Affinity Designer vs Gravit Designer: Complete Comparison (2026)

Updated: March 12, 20268 min read

Choosing between Affinity Designer and Gravit Designer is a common decision for design tools buyers in 2026. Both Affinity Designer and Gravit Designer are established players, founded in 2014 and 2014 respectively. Affinity Designer serves 3M+ users while Gravit Designer has 2M+ users globally. Affinity Designer differentiates with vector and raster design and pixel persona, while Gravit Designer leads with vector design and cross-platform. In this head-to-head comparison, Affinity Designer earns a higher hiltonsoftware.co score of 94/100 — but the right choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and team size.

🔺
Affinity Designer
Design Tools
94
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED
VS
🔷
Gravit Designer
Design Tools
84
hiltonsoftware.co Score

Quick Comparison

Affinity Designer
Gravit Designer
Starting Price
$169.99 one-time
$49/yr
Free Plan
No
Yes
Users
3M+
2M+
Founded
2014
2014
Rating
4.7/5
4.2/5
Best For
Freelance designers wanting professional tools wit...
Designers needing a free, cross-platform vector ed...

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Affinity DesignerGravit Designer
96Ease of Use81
98Features87
97Value for Money86
90Customer Support80
98Integrations78
92Scalability87
87Learning Curve89

Pros & Cons at a Glance

Affinity Designer
+No subscription needed
+Fast and stable performance
-Smaller plugin ecosystem
-Fewer learning resources
Gravit Designer
+Free cross-platform vector editor
+Works in browser and desktop
-Less feature-rich than Illustrator
-Acquired by Corel, future unclear
AI Verdict

After comparing Affinity Designer and Gravit Designer across features, pricing, and user satisfaction, Affinity Designer takes the lead with a score of 94/100 versus Gravit Designer's 84/100. Affinity Designer's key advantages include "no subscription needed" and "fast and stable performance". That said, Gravit Designer has its own strengths — particularly "free cross-platform vector editor" — making it a viable alternative for specific use cases.

On pricing, there's a clear difference: Gravit Designer offers a free plan, making it more accessible for individuals and small teams exploring design tools solutions. Affinity Designer starts at $169.99 one-time with no free tier, but often justifies the cost with vector and raster design and pixel persona.

Bottom line: Choose Affinity Designer if you need freelance designers wanting professional tools without subscription costs. Go with Gravit Designer if your priority is designers needing a free, cross-platform vector editor including chromebook. Both are strong design tools tools — we recommend trying the free plan of each before committing.

CHOOSE AFFINITY DESIGNER IF:

Freelance designers wanting professional tools without subscription costs.

CHOOSE GRAVIT DESIGNER IF:

Designers needing a free, cross-platform vector editor including Chromebook.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Affinity Designer better than Gravit Designer in 2026?
Affinity Designer scores 94/100 on hiltonsoftware.co compared to Gravit Designer's 84/100. Affinity Designer stands out for "no subscription needed" and is best for Freelance designers wanting professional tools without subscription costs. Gravit Designer is known for "free cross-platform vector editor" and suits Designers needing a free, cross-platform vector editor including Chromebook. Your specific workflow and team size should guide the decision.
What is the pricing difference between Affinity Designer and Gravit Designer?
Gravit Designer offers a free plan while Affinity Designer starts at $169.99 one-time, giving Gravit Designer a lower barrier to entry. When comparing value, consider that Affinity Designer (founded 2014, 3M+ users) includes features like Vector and raster design, Pixel persona, Export persona. Gravit Designer (founded 2014, 2M+ users) offers Vector design, Cross-platform, SVG editing. The right choice depends on which features matter most to your team.
What are the main differences between Affinity Designer and Gravit Designer?
The key differences come down to focus and approach. Affinity Designer excels at Vector and raster design, Pixel persona, Export persona, while Gravit Designer focuses on Vector design, Cross-platform, SVG editing. Affinity Designer's main advantage is "no subscription needed", though some users note "smaller plugin ecosystem". Gravit Designer's strength is "free cross-platform vector editor", but "less feature-rich than illustrator" can be a drawback. Both serve the Design Tools market but target different user profiles.
Can I switch from Affinity Designer to Gravit Designer?
Switching between Affinity Designer and Gravit Designer is possible since both operate in the Design Tools space. Before migrating, export your data from Affinity Designer and check Gravit Designer's import capabilities. Key features to verify compatibility: Vector and raster design, Pixel persona, Export persona (Affinity Designer) vs Vector design, Cross-platform, SVG editing (Gravit Designer). Consider running both tools in parallel during a trial period to ensure a smooth transition.
Which is better for small teams: Affinity Designer or Gravit Designer?
Gravit Designer's free plan makes it more accessible for small teams on a budget. It's best for Designers needing a free, cross-platform vector editor including Chromebook. Affinity Designer ($169.99 one-time) is worth considering if you need Vector and raster design, Pixel persona, Export persona and have the budget.

Explore More Comparisons & Tools