Affinity for iPad: What’s Free, What’s Missing and Which iPads Work?
Affinity for iPad is now available as a single creative app for sketching, vector design, photo editing and page layout. The important part for buyers: the four core studios are free for individuals, while Canva AI Studio requires an eligible Canva premium plan. Before moving your projects from Affinity V2 or replacing another iPad app, check the actual desktop omissions, file-format limits, iPadOS requirement and which workflows work offline.
Quick answer: Is Affinity for iPad free?
Yes, for individual users. A free Canva account unlocks the Sketch, Vector, Pixel and Layout studios, plus core customization and export features. You do not need Canva Pro just to draw, edit photos, build vectors or create page layouts. Canva AI Studio features require an eligible premium plan. The app requires iPadOS 18.0 or later and a Canva account for sign-in.
What is missing? Affinity lists Books, Batch, Data Merge, Quick Adjustments, the Info and Scope panels, macro recording and Astrophotography Studio among desktop features not included on iPad at launch. Read Affinity’s official iPad FAQ.
Interactive Affinity for iPad Compatibility Checker
Choose your device software, the work you need to do and whether you use legacy Affinity V2. The result explains whether the new iPad app fits your workflow.
What is free in Affinity for iPad, and what requires Canva Premium?
The new app brings four studios together in one document. Canva’s official product information says individuals can use every tool in the Sketch, Vector, Pixel and Layout studios, including customization and export, without paying. Canva AI Studio is a separate premium layer rather than a requirement for normal creative work.
| Studio or feature | Free account | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Sketch Studio | Included | Freehand drawing, brushes, sketch layers and Apple Pencil input. Sketches can move into Vector Studio within the same project. |
| Vector Studio | Included | Curves, nodes, editable vector shapes, logos, icons and converting sketches into vector artwork with Sketch to Shapes. |
| Pixel Studio | Included | Photo editing, RAW development, compositing, selections, masks, retouching and non-destructive adjustments. |
| Layout Studio | Included | Multi-page layouts, text, images, grids, master pages and print-ready documents. |
| Import and export | Included | Supported Adobe and common creative formats can be imported; export includes JPEG, PNG, WebP, PDF, SVG, EPUB and INDD. |
| Canva AI Studio | Premium plan required | Optional AI-assisted tasks such as Generative Expand, image upscaling, noise reduction and Decompose Layer. |
What is missing from Affinity for iPad compared with desktop?
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Affinity’s official iPad FAQ lists several desktop features that were not included in the iPad app at launch. The exact wording matters because some related iPad workflows still exist.
| Desktop feature not on iPad at launch | What it means for an iPad user | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Books | The dedicated desktop Books workflow is absent. | Layout Studio can still create long multi-page documents and book-style layouts. The missing Books feature is not the same as being unable to design a book. |
| Batch | The separate desktop Batch processing feature is absent. | Batch export is available on iPad for assets by object, slice or artboard, in multiple sizes and formats. |
| Data Merge | The desktop data-merge workflow is not listed for iPad. | Do not assume you can run a desktop data-merge job entirely on the tablet. |
| Quick Adjustments | The desktop Quick Adjustments panel/workflow is not listed for iPad. | Other adjustment tools remain available in Pixel Studio; this is a named desktop feature omission. |
| Info and Scope panels | These desktop inspection panels are absent from the launch iPad list. | This does not mean the app lacks all color or document information controls. |
| Macro recording | Recording desktop macros is not available in the iPad launch feature set. | Do not plan on transferring an automated desktop macro-recording workflow to iPad. |
| Astrophotography Studio | The dedicated desktop astrophotography feature is not listed for iPad. | General photo-editing features remain; the specialist studio is the omission. |
Affinity says it will continue bringing more features to iPad through future updates. Check its official iPad FAQ and release notes and learning resources before making a purchase or migration decision based on a feature that may change.
Affinity .af files, V1/V2 compatibility and Adobe imports
The new Affinity app uses a unified .af document format across current Affinity versions on iPad, Mac and Windows. The migration direction is important: the new Affinity app can open projects from older Affinity V1 and V2 apps, but the older V1/V2 applications cannot open a file after it has been saved in the new format.
.af file. Do not expect to reopen that saved file in an older V2 app.Import formats and likely adjustments
| Source format | Officially supported | What to check after import |
|---|---|---|
| PSD | Yes | Layers, masks, groups and many adjustments can remain editable. Smart Objects and some advanced filters may flatten or need changes. |
| AI | Yes, where saved with PDF compatibility | Vector paths and layers can import; appearance stacks, masks or advanced effects may simplify or flatten. |
| INDD / IDML | Yes | Page structure, text frames and basic styles are preserved. GREP styles, anchored objects and tables may need manual adjustment. |
| PDF / SVG | Yes | Check font handling, clipping, color and complex object effects before final delivery. |
Export formats
Affinity lists JPEG, PNG, WebP, PDF, SVG, EPUB and INDD as export formats. Its iPad documentation also says users can export individual pages or entire documents, and batch-export vector or raster assets by object, slice or artboard with control over sizes, formats, compression and color profiles. Direct export to Canva is also supported.
