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Software · head to head

Affinity Designer vs Melio

Affinity Designer logo

Affinity Designer

Software

Professional graphic design software for everyone

From
$69.99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Melio logo

Melio

Software

Simple business payments

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Melio 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); Melio go (free) plan limited to one user only
  • They diverge on capability: Affinity Designer covers Vector drawing, Melio covers Vendor payments.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Affinity Designer and Melio differ
AttributeAffinity DesignerMelio
Starting price$69.99/one-timeFree
Pricing modelone-timefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Macos, IosWeb, Mobile app
Founded19942018

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 Melio

  • Vendor payments
  • Card to check
  • Payment scheduling
  • Approval workflows
  • QuickBooks sync
  • QuickBooks
  • Xero
  • FreshBooks

Both cover

  • Ios support

What people use each for

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

Affinity Designer

  • Logo designnot Melio
  • Vector illustrationnot Melio
  • Icon designnot Melio
  • Brandingnot Melio

Melio

  • Accounts payable automationnot Affinity Designer
  • Bill management and payment schedulingnot Affinity Designer
  • Multi-vendor payment processingnot Affinity Designer
  • Invoice receivables and payment collectionnot 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)

Melio

  • Go (free) plan limited to one user only
  • ACH charges £0.50 per transaction beyond monthly allowance (5-50 free depending on plan)
  • Card payment fees range from 2.9% to 2.9% plus £75 maximum
  • International payments limited to select currencies only
  • NetSuite integration only available in Unlimited plan (£80/month minimum)

Pricing, plan by plan

Affinity Designer

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

Melio

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Melio review.

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 Melio if

  • You need vendor payments.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile app.
  • You also want card to check.
Melio review

Questions people ask

Is Affinity Designer or Melio better?
Neither clearly leads. Affinity Designer starts at $69.99/one-time and Melio at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Affinity Designer or Melio?
Melio has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $69.99/one-time for Affinity Designer and Free for Melio.
Does Affinity Designer or Melio run on more platforms?
Affinity Designer runs on Windows, Macos, Ios. Melio runs on Web, Mobile app.
Can I use Melio for free?
Yes. Melio 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 Melio is typically brought in for.
What can Affinity Designer do that Melio cannot?
Affinity Designer covers Vector drawing, Bezier tools, Gradient tools, Typography. Melio covers Vendor payments, Card to check, Payment scheduling, Approval workflows. Both handle Ios support.
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