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Affinity Designer vs Linearity Curve

Affinity Designer logo

Affinity Designer

Software

Professional graphic design software for everyone

From
$69.99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Linearity Curve logo

Linearity Curve

Software

Professional vector design for Mac and iPad

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Linearity Curve 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); Linearity Curve limited to Apple ecosystem (Mac, iPad, iPhone) with no Windows or Linux support
  • They diverge on capability: Affinity Designer covers Vector drawing, Linearity Curve covers Vector editing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Affinity Designer and Linearity Curve actually diverge.

Attributes where Affinity Designer and Linearity Curve differ
AttributeAffinity DesignerLinearity Curve
Starting price$69.99/one-timeFree
Pricing modelone-timeUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Macos, IosMac, Ios
Founded19942017

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 Linearity Curve

  • Vector editing
  • Auto Trace
  • Typography tools
  • Pen tool
  • iCloud sync
  • Adobe Creative Cloud
  • Sketch
  • Figma

Both cover

  • Ios support

What people use each for

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

Affinity Designer

  • Logo design
  • Vector illustration
  • Icon designnot Linearity Curve
  • Brandingnot Linearity Curve

Linearity Curve

  • Vector illustration
  • Logo design
  • UI designnot Affinity Designer
  • Print designnot Affinity Designer

Both are used for logo design, vector illustration, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

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)

Linearity Curve

  • Limited to Apple ecosystem (Mac, iPad, iPhone) with no Windows or Linux support
  • Requires annual or monthly subscription for commercial use, unlike competitors offering lifetime purchase options
  • Free plan is severely limited to only 3 Curve files and 5GB storage

Pricing, plan by plan

Affinity Designer

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

Linearity Curve

Free
  • StarterFree
    • 50 lifetime credits
    • 3 Curve files
    • 5GB storage
  • Pro$11.99/month
    • 250 monthly credits
    • Unlimited files
    • 100GB storage
  • Business$65/month
    • 500 monthly credits
    • 500GB storage
    • Brand management

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 Linearity Curve if

  • You need vector editing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac, Ios.
  • You also want auto trace.
Linearity Curve review

Questions people ask

Is Affinity Designer or Linearity Curve better?
Neither clearly leads. Affinity Designer starts at $69.99/one-time and Linearity Curve at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Affinity Designer or Linearity Curve?
Linearity Curve has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $69.99/one-time for Affinity Designer and Free for Linearity Curve.
Does Affinity Designer or Linearity Curve run on more platforms?
Affinity Designer runs on Windows, Macos, Ios. Linearity Curve runs on Mac, Ios.
Can I use Linearity Curve for free?
Yes. Linearity Curve 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, icon design and branding are not what Linearity Curve is typically brought in for.
What can Affinity Designer do that Linearity Curve cannot?
Affinity Designer covers Vector drawing, Bezier tools, Gradient tools, Typography. Linearity Curve covers Vector editing, Auto Trace, Typography tools, Pen tool. Both handle Ios support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Linearity Curve: Does Linearity Curve have a free plan?

Yes, Linearity offers a free Starter plan with 50 lifetime credits, 1 basic brand kit, and 5GB cloud storage. No credit card is required to access the free tier.

Source
Linearity Curve: Can I use Linearity Curve on multiple devices?

Yes, Linearity Curve is available on Mac, iPad, and iPhone, with real-time collaboration allowing teams to see changes instantly across devices.

Source
Linearity Curve: What file formats can I export from Linearity Curve?

Linearity Curve supports exporting to industry-standard formats including .ai, SVG, PDF, PNG, JPG, and TIFF, making it compatible with other design tools.

Source
Linearity Curve: Does Linearity Curve have AI-powered vectorization?

Yes, Linearity Curve includes an Auto Trace feature with three modes (Sketch, Photography, Illustration) that uses AI to instantly vectorize images into editable paths. It also includes AI-powered background removal.

Source
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