Software · head to head
Affinity Designer vs Zeplin
Affinity Designer
Software
Professional graphic design software for everyone
- From
- $69.99/one-time
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Zeplin 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); Zeplin the free plan is limited to 1 project and 100 screens and works only in a personal workspace
- They diverge on capability: Affinity Designer covers Vector drawing, Zeplin covers Design specs.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Affinity Designer and Zeplin actually diverge.
| Attribute | Affinity Designer | Zeplin |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $69.99/one-time | Free |
| Pricing model | one-time | subscription |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Windows, Macos, Ios | Web, Desktop, Mobile |
| Founded | 1994 | 2014 |
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 Zeplin
- Design specs
- Asset export
- Code snippets
- Design tokens
- Comments
- Version control
- Handoff workflow
- Accessibility checks
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Affinity Designer
- Logo designnot Zeplin
- Vector illustrationnot Zeplin
- Icon designnot Zeplin
- Brandingnot Zeplin
Zeplin
- Handing off design specs from Figma or Sketch to developersnot Affinity Designer
- Sharing screens, assets and style guides with an engineering teamnot Affinity Designer
- Reviewing and commenting on design versionsnot 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)
Zeplin
- The free plan is limited to 1 project and 100 screens and works only in a personal workspace
- Free plan AI reviews are capped at 3 per week
- Role based permissions require the Advanced plan or higher
- Single sign on, multi factor authentication, activity logs and invoiced billing are Enterprise only
- Priority 24 hour support is Enterprise only
- Basic plan caps screens at 1,000 per project and is priced per project rather than per seat
- Enterprise pricing is by quote with no published rate
Pricing, plan by plan
Affinity Designer
$69.99/one-time- Standard$69.99/one-time
- Full version
- All features
- Lifetime updates
Zeplin
Free- FreeFree
- 1 project
- 1 workspace
- Basic specs
- Starter$19/month
- Unlimited projects
- Multiple workspaces
- Advanced specs
- Professional$49/month
- Everything in Starter
- Team collaboration
- Admin controls
Which should you pick?
Choose Affinity Designer if
- You need vector drawing.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Ios.
- You also want bezier tools.
Choose Zeplin if
- You need design specs.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
- You also want asset export.
Questions people ask
- Is Affinity Designer or Zeplin better?
- Neither clearly leads. Affinity Designer starts at $69.99/one-time and Zeplin at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Affinity Designer or Zeplin?
- Zeplin has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $69.99/one-time for Affinity Designer and Free for Zeplin.
- Does Affinity Designer or Zeplin run on more platforms?
- Affinity Designer runs on Windows, Macos, Ios. Zeplin runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
- Can I use Zeplin for free?
- Yes. Zeplin 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 Zeplin is typically brought in for.
- What can Affinity Designer do that Zeplin cannot?
- Affinity Designer covers Vector drawing, Bezier tools, Gradient tools, Typography. Zeplin covers Design specs, Asset export, Code snippets, Design tokens.
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