Softwr

Publishing · head to head

Affinity Publisher vs QuarkXPress

Affinity Publisher logo

Affinity Publisher

Publishing

Desktop page layout application, free since the Affinity range was relaunched by Canva

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
QuarkXPress logo

QuarkXPress

Publishing

The original desktop publishing software for print and digital design

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Affinity Publisher has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Affinity Publisher it cannot open native InDesign documents, only IDML exports, so inherited client archives either come across imperfectly or have to be rebuilt from scratch.; QuarkXPress specific pricing amounts not displayed on product page
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Affinity Publisher and QuarkXPress differ
AttributeAffinity PublisherQuarkXPress
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelFree, no licence feesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsmacOS, Windows, iPadOSWeb

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

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 Publisher

  • Master pages and text flow
  • Prepress output
  • Unified application
  • IDML import
  • Data merge
  • Cross platform files

Only in QuarkXPress

Nothing recorded that Affinity Publisher does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Affinity Publisher

  • Freelance designers and small studios that cannot justify a monthly page layout subscriptionnot QuarkXPress
  • In-house marketing teams producing brochures, reports and price lists for commercial printnot QuarkXPress
  • Print buyers who need to check and correct supplied artwork without a design suite licencenot QuarkXPress
  • Schools, charities and community publishers where a zero licence cost decides the toolnot QuarkXPress

QuarkXPress

  • Brochure design and layoutnot Affinity Publisher
  • Book and magazine layout with professional typographynot Affinity Publisher
  • Newspaper layout and productionnot Affinity Publisher
  • Brand identity and logo designnot Affinity Publisher
  • Print-ready publication designnot Affinity Publisher

Where each one falls short

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

Affinity Publisher

  • It cannot open native InDesign documents, only IDML exports, so inherited client archives either come across imperfectly or have to be rebuilt from scratch.
  • There is no scripting or plugin interface, so studios that automate catalogue or variable data production still need InDesign alongside it.
  • Signing in through a Canva account is now part of using the free application, which is a problem for regulated or offline environments that forbid cloud accounts.
  • The roadmap belongs to Canva, and the 2025 relaunch already reset the licence model that earlier perpetual buyers paid for, so long-term direction is outside your control.
  • Commercial printers and freelance collaborators still expect InDesign packages, so handoff usually means delivering flattened PDFs rather than editable files.

QuarkXPress

  • Specific pricing amounts not displayed on product page
  • AI features require subscription or maintenance contract
  • System requirements limited to macOS 26.x/15.x/14.x and Windows 11/10 only

Pricing, plan by plan

Affinity Publisher

Free
  • AffinityFree
    • Free for everyone since the 2025 relaunch
    • Layout, vector and photo tools in one application
    • Requires a Canva account to sign in

QuarkXPress

On request
  • Annual Subscription$undefined/mo
    • Variable Fonts with adjustable weight, width, slant
    • 1,500+ high-quality Google fonts
    • Full Pantone Color Libraries
  • Perpetual License$undefined/mo
    • Buy once, keep forever
    • AI features require active maintenance contract
  • Education$undefined/mo
    • Special educational pricing available
  • Not-for-Profit$undefined/mo
    • Special nonprofit pricing available

Which should you pick?

Choose Affinity Publisher if

  • You need master pages and text flow.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on macOS, Windows, iPadOS.
  • You also want prepress output.
Affinity Publisher review

Choose QuarkXPress if

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

QuarkXPress review

Questions people ask

Is Affinity Publisher or QuarkXPress better?
Neither clearly leads. Affinity Publisher starts at Free and QuarkXPress at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Affinity Publisher or QuarkXPress?
Affinity Publisher has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Affinity Publisher and On request for QuarkXPress.
Does Affinity Publisher or QuarkXPress run on more platforms?
Affinity Publisher runs on macOS, Windows, iPadOS. QuarkXPress runs on Web.
Can I use Affinity Publisher for free?
Yes. Affinity Publisher has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. QuarkXPress starts at On request.
What is Affinity Publisher best used for?
Affinity Publisher is most often used for freelance designers and small studios that cannot justify a monthly page layout subscription, in-house marketing teams producing brochures, reports and price lists for commercial print, print buyers who need to check and correct supplied artwork without a design suite licence, schools, charities and community publishers where a zero licence cost decides the tool. Of those, freelance designers and small studios that cannot justify a monthly page layout subscription and in-house marketing teams producing brochures, reports and price lists for commercial print are not what QuarkXPress is typically brought in for.
What can Affinity Publisher do that QuarkXPress cannot?
Affinity Publisher covers Master pages and text flow, Prepress output, Unified application, IDML import.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Affinity Publisher: Is Affinity Publisher really free now?

Yes. Since the 2025 relaunch the unified Affinity application is free. Artificial intelligence features need a paid Canva plan.

QuarkXPress: How much does QuarkXPress cost?

QuarkXPress offers two purchasing options: Annual Subscription and Perpetual License (buy once). Special pricing is available for Education, Not-for-Profit, and Government sectors. Specific pricing amounts are not listed on the product page.

Source
Affinity Publisher: Can it open InDesign files?

Only IDML interchange files, and complex layouts lose fidelity. Native INDD files cannot be opened at all.

QuarkXPress: Do QuarkXPress AI features require a subscription?

Yes, AI features including Quarky AI Assistant and Font Pairing require either an active subscription or perpetual license with active maintenance contract (v21.1+).

Source
Affinity Publisher: What happened to the perpetual licences people bought?

Canva made the relaunched application free to everyone, which superseded the paid version 2 licence model.

Share

Related pages

More on Affinity Publisher

More on QuarkXPress

Keep looking

Other head to heads