I Switched from Adobe to Affinity and Found 5 Things It Actually Does Better

At a glance:

• Affinity integrates photo, design, and publishing tools into a single app with real-time workflow continuity
• Affinity's Undo Brush offers superior accessibility compared to Photoshop's History Brush
• Affinity includes native frequency separation and isometric illustration tools absent in Adobe's suite

What Affinity Does Better Than Adobe

The shift from Adobe to Affinity wasn't just about cost savings; it was about discovering tools that solve specific workflow pain points. While Adobe remains dominant in areas like plugin ecosystems and collaboration features, Affinity carved out distinct advantages in execution. Nolen's experience highlights five concrete areas where Affinity outperforms Adobe, challenging the notion that it's merely a budget alternative. These differences stem from Affinity's design philosophy of eliminating legacy constraints rather than mimicking Adobe's feature set.

The first and most transformative advantage is Affinity's unified workspace. Unlike Adobe's fragmented approach where users must switch between Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, Affinity collapses these functions into one application. The Pixel, Vector, and Layout workspaces share a common file format and allow seamless transitions via StudioLink. This integration eliminates the multi-step detours designers face in Adobe workflows. For instance, editing an image in the Pixel workspace while working on a layout in the Layout workspace happens in real-time without reopening files or applications. This cohesion is particularly valuable for print designers who need to combine raster and vector elements without app-hopping, a process that remains cumbersome in Adobe's ecosystem.

Affinity's Undo Brush represents a significant UX improvement over Photoshop's History Brush. While both tools allow painting from previous history states, Affinity's implementation is far more intuitive. The Undo Brush appears as a small icon next to every action in the history panel, requiring no prior knowledge to use. In contrast, Photoshop's History Brush demands users navigate obscure menus or create named snapshots first. This difference in affordance makes Affinity's tool more accessible to both novice and experienced users, reducing the cognitive load associated with retouching workflows.

Frequency separation, a critical retouching technique for portrait photography, is another area where Affinity excels. Adobe has never included this as a native filter in Photoshop, forcing users to manually create layer stacks or rely on third-party actions. Affinity, however, offers frequency separation with a single click. The filter opens a dialog with live preview, allowing users to adjust blur radius and method before applying the effect. This one-click solution saves time and reduces the learning curve compared to Photoshop's manual setup, making it a practical advantage for professionals who frequently use this technique.

Liquify, Affinity's tool for pixel-level adjustments, benefits from the application's GPU-accelerated architecture. Unlike Photoshop, which carries decades of legacy code that often offloads processing to the CPU, Affinity was built with end-to-end GPU support. This results in smoother, more responsive performance during complex transformations. Additionally, Affinity's Liquify operates as a non-destructive Persona, allowing users to revert changes or adjust them later without losing original data. In Photoshop, achieving similar flexibility requires converting layers to Smart Objects—a deliberate step that Affinity eliminates.

Isometric illustration, a common design style in app icons and technical diagrams, is another feature where Affinity shines. Adobe Illustrator lacks native support for isometric grids, forcing users to manually adjust angles through scale-shear-rotate sequences or rely on third-party plugins. Affinity's Vector workspace includes a dedicated isometric panel that automatically handles geometric calculations. Users can set up the grid, choose a drawing plane (front, side, or top), and have shapes snap to the selected plane. This built-in functionality removes a tedious manual process that designers have criticized in Illustrator for years.

The Reality of Affinity vs. Adobe

While Affinity demonstrates clear advantages in specific tools, it's important to acknowledge Adobe's strengths. Adobe maintains a vast plugin ecosystem and superior collaboration features through services like Creative Cloud. For users deeply embedded in Adobe's workflow or requiring specialized tools, the transition to Affinity may not be straightforward. However, for those prioritizing efficiency in core design tasks, Affinity offers tangible benefits that Adobe has yet to match. The key difference lies in Affinity's approach to development—prioritizing modern architecture over legacy systems—which results in more intuitive and performant tools for everyday workflows.

The pricing model also plays a role in this comparison. Adobe's subscription model can be costly for individual users or small teams, while Affinity offers a one-time purchase price. This financial aspect, combined with Affinity's feature set, makes it an attractive alternative for budget-conscious creators. However, Nolen emphasizes that Affinity isn't a universal replacement. Users should evaluate their specific needs before switching, as Adobe still excels in areas like advanced photo editing and multi-user collaboration.

Who Benefits Most from Affinity

The advantages highlighted by Nolen particularly benefit professionals working on integrated design projects. Print designers, illustrators, and photographers who frequently combine raster and vector elements will find Affinity's unified workflow invaluable. Similarly, users requiring non-destructive editing or specific retouching tools like frequency separation will appreciate Affinity's implementations. However, Affinity may not be ideal for users dependent on Adobe's extensive plugin marketplace or real-time collaboration features. The decision to switch should be based on individual workflow requirements rather than general preferences.

Affinity's development team continues to add features that address gaps in Adobe's offerings. Recent updates have improved compatibility with industry standards and expanded support for modern file formats. This ongoing development suggests that Affinity is positioned to close more gaps over time. For users willing to invest in learning a new toolset, Affinity provides a compelling alternative that challenges Adobe's dominance in specific niches.

The Future of Affinity

Affinity's success hinges on its ability to maintain this trajectory of innovation. By focusing on solving specific pain points rather than competing across all Adobe features, the company has created a loyal user base. However, sustaining growth will require continued investment in both tool development and marketing. As Adobe evolves its own software, Affinity must adapt to remain relevant. The current feature set positions Affinity well for users seeking efficiency, but long-term viability will depend on addressing emerging industry needs.

The broader implication of Affinity's rise is a shift in the creative software landscape. Adobe's market dominance has historically been reinforced by network effects and ecosystem lock-in. Affinity's emergence demonstrates that alternative solutions can compete effectively by focusing on user experience and addressing specific workflow deficiencies. This competition could ultimately benefit users by pushing Adobe to innovate in areas where it has previously been slow to act.

Conclusion

Switching from Adobe to Affinity isn't about rejecting a superior product—it's about finding tools that align with specific workflow needs. The five advantages identified by Nolen illustrate how Affinity's design choices create meaningful improvements in daily tasks. While Adobe remains the industry standard for many, Affinity offers a viable alternative for those prioritizing efficiency, cost, and modern tooling. As both companies continue to evolve, the competition between them may ultimately drive better outcomes for creators worldwide.