# Affinity Designer vs Lunacy (2026)

By Noah — last updated & pricing verified October 23, 2026.

> **Verdict:** Choose Affinity Designer if you do illustration, photo and print work and want vector tools, RAW photo editing and press-ready page layout in one free Mac and Windows app that opens PSD, AI, IDML and DWG files. Choose Lunacy if you design UI screens and prototypes, work on Linux, or want AI background removal and Icons8's icon library inside the editor. Both core apps cost $0, so the deciding factor is the job: Affinity covers illustration, photo and layout depth, while Lunacy covers UI design with a low learning curve.

**Choose Affinity Designer if:** You do print or illustration work and want vector tools, RAW photo editing and page layout in one free app; You receive layered PSD, AI, IDML or DWG files and need them to open with layers intact; You don't need AI tools and want every core editing and export feature free with no paid tier to run into; You illustrate on an iPad and can use the legacy Affinity Designer 2 app, which is still a free download

**Choose Lunacy if:** You work on Linux, where Lunacy has a native app and Affinity Designer has no official support; You design UI screens and clickable prototypes rather than print layouts; You want AI background removal, upscaling and art generation built into the editor without plugins; You want Icons8's icons, photos and illustrations available inside the canvas; You want a low learning curve coming from Sketch- or Figma-style design tools

## At a glance

|  | Affinity Designer | Lunacy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| License | Free | Freemium |
| Best for | Mac and Windows users who want a full vector, raster, and page-layout design suite without any subscription cost | designers and non-designers who want a free, native desktop vector and UI design tool with built-in AI features instead of a browser-only or per-seat subscription app |
| Ratings | Capterra 4.7/5 (455 reviews) | Capterra 4.7/5 (26 reviews) |

## Feature comparison

| Feature | Affinity Designer | Lunacy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Starting price | Yes (free (all studios, Mac and Windows)) | Yes (free plan (core editing, UI design, prototyping)) |
| Core editing and export free | Yes (no subscription, in-app purchases or feature gate for individuals) | Yes (core vector, UI and prototyping tools free) |
| Platforms | Partial (Windows, macOS; iPad via legacy Designer 2 app) | Partial (Windows, macOS, Linux (desktop only)) |
| Linux support | No (no official Linux support) | Yes (native Linux app) |
| iPad app | Partial (legacy Designer 2 app; unified iPad app still pending as of mid-2026) | No |
| License model | Yes (free) | Partial (freemium) |
| Vector illustration tools | Yes (curve editing, boolean operations, gradients, image tracing) | Yes (vector editing) |
| UI design boards and prototyping | Unknown | Yes (included in the free app) |
| Raster photo editing | Yes (RAW development and non-destructive editing (Pixel studio)) | Partial (AI background removal, upscaling and style effects) |
| Print page layout | Yes (press-ready layout (Layout studio)) | Unknown |
| File import | Yes (PSD, AI, IDML and DWG with layers intact) | Unknown |
| Built-in AI tools | Partial (generative AI requires a Canva account; availability depends on Canva's plans) | Yes (background removal, upscaling, avatar and art generation; heavy use needs an Icons8 subscription) |
| Built-in stock assets | Unknown | Yes (Icons8 icons, photos, illustrations; premium assets need a subscription) |
| Standalone product | No (merged into the unified Affinity app in October 2025) | Yes (standalone Icons8 app) |
| Learning curve | Partial (moderate) | Yes (low) |
| External rating (Capterra) | Yes (4.7/5 from 455 reviews) | Yes (4.7/5 from 26 reviews) |

## Affinity Designer vs Lunacy pricing: which costs less?

Affinity Designer and Lunacy both cost $0 for their core apps, but Affinity has no paid tier for core features, while Lunacy's heavier AI use and premium Icons8 assets need a paid Icons8 subscription.

Canva relaunched Affinity as a free app for Mac and Windows in October 2025, covering the Vector, Pixel and Layout studios with no subscription or in-app purchases. Only its generative AI tools route through a Canva account, and their availability depends on Canva's own plans. Lunacy's core vector editing, UI design and prototyping tools are free, including basic AI features and Icons8 asset browsing. Higher-volume background removal, upscaling and art generation, plus premium icons, photos and illustrations, draw on an Icons8 subscription whose current price is not verified in the listing data.

## Which is easier to use, Affinity Designer or Lunacy?

Lunacy is easier to pick up, with a low learning curve rating against Affinity Designer's moderate rating.

Lunacy follows the Sketch and Figma model of vector editing on UI design boards, so people coming from those tools find it familiar. The unified Affinity app puts vector, raster photo and page layout studios in one workspace, which adds depth but also more to learn. Lunacy's community is much smaller than Figma's or Sketch's, so there are fewer tutorials and community templates to lean on.

## Which runs on more platforms, Affinity Designer or Lunacy?

Lunacy runs natively on Windows, macOS and Linux, while Affinity Designer covers Windows and macOS plus the iPad through the legacy Designer 2 app.

