NEWJoin 2M+ software buyers|Get Weekly Insights, Trends & Expert PicksSubscribe free →

Spotsaas logo
Last updated:

Best Affinity Designer Alternatives for Mac — 6 Compared in 2026

Explore 6 alternatives to Affinity Designer — vetted by our editors with real user reviews, pricing, and feature comparisons.

The top Affinity Designer alternatives, at a glance

Quick answer

Want the short version? The top Affinity Designer alternatives are Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Sketch. Adobe Photoshop leads with a SpotScore of 9.5 and a 4.99★ rating. See the full comparison of all 6 on score, rating, and price below.

Comparing Affinity Designer alternatives doesn't have to be guesswork. These 6 graphic design software options are ranked by SpotScore, which blends verified satisfaction with market presence, alongside ratings and pricing. Each tool clears editorial review. Use the table for a fast comparison, then read the full breakdown below.

ProductSpotScoreRatingPricingBest for
Adobe PhotoshopUnleash your creativity with unparalleled editing power.9.5★★★★★ 4.99(570)Freefrom $22.99/moteams of all sizes
Adobe IllustratorUnleash your creativity with Illustrator's versatile tools.9.1★★★★★ 4.99(551)Freefrom $20.99/mosmall & mid-size businesses
SketchUnleash your digital design genius.9★★★★★ 4.62(1010)from $9 /User/Monthteams of all sizes
CorelDrawUnleash your creativity with powerful graphic design tools.8.9★★★★☆ 4.38(416)FreeFree Trial · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
Vectornator ProCreate jaw-dropping designs, anywhere, anytime.8.3★★★★☆ 4.31(16)FreeFreemiumsmall & mid-size businesses
InkscapeTransform your designs with ease and precision.—★★★★☆ 4.45(397)FreeFreemium · Open-sourceteams of all sizes

9.5

SpotScore

Adobe Photoshop - Photo Editing Software

Adobe Photoshop

Unleash your creativity with unparalleled editing power.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

5.0

570 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Adobe Photoshop?

Photoshop is the industry-standard photo editing software used by professional photographers and designers around the world. Get unrivaled power and performance with this photo editing software. This photo editing software helps to work with layers, blend colors, remove flaws, and more to ...

Read more about Adobe Photoshop
Free TrialTry Free →

9.1

SpotScore

Adobe Illustrator - Graphic Design Software

Adobe Illustrator

Unleash your creativity with Illustrator's versatile tools.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market

Start Free Trial

5.0

551 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Adobe Illustrator?

Adobe Illustrator is a powerful graphics tool for logos, icons, and digital illustrations. Quickly create professional quality art for web, print, video, and interactive projects. Capture ideas anytime, anywhere with the Illustrator mobile app . Work across multiple mediums—like print, web and ...

Read more about Adobe Illustrator
Free TrialTry Free →

Spotsaas Ads

Want your product up here? Put it in front of buyers the moment they're comparing your category.

Reach in-market buyersRank above rivals2M+ buyers a year
Advertise your product

9.0

SpotScore

Sketch - Graphic Design Software

Sketch

Unleash your digital design genius.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Get Pricing Details

4.6

1010 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Sketch?

Sketch is a professional tool for designing interfaces and websites. It features graphical tools for creating artwork, as well as built-in tools for prototyping and wireframing for apps. It’s for everybody who turns ideas into digital experiences. Innovative and customizable interface enables ...

Read more about Sketch

Sketch offers custom pricing plan

8.9

SpotScore

CorelDraw - Graphic Design Software

CorelDraw

Unleash your creativity with powerful graphic design tools.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.4

416 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is CorelDraw?

CorelDraw is an easy to use graphic design software that allows to easily create and edit graphics. It's fast, easy to manipulate pages, and more intuitive to use. Use graphics in more creative ways while increasing productivity with vector-based editing tools that let user edit the font style, ...

Read more about CorelDraw
Free Trial·

CorelDraw offers custom pricing plan

8.3

SpotScore

Vectornator Pro - Graphic Design Software

Vectornator Pro

Create jaw-dropping designs, anywhere, anytime.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market

Try for Free

4.3

16 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Vectornator Pro?

