subscription model. - Which software runs better on low-end machines?
Affinity Photo generally has lower system requirements and performs better on older or less powerful hardware.