Affinity has no official Linux support. The unified Affinity app runs natively on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs and on mid-range Windows PCs. Canva had still not shipped a unified iPad version as of mid-2026, so iPad users stay on the older Designer 2 app, which remains a free download. Lunacy's listing names only desktop platforms: Windows, macOS and Linux.

## Can Lunacy replace Affinity Designer?

Lunacy can replace Affinity Designer for UI design, prototyping and quick AI-assisted graphics, but not for RAW photo editing, press-ready page layout or layered PSD, AI, IDML and DWG imports, which only Affinity's listing documents.

Lunacy covers vector editing, UI design boards and prototyping, with built-in AI tools and Icons8 assets. The unified Affinity app adds the Pixel studio for non-destructive photo and RAW editing and the Layout studio for print, and it opens layered Adobe and DWG files. Designers who mostly build screens and marketing graphics can switch to Lunacy. Print and illustration workflows that depend on Adobe file compatibility fit Affinity better.

## Strengths and weaknesses

### Affinity Designer

- Pro: Full vector, raster, and page-layout toolset is free for Mac and Windows with no subscription or feature gate.
- Pro: Imports PSD, AI, IDML, and DWG files with layer structure preserved.
- Pro: Runs natively on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs plus mid-range Windows PCs.
- Pro: No recurring cost compared to Adobe Illustrator's subscription model.
- Con: Standalone Affinity Designer was discontinued in October 2025 in favor of the merged Affinity app, so the product name now refers to a feature set inside a different app.
- Con: Unified iPad app still had not shipped as of mid-2026, well over a year after the relaunch was announced.
- Con: Generative AI features require a Canva account and may depend on Canva's own paid tiers.
- Con: No official Linux support.

### Lunacy

- Pro: Free native desktop app for Windows, macOS, and Linux, unlike browser-only competitors.
- Pro: Built-in AI tools (background removal, upscaling, avatar/art generation) without needing separate plugins.
- Pro: Direct in-app access to Icons8's icon, photo, and illustration libraries.
- Pro: Low learning curve for users coming from Sketch- or Figma-style vector and UI tools.
- Con: Heavy AI-feature or premium-asset use requires an Icons8 subscription, so the free tier has practical usage limits.
- Con: Smaller plugin ecosystem and third-party integration support than Figma.
- Con: Real-time multiplayer collaboration is less mature than Figma's, a common gap noted by design teams.
- Con: Brand recognition and community resources are much smaller than for Figma or Sketch, meaning fewer tutorials and community templates.

## Which fits your use case?

| Use case | Pick | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Freelance illustrator delivering print-ready files to clients | Affinity Designer | Affinity Designer combines vector illustration with press-ready page layout and imports AI and IDML files, all free on Mac and Windows. |
| Designer working on a Linux workstation | Lunacy | Lunacy ships a native Linux app; Affinity Designer has no official Linux support. |
| Startup designer mocking up app screens and clickable prototypes | Lunacy | Lunacy includes UI design boards and prototyping in its free app; Affinity Designer's listing data does not document prototyping. |
| Marketer making quick graphics with stock icons and background removal | Lunacy | Lunacy builds AI background removal and Icons8's icon, photo and illustration libraries into the editor, though heavy use needs an Icons8 subscription. |
| Photographer who also lays out brochures or books | Affinity Designer | Affinity's Pixel studio handles RAW development and non-destructive photo editing in the same app as its Layout studio. |

## Migration FAQ

### Should I use Affinity Designer or Lunacy?

Use Affinity Designer for illustration, photo and print work on Mac or Windows; use Lunacy for UI design and prototyping, especially on Linux. Both core apps are free.

### Is Affinity Designer cheaper than Lunacy?

No — Affinity Designer and Lunacy both cost $0 for their core apps. Lunacy's higher-volume AI actions and premium Icons8 assets need an Icons8 subscription, while Affinity ties only its generative AI tools to a Canva account.

### Can Lunacy replace Affinity Designer?

Yes for UI design, prototyping and simple vector graphics. Lunacy's listing does not cover Affinity Designer's RAW photo editing, press-ready page layout or PSD, AI, IDML and DWG imports.

### Does Affinity Designer run on Linux?

No — Affinity Designer has no official Linux support, and the unified Affinity app runs on Windows and macOS. Lunacy is the one of the two with a native Linux app.

### Is Affinity Designer still available?

Yes, but not as a standalone product — Canva folded Affinity Designer, Photo and Publisher into one free Affinity app for Mac and Windows in October 2025. iPad users can still download the legacy Designer 2 app for free while a unified iPad version remains pending.

## Neither a match?

- 4 alternatives to Affinity Designer: https://findalternative.to/affinity-designer
- 5 alternatives to Lunacy: https://findalternative.to/lunacy

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