Heads-up on discounts for Affinity Photo

[Sharktooth]

Affinity Photo is a popular alternative to Photoshop, and is available in versions for Mac, Windows, and iPad.


Affinity Photo is now on version 2. I was using version 1, but just got a notice that I could buy a universal license version 2 for an incredibly low price. I think this means that Affinity will soon be releasing version 3. I got version 1 at a super discount, but version 2 came out shortly thereafter. This is why I suspect that they're offering a major discount on version 2, since version 3 will be coming soon.


I've found it to be excellent image editing software even though I've been using version 1. It has many of the capabilities of Photoshop, including adjustment layers. Version 2 doesn't have any AI capability, so I'm guessing that will come with version 3. As a version 1 buyer, they offered the full universal license for version 2 for only $39 Can. The full universal license currently costs $204.99 Can (lower in US$), and includes Mac, Windows, and iPad versions for all the computers in your household. You also get their Designer and Publisher software as well. Affinity Photo can also be purchased as stand alone sofware for EITHER Mac or Windows for $87 Can.


I have both Mac and Windows computers, so I jumped on this discount on the universal license. If you don't already have Affinity Photo, then keep your eyes open for big discount offerings in the near future.
In terms of the software itself, I would consider it a big step up from Photoshop Elements, in terms of capability and features, and is even cheaper.

 

[Sal Santamaura]

I bought version 1. It lacks a decent print dialog, one that would permit specifying image size and margins on a sheet of paper. When version 2 came out, I asked whether that had been rectified. Given the "no" answer, I passed on it. Instead, I happily keep using Serif's PhotoPlus X8, which doesn't suffer from that deficiency. Fortunately, it's on a disk, runs under Windows 11 and a universal unlock code has been provided to ensure it can be loaded on as many machines as one desires.
If Version 3 addresses the print dialog problem, perhaps I'd consider it. Otherwise, no go.

 

[Romanko]

I am a happy user of Affinity Photo v.2. I bought it soon after Canva acquired Serif.

A lot of people are skeptical about the future of the product after the acquisition. If you are planning on buying version 2 now could be a good time. There are a lot of promises that subscription would not be the only way to purchase Affinity Photo which suggests that eventually it will become subscription-only.

 

[Don_ih]

I took advantage of the offer @Sharktooth mentioned a week ago. I've used version 1 for a few years.

If they go subscription only, they'll go out of business. Photoshop is the standard. No one would bother with a clone if they had to pay the same. I bought it originally because it was a one-time purchase. Photoshop can be subscription-only because they have an entire industry in a stranglehold: they have no competition, commercially.

 

[Sharktooth]

Adobe still offers the standalone Photoshop Elements for non-professional users. I think Affinity Photo is a good alternative to Photoshop Elements, since it has more advanced features than Elements, but at a similar, or lower price point.

Adobe usually has steep discounts on Elements just before a new version comes out, and Affinity Photo looks like they're doing the same thing. I've used Elements for many years, and it's excellent too. The only real downside with Elements is that it's usually licensed for only one computer. If you're only using one computer, and you've already got some experience with Elements, then that's probably all you need. The big advantage for me with Affinity Photo is the ability to use the software on more than one computer in my possession. The universal license also allows you to use both Mac and Windows an iPads in the same household, as well as the additional Designer and Publisher software. In the end, it all boils down to price. The current selling price for Affinity Photo version 2 with the universal license isn't cheap. If they do offer it cheaply to the general public (as I suspect they might), then this may be a great option for non-professional users that still want professional image editing features.

 

[Don_ih]

Affinity has had a habit of offering each software item at 50% off at least once a year. They have offered the universal license at around 60% off a couple of times since version 2 came out. Never as low as this price, which is closer to 80% off.