Vectornator Pro is a graphic design tool for creating illustrations, interfaces, layouts, and designs. It supports Apple Pencil, keyboard shortcuts, Wacom Slate, touchscreen, pen, and mouse, and includes access to thousands of icons via Iconator and royalty-free images via Unsplash. Files can ...

Read more about Vectornator Pro
Inkscape - New SaaS Software

Inkscape

Transform your designs with ease and precision.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Try for Free

4.5

397 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Inkscape?

Inkscape is an invaluable, free design tool that can take you from concept to completion with ease. Whether you need a web or printed output, it offers powerful transformations like moving, scaling, rotating, or skewing that can be done interactively or through numerical input. The ...

Read more about Inkscape

What earned each Affinity Designer alternative its spot

Adobe Photoshop9.5Best for teams of all sizes

Wide range of tools for image editing and manipulation, catering to various creative needs.

Watch for: Overwhelming richness of features and customizations might be complex for newcomers without proper guidance.

Adobe Illustrator9.1Best for small & mid-size businesses

Versatile tool for creating various design projects, including logos, posters, and handouts.

Watch for: Steep learning curve, requiring time and training for new users.

Sketch9Best for teams of all sizes

Easy-to-use interface with design tools for creating mockups and prototypes efficiently.

Watch for: Lack of cross-platform compatibility, limited to Mac OS, which may restrict usability for Windows and Linux users.

CorelDraw8.9Best for teams of all sizes

Versatile design capabilities streamline graphic design work efficiently.

Watch for: Resource-intensive, leading to occasional system crashes, especially on lower-spec machines.

Vectornator Pro8.3Best for small & mid-size businesses

All-in-one design solution

Watch for: May have a learning curve

InkscapeBest for teams of all sizes

Free to use

Watch for: Steeper learning curve

Why teams look for a Affinity Designer alternative

The motivation to leave Affinity Designer usually centers on a few specifics:

  • Missing some advanced features found in competitors, including image tracing, an eraser tool, and advanced AI filters.
  • Compatibility issues with specific file formats can affect collaboration.
  • Users switching from other design software need time to adapt to different workflows.
  • Limited plugins and connectors reduce customization options.

Key things to look for in a Affinity Designer alternative

How these 6 graphic design software alternatives measure up: 5 offer a free tier; paid plans run $9–$22.99, with Sketch the cheapest entry point; and Adobe Photoshop is the highest rated at 4.99★ across 570 reviews.

How we rank, in short.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Stuck on something? We're here to help with all the questions and answers in one place.

The top-rated alternatives to Affinity Designer are Adobe Photoshop (5.0★), Adobe Illustrator (5.0★), Sketch (4.6★). Compare all 6 alternatives side-by-side above.

When evaluating alternatives to Affinity Designer, prioritize: Built-in Templates, Premium Icons, Image Editor, Transparency Tool, Collaboration, transparent pricing, free trial availability, and integrations with your existing tools. Use the filters above to compare by feature, budget, and team size.

Migration difficulty depends on how deeply Affinity Designer is integrated into your workflows. Most alternatives offer data export/import tools and dedicated onboarding support. We recommend shortlisting 2–3 options, running a free trial, and checking each vendor's migration guides before committing.

How to narrow down your Affinity Designer alternative

  • On a budget / just exploring: start with a free tier — Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and CorelDraw let you evaluate without paying upfront.
  • If real-user ratings matter most: Adobe Photoshop has the strongest star rating (4.99★) among the options with verified reviews.
  • Want the safest pick: Adobe Photoshop has the highest Spotsaas Score (9.5) in this list — a strong default if you're unsure.

Before you switch from Affinity Designer

To replace Affinity Designer smoothly, treat data first. Export it, confirm the new tool can import it, and check feature parity for the work you actually do. Pilot on a free tier before rolling out, and keep Affinity Designer running until everything has moved over cleanly.

Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].