Where Affinity Photo stands
Affinity Photo is a layers-based image editor built for detailed retouching, compositing, and graphic design work, in the same general category as Photoshop rather than a photo culling or batch RAW tool. It was acquired by Canva and its apps became free as a unified app in late 2025.
It is a strong choice for photographers and designers who need pixel-level control, layers, and compositing on individual images, rather than a tool for sorting and batch-processing an entire shoot.
Pricing note: Affinity became a free unified app under Canva ownership in late 2025; some Canva-linked features or assets may carry cost (check current terms).
Side by side
| Affinity Photo | imagic | |
|---|---|---|
| Price model | Free as a unified app under Canva ownership since late 2025; some paid add-ons may apply | One-time license (EUR 19-99), 7-day free trial, no subscription |
| AI culling | None - not a culling tool at all | Yes - AI quality scoring: sharpness, closed-eye detection, composition |
| Duplicate detection | No built-in duplicate finder | Yes, built in |
| Batch editing | Has batch/macro tools, but built around single-image retouching, not batch culling | Yes, plus one-click styles |
| RAW processing | Yes, has a RAW develop persona, though it is not its primary focus | Yes, via a bundled RawTherapee engine; 9 formats (CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, ORF, RW2, DNG, PEF) |
| Local/offline processing | Yes, local processing | Yes - all processing local, photos never leave the machine |
| AI agent control (MCP/CLI) | No MCP/CLI | Yes on the Max tier - MCP server + CLI for AI agent-driven editing |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, iPad | Windows, macOS |
| Learning curve | Steep - full layers/compositing editor, closer to Photoshop than a culling tool | Low - guided AI culling plus one-click styles |
Where Affinity Photo is genuinely strong
- Deep layers, masking, and compositing tools for detailed retouching
- Now free to use as a unified app under Canva ownership
- Available on Windows, macOS, and iPad
- Strong for graphic design and composite work beyond just photography
- No subscription required for the core app
Where imagic wins
- Dedicated AI culling with sharpness, closed-eye, and composition scoring - Affinity has none of this
- Purpose-built batch editing across an entire shoot, rather than single-image editing
- Built-in duplicate detection
- A workflow designed to get from hundreds of RAW files to a finished export set quickly
Choose Affinity Photo if…
- You need detailed layers, masking, and compositing on individual images
- Your work leans toward graphic design or heavy retouching rather than culling and batch RAW processing
- You want a free, general-purpose image editor rather than a photography-specific culling tool
Verdict
Affinity Photo is not a culling tool, and it is honest to say so: it is a layers-based editor for detailed retouching and compositing, now free under Canva, and excellent at that job. imagic solves a different problem entirely - sorting and batch-processing a full shoot with AI culling - and the two can reasonably be used together, with imagic handling the culling and batch pass and Affinity handling detailed retouching on individual standout images.
Frequently asked questions
Does Affinity Photo have AI culling?
No. Affinity Photo is a layers-based retouching and compositing editor with no culling or quality-scoring feature at all - it is built for detailed work on individual images, not sorting a whole shoot.
Is imagic a replacement for Affinity Photo?
No, they serve different purposes. imagic culls and batch-edits a full shoot; Affinity Photo does detailed layer-based retouching and compositing on individual images. Many photographers would use both for different steps.
Is Affinity Photo really free now?
As of late 2025, Canva made Affinity's apps free as a unified app. Terms and any paid add-ons can change, so check Canva's current terms for Affinity before assuming everything is included at no cost.
More comparisons
The fair test: your own shoot
Run a real job through imagic free for 7 days — no card, no subscription, one-time licenses from €19.