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Both cover photo editing. Here is what separates them on price, billing, what you can take with you, and coverage.
| Affinity | Pixlr | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | From $2.49 |
| Pricing model | Free | Free plan, paid tiers |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Billing | One-time purchase | Monthly or annual |
| Free trial | None | Not stated |
| API | Not stated | Not stated |
| Data export | Not stated | Not stated |
| Their cut | Not stated | Not stated |
| Runs on | macOS, Windows | Web, iOS, Android |
| Covers | Photo Editing, Design & Graphics | Photo Editing, AI Image Generation |
| Works with | Nothing in particular | Nothing in particular |
| Founded | Not listed | Not listed |
| Reader rating | No reviews yet | No reviews yet |
| Live deals | None right now | None right now |
Photo, vector and layout, free for individuals
Affinity is three professional applications in one window: a pixel editor, a vector editor and a page layout tool, with no round trip between them. Canva bought it and made it free, which is the largest thing to happen to paid creative software in years. Files from the Adobe applications open with their layers intact.
Our note
This is the most significant thing to happen to paid creative software in years, and there is no catch that we can find. If you edit photos or lay out documents and have been renting the ability to do it, install this before renewing anything.
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Browser photo editing for a couple of dollars
Pixlr is the cheapest way to stop paying Adobe for work that is mostly cropping, retouching and a background swap. It opens in a tab, handles layers, and the entry plan costs less than a coffee a month. AI generation is included but rationed, and the free tier carries ads.
Our note
If you are paying Adobe for Photoshop and using perhaps a tenth of it, this is the honest downgrade. Photoroom is better at product shots specifically and Pixlr is better at everything else at this price.
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Ratings are the average of reviews readers left. The facts are stated by each tool’s own listing and are not verified by CloutStack. How we make money.