Software · head to head
Affinity Designer vs Abstract
Affinity Designer
Software
Professional graphic design software for everyone
- From
- $69.99/one-time
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Abstract has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Affinity Designer sold as a one-time purchase rather than a subscription: the Windows or macOS edition was priced at CA$94.99, the cross-platform Universal License at CA$224.99, and the standalone iPad edition at CA$24.99 (Internet Archive capture, 1 January 2024); Abstract the product appears to be gone. Its documentation path 404s, goabstract.com no longer resolves, and abstract.com now belongs to an unrelated venture capital firm
- They diverge on capability: Affinity Designer covers Vector drawing, Abstract covers Version control.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Affinity Designer and Abstract actually diverge.
| Attribute | Affinity Designer | Abstract |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $69.99/one-time | Free |
| Pricing model | one-time | subscription |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Windows, Macos, Ios | Macos, Web |
| Founded | 1994 | 2015 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Affinity Designer
- Vector drawing
- Bezier tools
- Gradient tools
- Typography
- Pixel-perfect editing
- Artboards
- Symbols
- Non-destructive effects
Only in Abstract
- Version control
- Branching & merging
- Asset library
- Design tokens
- Collaboration
- File management
- Comments
- Activity tracking
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Affinity Designer
- Logo designnot Abstract
- Vector illustrationnot Abstract
- Icon designnot Abstract
- Brandingnot Abstract
Abstract
- Design systemsnot Affinity Designer
- Version controlnot Affinity Designer
- Asset managementnot Affinity Designer
- Team collaborationnot Affinity Designer
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Affinity Designer
- Sold as a one-time purchase rather than a subscription: the Windows or macOS edition was priced at CA$94.99, the cross-platform Universal License at CA$224.99, and the standalone iPad edition at CA$24.99 (Internet Archive capture, 1 January 2024)
Abstract
- The product appears to be gone. Its documentation path 404s, goabstract.com no longer resolves, and abstract.com now belongs to an unrelated venture capital firm
- Built around Sketch files, so it never covered teams that moved to Figma
Pricing, plan by plan
Affinity Designer
$69.99/one-time- Standard$69.99/one-time
- Full version
- All features
- Lifetime updates
Abstract
Free- FreeFree
- 1 shared library
- Basic version control
- 2 team members
- Pro$12/month
- Unlimited libraries
- Full version control
- Unlimited team members
- Enterprise$50/month
- Everything in Pro
- Advanced admin controls
- Compliance & security
Which should you pick?
Choose Affinity Designer if
- You need vector drawing.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Ios.
- You also want bezier tools.
Choose Abstract if
- You need version control.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Macos, Web.
- You also want branching & merging.
Questions people ask
- Is Affinity Designer or Abstract better?
- Neither clearly leads. Affinity Designer starts at $69.99/one-time and Abstract at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Affinity Designer or Abstract?
- Abstract has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $69.99/one-time for Affinity Designer and Free for Abstract.
- Does Affinity Designer or Abstract run on more platforms?
- Affinity Designer runs on Windows, Macos, Ios. Abstract runs on Macos, Web.
- Can I use Abstract for free?
- Yes. Abstract has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Affinity Designer starts at $69.99/one-time.
- What is Affinity Designer best used for?
- Affinity Designer is most often used for logo design, vector illustration, icon design, branding. Of those, logo design and vector illustration are not what Abstract is typically brought in for.
- What can Affinity Designer do that Abstract cannot?
- Affinity Designer covers Vector drawing, Bezier tools, Gradient tools, Typography. Abstract covers Version control, Branching & merging, Asset library, Design tokens.