Affinity Designer vs Adobe Photoshop
Side-by-side from the Top 11 ranking of The 11 Best Graphic Design Software (2026). Last verified July 2, 2026.
The short answer
Adobe Photoshop ranks higher on Top 11 (#1 vs #5) for Designers and marketing teams choosing graphic design software. The professional raster standard, now with Generative Fill.
At a glance
| Affinity Designer | Adobe Photoshop | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #5 / The 11 Best Graphic Design Software (2026) | #1 / The 11 Best Graphic Design Software (2026) |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 8.4 | 9.3 |
| Best for | Best one-time-purchase alternative | Best overall for photo and raster work |
| Pricing | $ ($69.99 one-time) | $$ ($22.99/mo, or $59.99/mo for full suite) |
| HQ | Nottingham, United Kingdom | San Jose, USA |
| Founded | 2014 | 1990 |
Affinity Designer
Pro-grade design tools for one flat payment.
affinity.serif.com/en-us/designer/See full entry in The 11 Best Graphic Design Software (2026)
Adobe Photoshop
The professional raster standard, now with Generative Fill.
www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.htmlSee full entry in The 11 Best Graphic Design Software (2026)
Methodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.