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Affinity Designer vs DaVinci Resolve

Affinity Designer logo

Affinity Designer

Software

Professional graphic design software for everyone

From
$69.99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
DaVinci Resolve logo

DaVinci Resolve

Software

Professional video editing, color correction, visual effects and audio post production

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only DaVinci Resolve 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); DaVinci Resolve free version limits noise reduction to CPU-only processing, significantly slower than Studio's GPU acceleration
  • They diverge on capability: Affinity Designer covers Vector drawing, DaVinci Resolve covers Multi-user collaboration.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Affinity Designer and DaVinci Resolve actually diverge.

Attributes where Affinity Designer and DaVinci Resolve differ
AttributeAffinity DesignerDaVinci Resolve
Starting price$69.99/one-timeFree
Pricing modelone-timeUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Macos, IosWindows, macOS, Linux
Founded19942008

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 DaVinci Resolve

  • Multi-user collaboration
  • 8K editing
  • Color correction
  • Visual effects
  • Motion graphics
  • Audio post production
  • Fairlight audio
  • Fusion VFX

Both cover

  • Windows support
  • Macos support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Affinity Designer

  • Logo designnot DaVinci Resolve
  • Vector illustrationnot DaVinci Resolve
  • Icon designnot DaVinci Resolve
  • Brandingnot DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve

  • Professional video editingnot Affinity Designer
  • Color gradingnot Affinity Designer
  • Visual effectsnot Affinity Designer
  • Audio post productionnot Affinity Designer
  • Film productionnot 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)

DaVinci Resolve

  • Free version limits noise reduction to CPU-only processing, significantly slower than Studio's GPU acceleration
  • Free version caps export resolution at 4K without 8K support
  • No multi-GPU support in free version, limiting rendering speed on powerful workstations
  • AI tools and features like Super Scale AI only available in $295 Studio version
  • Users report random issues requiring restart suggesting architectural stability concerns

Pricing, plan by plan

Affinity Designer

$69.99/one-time
  • Standard$69.99/one-time
    • Full version
    • All features
    • Lifetime updates

DaVinci Resolve

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Professional editing tools
    • Color correction
    • Visual effects
  • Studio$295/one-time
    • All free features
    • AI tools and Super Scale AI
    • 8K editing support

Which should you pick?

Choose Affinity Designer if

  • You need vector drawing.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Ios.
  • You also want bezier tools.
Affinity Designer review

Choose DaVinci Resolve if

  • You need multi-user collaboration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want 8k editing.
DaVinci Resolve review

Questions people ask

Is Affinity Designer or DaVinci Resolve better?
Neither clearly leads. Affinity Designer starts at $69.99/one-time and DaVinci Resolve at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Affinity Designer or DaVinci Resolve?
DaVinci Resolve has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $69.99/one-time for Affinity Designer and Free for DaVinci Resolve.
Does Affinity Designer or DaVinci Resolve run on more platforms?
Affinity Designer runs on Windows, Macos, Ios. DaVinci Resolve runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use DaVinci Resolve for free?
Yes. DaVinci Resolve 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 DaVinci Resolve is typically brought in for.
What can Affinity Designer do that DaVinci Resolve cannot?
Affinity Designer covers Vector drawing, Bezier tools, Gradient tools, Typography. DaVinci Resolve covers Multi-user collaboration, 8K editing, Color correction, Visual effects. Both handle Windows support, Macos support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

DaVinci Resolve: What is the pricing for DaVinci Resolve?

DaVinci Resolve has a completely free version with professional editing tools and no watermark. DaVinci Resolve Studio adds AI-powered features, 8K support, and multi-user collaboration as a one-time $295 purchase.

Source
DaVinci Resolve: What features are only in DaVinci Resolve Studio?

Studio version adds AI tools like Super Scale AI, noise reduction with GPU acceleration, 8K editing support, HDR color grading, multi-user collaboration, and advanced codec support.

Source
DaVinci Resolve: What are the hardware requirements for DaVinci Resolve?

For optimal performance with modern RAW footage, an NVMe SSD is required for cache and scratch files. Multi-GPU configurations benefit only specific effects workloads, while most users achieve better performance with a single high-VRAM GPU.

Source
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