TL;DR
Affinity for iPad is free for individuals and puts sketching, vector, photo and layout tools in one app. It launched without Books, Batch, Data Merge, Quick Adjustments, Info and Scope panels, macro recording and Astrophotography Studio.
- You need a free Canva account, and the AI tools need a premium Canva plan.
- Files saved in the new app can’t be opened in the older V2 iPad apps, so test on a copy.
- It requires iPadOS 18.0 or later.
Affinity for iPad is finally here, and if you have been waiting for it since Canva promised an iPad version, you are probably wondering what the catch is. The good news is that the core app is free for individuals. The part you probably came for is that, like most big launches, it can’t do everything the desktop version does yet, and knowing that before you move a client project over will save you a lot of stress.
I went through Affinity’s own product page, the App Store listing and the first round of launch coverage so you don’t have to piece it together yourself. Everything below is linked to where it came from, and where something isn’t confirmed anywhere, I’ll tell you straight.
What Is Affinity for iPad and Is It Really Free?
Affinity for iPad is the unified Affinity app (the same one that landed on Mac and Windows in 2025) rebuilt for touch and Apple Pencil. It replaces the separate Photo, Designer and Publisher apps with one app that has four studios: Sketch, Vector, Pixel and Layout. You switch between them inside the same document, and everything saves to one .af file, so there is no exporting and re-importing just to go from a sketch to a layout.
On cost, Affinity says the app is free for individuals, with no subscription for the core tools. You do need a free Canva account to get started. The App Store listing shows it needs iPadOS 18.0 or later and takes up about 1.9 GB, so check your storage before you tap download.
The app also supports Apple Pencil Pro features like barrel roll, squeeze and hover, according to MacRumors. None of the sources I checked say whether an Apple Pencil is required to use Affinity for iPad, so I cannot confirm that either way. Canva also describes the interface as designed for touch from the start rather than shrunk down from the desktop version, which is a claim worth testing with your own fingers before you trust it.
Here is what you get on the free side, according to Affinity and launch coverage:
- Sketch Studio with more than 350 editable brushes that respond to Apple Pencil pressure, tilt and barrel roll
- Vector tools for nodes, curves and shapes, including a Sketch to Shapes feature that turns rough hand-drawn forms into editable vectors
- Pixel tools for RAW development, selections, retouching and non-destructive editing
- Layout tools with master pages, grids and print-ready output
Affinity for iPad Limitations: What Is Missing at Launch
This is the section most of you will care about. Affinity lists the following as not available on iPad at launch:
- Books
- Batch
- Data Merge
- Quick Adjustments
- Info and Scope panels
- Recording macros
- Astrophotography Studio
If you have used the desktop version, you will know that Books, Batch, Data Merge and macros are the tools that save time on repetitive or large jobs. So if your workflow leans on batch exporting a whole set of logo files, merging data into a layout, or running recorded macros, you will still need your Mac or Windows machine for those parts. I couldn’t find a clear explanation of what Quick Adjustments covers, so I won’t guess at that one.
Affinity says more features are coming to Affinity for iPad over time, and MacRumors reports that Canva describes them as “planned over time.” I cannot confirm when any specific feature will arrive, because none of the sources I checked give a timeline.
If you want to try it while you read, here is the download link:
Your Old V2 Files: Test on a Copy First
This one could trip you up if you already use the older Affinity apps on iPad. Digital Trends reports that files made in Affinity for iPad can’t be opened in the older V2 iPad apps (Photo 2, Designer 2 and Publisher 2). A German-language report from Tutkit also says Canva hasn’t said what will happen to those V2 iPad apps, and it suggests keeping ongoing projects in the V2 apps for now and testing the new app on a copy.
I agree with that approach. Duplicate the file first, open the copy in Affinity for iPad, and only move the real project over once you know the result works for you. Affinity’s own page doesn’t explicitly say whether V2 files open in Affinity for iPad, so I cannot confirm that part and I’d treat it as something to test yourself.
What Affinity does confirm is that the .af format is shared between iPad and desktop, so a project can move between your iPad and your Mac or Windows computer.