Which iPads can run Affinity for iPad?
The App Store listing states that Affinity by Canva requires iPadOS 18.0 or later. Apple’s iPadOS 18 compatibility guidance includes these model families:
- Standard iPad: 7th generation and later.
- iPad mini: 5th generation and later.
- iPad Air: 3rd generation and later.
- iPad Pro 11-inch: 1st generation and later.
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch: 3rd generation and later, plus later 13-inch models running supported iPadOS.
This is an operating-system compatibility guide, not a promise that every supported iPad will perform identically on large files. Check the current App Store listing on your own iPad before installing. The download is listed at approximately 1.9 GB, so leave additional free storage for project files and exports.
Apple Pencil support
Affinity documents Apple Pencil pressure and tilt, with Pencil Pro features including barrel roll, squeeze and hover. The available gestures depend on the Pencil model and iPad hardware; not every Apple Pencil supports every Pro gesture. The app can also be used with touch.
Does Affinity for iPad work offline?
After downloading and activating the app by signing in with a Canva account, the core Affinity tools can be used offline. Internet access is still needed for connected features such as Canva AI Studio, stock libraries, online lessons, help content and Canva integrations. Connect periodically to receive app updates and patches.
Official Affinity for iPad videos and tutorials
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Start with the product overview, then use Affinity’s own iPad lessons for specific workflows. These learning resources are more useful than unrelated desktop-only tutorials when you’re trying to reproduce an iPad workflow.
Official lesson covering Sketch, Vector and Pixel studios, layers, editable linework and Apple Pencil.
Open official drawing lesson →Official vector workflow from hand-drawn sketch to editable paths, type on a path and reusable colors.
Open official logo lesson →Official lesson on Inpainting, non-destructive adjustments, color grading and exporting a portrait.
Open official photo lesson →Learn canvas navigation, Pencil settings, Quick Actions and layer organization.
Open official gestures lesson →Frequently asked questions
Is Affinity for iPad free?
Yes. Individuals can use all tools in Sketch, Vector, Pixel and Layout, plus customization and export features, without a subscription. A Canva account is required. Canva AI Studio features require an eligible Canva premium plan.
Do I need Canva Pro to use Affinity for iPad?
No. A free Canva account is enough for the core studios. Canva AI Studio requires an eligible premium plan. Check your local Canva account for the current plan names, features and pricing.
Which desktop features are missing from Affinity for iPad?
Affinity lists Books, Batch, Data Merge, Quick Adjustments, the Info and Scope panels, macro recording and Astrophotography Studio among features not included on iPad at launch. Multi-page layout and batch export are available, so those are not the same as the missing desktop features.
Does Affinity for iPad support batch export?
Yes. It can batch-export vector and raster assets by object, slice or artboard in multiple sizes and formats. The separate desktop Batch feature is listed as unavailable on iPad at launch.
Can I create a multi-page book in Affinity for iPad?
Yes. Layout Studio supports multi-page documents and long publications. The desktop Books feature is a separate workflow and is listed among desktop features missing from iPad at launch.
Can Affinity V2 open files saved by the new Affinity app?
No. The new Affinity app can open older V1 and V2 projects, but V1 and V2 apps cannot open files saved in the newer Affinity format. Keep backups before migrating important projects.
Does Affinity for iPad work without Wi-Fi?
After downloading and activating it with a Canva account, core tools can be used offline. AI, stock libraries, online lessons, help and Canva integrations require an internet connection.
What iPadOS version does Affinity for iPad require?
The App Store says iPadOS 18.0 or later. Apple’s iPadOS 18-compatible families include iPad 7th generation and later, iPad mini 5th generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, and iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later. Confirm compatibility in the App Store on your device.
Which file formats can Affinity for iPad import and export?
It lists PSD, AI, INDD, IDML, PDF and SVG among supported imports. Export formats include JPEG, PNG, WebP, PDF, SVG, EPUB and INDD. Some advanced formatting and effects may need adjustment after import.
Does Affinity for iPad support Apple Pencil Pro?
Yes. The app supports pressure, tilt, barrel roll, squeeze and hover, although the available gestures depend on your Pencil model and iPad hardware.
Disclaimer: Ultimate Info Guide is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Canva, Affinity or Apple.
