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Software · head to head

Affinity Photo vs QuarkXPress

Affinity Photo logo

Affinity Photo

Software

Professional photo editing software

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

QuarkXPress

Software

The original desktop publishing software for print and digital design

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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; QuarkXPress quarky AI assistant and AI font pairing require a subscription license or a perpetual license with an active maintenance and support contract from v21.1 onward

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Affinity Photo and QuarkXPress differ
AttributeAffinity PhotoQuarkXPress
Starting price$69.99/one-timeOn request
PlatformsmacOS, Windows, iPadWeb
Founded1987Unknown

Identical on both: pricing model (one-time), 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 Photo

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

Only in QuarkXPress

Nothing recorded that Affinity Photo does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Affinity Photo

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

QuarkXPress

No use cases recorded yet. See the QuarkXPress review.

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

QuarkXPress

  • Quarky AI assistant and AI font pairing require a subscription license or a perpetual license with an active maintenance and support contract from v21.1 onward

Pricing, plan by plan

Affinity Photo

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

QuarkXPress

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the QuarkXPress 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 QuarkXPress if

Nothing in the data separates QuarkXPress from Affinity Photo on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

QuarkXPress review

Questions people ask

Is Affinity Photo or QuarkXPress better?
Neither clearly leads. Affinity Photo starts at $69.99/one-time and QuarkXPress at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Affinity Photo or QuarkXPress?
Affinity Photo starts at $69.99/one-time and QuarkXPress at On request.
Does Affinity Photo or QuarkXPress run on more platforms?
Affinity Photo runs on macOS, Windows, iPad. QuarkXPress runs on Web.
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 QuarkXPress is typically brought in for.
What can Affinity Photo do that QuarkXPress cannot?
Affinity Photo covers Photo editing, RAW processing, Non-destructive editing, AI enhancement.

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.

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Related pages

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