Affinity for iPad Needs a Canva Account, and the AI Tools Cost Extra
Free doesn’t mean every button in Affinity for iPad is free, so here is the breakdown. A free Canva account is enough for the sketch, vector, pixel and layout tools. The Canva AI Studio features need a premium Canva plan, according to Affinityand MacRumors. Those include:
- Generative Expand for extending an image
- Image upscaling
- Noise reduction and motion blur reduction
- Background removal
- Decompose Layer, which splits a flat image into editable layers
The US App Store listing currently shows Canva Pro at $18.00 per month or $143.99 per year, but prices change and vary by region, so check the listing yourself before you decide. Affinity also states that your Affinity content isn’t used to train its AI features.
If you would rather skip AI altogether, you can still use the rest of Affinity for iPad without paying anything. That is a big deal if you have been trying to keep your studio’s software costs down.
Will Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign Files Open?
Mostly yes, with some caveats. According to Affinity’s page, Affinity for iPad imports PSD, AI, INDD, IDML, PDF and SVG files, and keeps layers and structure in most cases. The caveats matter though:
- Photoshop: Layered PSDs keep masks, groups and adjustments in most cases, but smart objects and advanced filters may flatten.
- Illustrator: Files need PDF compatibility turned on, and appearance stacks, masks and advanced effects may flatten or simplify.
- InDesign: Page structure, text frames and basic styles carry over, but GREP styles, anchored objects and tables may need manual fixes.
For exporting, Affinity lists JPEG, PNG, WebP, PDF, SVG, EPUB and INDD, plus direct export to Canva. If a client sends you a complicated layered file, open it on a copy and check it before you promise anything. That is the same habit I’d recommend before using Affinity for iPad, or any new tool, on paid work.
Who Should Download It Now and Who Should Wait
This part is my reading of the published feature lists, not a hands-on test, so treat it as a starting point.
Affinity for iPad looks like a good fit right now if you want to sketch or illustrate with an Apple Pencil, build mood boards, do quick vector or photo edits away from your desk, or lay out something like a lookbook or a zine. The four studios share one file, which makes moving from a rough sketch to a finished layout a lot smoother than hopping between apps.
It makes more sense to wait, or at least keep your desktop setup running alongside it, if your work depends on Batch, Data Merge, Books or macros, or if you have live projects sitting in the V2 iPad apps. Nothing stops you from installing Affinity for iPad now and testing it on a duplicate file while your real work stays where it is.
One more thing I cannot confirm is how well it performs on older iPads. Affinity lists iPadOS 18.0 as the minimum, but I didn’t find any performance details for specific iPad models in the sources I checked.
Final Thoughts
Affinity for iPad is a big step for anyone who wants a serious creative app that doesn’t come with a subscription for the core tools. The limitations of Affinity for iPad are real but they are also fairly specific, which makes them easy to plan around. Download it, test it on a copy of a project, and keep your desktop version for the features that haven’t made it over yet.
Whichever app you design in, the way you present your work to clients still matters just as much as the tool itself. If you want a polished way to show logos, colour palettes and mockups, my Brand Presentation Template works in Adobe Express, Illustrator, InDesign and Affinity, so it fits right into whatever setup you end up with.
Want to see how other new tools stack up? Read my take on the free AI-built Adobe alternative ArtCraft next.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Affinity for iPad free?
Yes, for individuals. The core sketch, vector, pixel and layout tools are free with no subscription. You need a free Canva account, and the Canva AI Studio features need a premium Canva plan.
What do I need to run Affinity for iPad?
The App Store listing says iPadOS 18.0 or later and about 1.9 GB of storage. I cannot confirm which specific iPad models run it well.
What is missing from Affinity for iPad at launch?
Books, Batch, Data Merge, Quick Adjustments, Info and Scope panels, recording macros and Astrophotography Studio. Affinity says more features will come over time but gives no dates.
Can I open Affinity for iPad files in the older V2 iPad apps?
According to Digital Trends, no. Files made in the new app can’t be opened in the V2 iPad apps, so work on a copy first.
Can Affinity for iPad open Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign files?
It imports PSD, AI (with PDF compatibility on), INDD and IDML files. Some advanced effects, smart objects and formatting may flatten or need manual fixes.
Is an Apple Pencil required for Affinity for iPad?
I cannot confirm this. The sources describe Apple Pencil support, including Apple Pencil Pro features, but none say a Pencil is required.
Does Affinity use my work to train its AI?
Affinity’s page states that Affinity content isn’t used to train its AI features.
