Softwr

Photography · head to head

Affinity Photo vs Lunacy

Affinity Photo logo

Affinity Photo

Photography

Professional photo editing software

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

Lunacy

Design

Free design software that keeps your flow

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Lunacy has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Affinity Photo version 2.0 required a full repurchase after seven years, breaking the perpetual license promise made to earlier users; Lunacy desktop application only, not cloud-based like Figma, limiting accessibility across different computers
  • They diverge on capability: Affinity Photo covers Photo editing, Lunacy covers Vector editing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Affinity Photo and Lunacy actually diverge.

Attributes where Affinity Photo and Lunacy differ
AttributeAffinity PhotoLunacy
Starting price$69.99/one-timeFree
Pricing modelone-timeUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsmacOS, Windows, iPadWindows, macOS, Linux
CategoryPhotographyDesign
Founded19872016

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Photo

  • Photo editing
  • RAW processing
  • Non-destructive editing
  • AI enhancement
  • Retouching tools
  • Batch processing
  • Vector support
  • HDR tools

Only in Lunacy

  • Vector editing
  • Auto layouts
  • Components
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Built-in photos & icons
  • AI background remover
  • AI upscaler
  • Sketch file support

Both cover

  • Desktop deployment
  • Windows support
  • Macos support

What people use each for

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

Affinity Photo

  • Photo editingnot Lunacy
  • RAW processingnot Lunacy
  • Retouchingnot Lunacy
  • Digital photographynot Lunacy

Lunacy

  • UI/UX designnot Affinity Photo
  • Web designnot Affinity Photo
  • Mobile app designnot Affinity Photo
  • Icon designnot Affinity Photo
  • Marketing graphicsnot Affinity Photo

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Affinity Photo

  • Version 2.0 required a full repurchase after seven years, breaking the perpetual license promise made to earlier users
  • Affinity Photo was discontinued in October 2025 and replaced by freemium Affinity application
  • No subscription model means no cloud storage or automatic backups like Photoshop Creative Cloud

Lunacy

  • Desktop application only, not cloud-based like Figma, limiting accessibility across different computers
  • Animation capabilities are basic, lacking timeline-based animation editing or spring physics available in modern design tools
  • Paid collaboration features, unlike Figma's free cloud-based team collaboration

Pricing, plan by plan

Affinity Photo

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

Lunacy

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Lunacy review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Affinity Photo if

  • You need photo editing.
  • You work on macOS, Windows, iPad.
  • You also want raw processing.
Affinity Photo review

Choose Lunacy if

  • You need vector editing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want auto layouts.
Lunacy review

Questions people ask

Is Affinity Photo or Lunacy better?
Neither clearly leads. Affinity Photo starts at $69.99/one-time and Lunacy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Affinity Photo or Lunacy?
Lunacy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $69.99/one-time for Affinity Photo and Free for Lunacy.
Does Affinity Photo or Lunacy run on more platforms?
Affinity Photo runs on macOS, Windows, iPad. Lunacy runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Lunacy for free?
Yes. Lunacy has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Affinity Photo starts at $69.99/one-time.
What is Affinity Photo best used for?
Affinity Photo is most often used for photo editing, raw processing, retouching, digital photography. Of those, photo editing and raw processing are not what Lunacy is typically brought in for.
What can Affinity Photo do that Lunacy cannot?
Affinity Photo covers Photo editing, RAW processing, Non-destructive editing, AI enhancement. Lunacy covers Vector editing, Auto layouts, Components, Real-time collaboration. Both handle Desktop deployment, Windows support, Macos support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Affinity Photo: Does Affinity Photo include RAW editing?

Yes, Affinity Photo includes non-destructive RAW photo editing and development capabilities for photographers working with RAW image formats.

Source
Lunacy: Is Lunacy free to use?

Yes. Lunacy is absolutely free for personal and commercial use. There is no subscription required or trial period limitation.

Source
Lunacy: Can Lunacy open and work with Sketch files?

Yes. Lunacy has smooth integration with Sketch files, allowing designers to import and collaborate on Sketch projects without requiring a Sketch subscription.

Source
Lunacy: Does Lunacy require internet connection to work?

No. Lunacy can work offline, allowing designers to work without an internet connection. It is a desktop application that runs locally on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Source
Lunacy: What are Lunacy's hardware requirements?

Lunacy is not demanding on hardware and runs smoothly even on moderate laptops. It has minimal system requirements compared to resource-intensive design tools.

Source
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Affinity Photo

More on Lunacy

Keep looking

Other head to heads