Canva's professional design software Affinity has officially released a new version, deeply integrating vector design, image editing, and typesetting functions, and announced that it will be permanently free, which is seen as a positive challenge to Adobe's subscription model.

The new version of Affinity supports macOS and Windows systems, allowing users to seamlessly switch between "Persona" mode in a single application, freely switching between drawing, photo editing, and typesetting. The software retains the high performance and professional depth of the Affinity series, supporting non-destructive editing, advanced layer controls, and complex path processing features.

A major highlight of this update is the full integration with Canva AI Studio, adding AI tools such as generative fill, background removal, and image expansion, all based on the Leonardo AI model acquired by Canva. These features help designers quickly complete repetitive tasks while maintaining the details and creativity of their work.

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Cliff Obrecht, Canva's Chief Operating Officer, said: "By combining the professional capabilities of Affinity with Canva's AI innovation, we hope to make creative tools more accessible."

It is reported that Canva acquired Serif, the parent company of Affinity, for about $380 million in 2024. This free strategy marks Affinity's full transition to an ecosystem-level platform.

Industry insiders believe that this move may reshape the design software landscape, especially in the context of long-term dissatisfaction among users due to Adobe's high subscription fees (starting at around $20 per month). The "integrated + free" model of Affinity may become a new choice for many designers.

Affinity has promised to permanently open the core functions of the free version, while AI Pro features will be available through a monthly subscription of 13 euros. Users can download and use it via the official website affin.link, and a new iPad version is also under development.