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Software · head to head

Affinity Designer vs Groove

Affinity Designer logo

Affinity Designer

Software

Professional graphic design software for everyone

From
$69.99/one-time
Rated
-
Groove logo

Groove

Software

Simple, powerful support for growing businesses

From
$12/month
Rated
-

The short version

  • 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); Groove billed per ticket at $1 rather than per agent, so support cost scales with how many customers get in touch
  • They diverge on capability: Affinity Designer covers Vector drawing, Groove covers Shared inbox.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Affinity Designer and Groove actually diverge.

Attributes where Affinity Designer and Groove differ
AttributeAffinity DesignerGroove
Starting price$69.99/one-time$12/month
Pricing modelone-timesubscription
PlatformsWindows, Macos, IosWeb, Ios, Android
Founded19942011

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Groove

  • Shared inbox
  • Knowledge base
  • Live chat
  • Automation rules
  • Reporting
  • Collision detection
  • Slack
  • Salesforce

Both cover

  • Ios support

What people use each for

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

Affinity Designer

  • Logo designnot Groove
  • Vector illustrationnot Groove
  • Icon designnot Groove
  • Brandingnot Groove

Groove

  • Shared inbox and help desk ticketing for small support teamsnot Affinity Designer
  • Handling email, chat and messaging support in one queuenot 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)

Groove

  • Billed per ticket at $1 rather than per agent, so support cost scales with how many customers get in touch
  • A minimum of 250 tickets a month applies, which is a $3,000 annual commitment before any usage
  • A quiet month still pays the 250 ticket floor
  • No mailbox limit is published

Pricing, plan by plan

Affinity Designer

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

Groove

$12/month
  • Standard$12/month
    • 1 mailbox
    • Knowledge base
    • Live chat
  • Plus$20/month
    • 5 mailboxes
    • Full reporting
    • Rules
  • Pro$35/month
    • 25 mailboxes
    • Salesforce
    • Enterprise SSO

Which should you pick?

Choose Affinity Designer if

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

Choose Groove if

  • You need shared inbox.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want knowledge base.

Questions people ask

Is Affinity Designer or Groove better?
Neither clearly leads. Affinity Designer starts at $69.99/one-time and Groove at $12/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Affinity Designer or Groove?
Affinity Designer starts at $69.99/one-time and Groove at $12/month.
Does Affinity Designer or Groove run on more platforms?
Affinity Designer runs on Windows, Macos, Ios. Groove runs on Web, Ios, Android.
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 Groove is typically brought in for.
What can Affinity Designer do that Groove cannot?
Affinity Designer covers Vector drawing, Bezier tools, Gradient tools, Typography. Groove covers Shared inbox, Knowledge base, Live chat, Automation rules. Both handle Ios support.

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