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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    Affinity Designer

    Score9.2 out of 10
    N/AAffinity Designer is a vector graphics software developed by Serif (Europe) Ltd, replacing the former Serif DrawPlus. It is designed for professional illustrators, web designers, game developers, and other creatives.N/A

    Clip Studio Paint

    Score9.8 out of 10
    N/ACelsys headquartered in Shinjuku City, Tokyo supports creators to create artistic content with digital technology. They provide solutions for content creation, distribution, and browsing, including support of creative activities through our illustration, manga and animation production app “Clip Studio Paint” and web service “Clip Studio”, as well as our e-book solution, “Clip Studio Reader”.

    $49.99

    one-time fee

    Pricing
    Affinity DesignerClip Studio Paint
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    Clip Studio Paint Pro
    $49.99
    one-time fee
    Clip Studio Paint Ex
    $219.99
    one-time fee
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    Affinity DesignerClip Studio Paint
    Free Trial
    NoYes
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    Affinity DesignerClip Studio Paint
    Considered Both Products
    Serif Europe Ltd.
    Chose Affinity Designer
    Every app has something to offer. Affinity Designer is a great alternative to the high price and usage limitation of Adobe apps and Clip Studio's convoluted pricing/installation pricing.

    If you want a quick and easy to use app to get started on your art, then Affinity Designer …
    Incentivized
    Celsys, Inc
    No answer on this topic
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    100%
    Would buy again
    8 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Delivers good value for the price
    100%
    Delivers good value for the price
    8 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Happy with the feature set
    100%
    Happy with the feature set
    8 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    100%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    8 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Implementation went as expected
    100%
    Implementation went as expected
    8 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Best Alternatives
    Affinity DesignerClip Studio Paint
    Small Businesses
    GIMP
    Score8 out of 10
    GIMP
    Score8 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    Adobe Illustrator
    Score9.3 out of 10
    Adobe Illustrator
    Score9.3 out of 10
    Enterprises
    Adobe PhotoShop
    Score9.2 out of 10
    Adobe PhotoShop
    Score9.2 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    Affinity DesignerClip Studio Paint
    Likelihood to Recommend
    9.3
    (8 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Usability
    8.9
    (7 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Support Rating
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    Affinity DesignerClip Studio Paint
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Serif Europe Ltd.
    Best suited: Creating on the go. The app is the same on desktop as it is on mobile. All the tools and shortcuts exist on both platforms, no need to learn more than one workflow to get my work done
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Celsys, Inc
    I cannot really imagine a situation other than creating custom 3D models in which Clip Studio Paint would ever be inappropriate; it offers tools for art such as: 2D, pixel/voxel work, vectors, painting/drawing, comics, animations and more. The only place that Clip Studio Paint does not shine is in the creation of 3D models, but I think that that is fair given that it's competitor, Photoshop, also cannot do this; this was never a tool meant for 3D model design or creation, but the fact that you can import models and that there is a library of free and paid posable models native to the app is rather impressive.
    Read full review
    Pros
    Serif Europe Ltd.
    • its is helpful in creating vector designs
    • it offers wide variety of brushes making it perfect for illustrations.
    • it provides us varies options for exports like eps, svg, png and jpeg and many more making it versatile.
    • we use to export our design with press ready pdf for print production where all the internal design and export done with Affinity Designer.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Celsys, Inc
    • Handles huge files with grace, and auto-saves back-ups while you draw.
    • Can export into any other image file format, making for easy program transfers.
    • Offers animation abilities, posable 3D models as references, mange/comic tools, and so many other options.
    Read full review
    Cons
    Serif Europe Ltd.
    • the new Affinity Designer suite lacks the original compatibility.
    • the brushes and spray tools needs improvement
    • Sometimes when we are dealing with big files say more than 10mbs it crashes often or slow down.
    • One of the major weak point is export time it takes quite longer time if compared to illustrator but for big files only.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Celsys, Inc
    • The UI is absolutely not user friendly out of the box, and there are an overwhelming number of keybinds and options.
    • Some huge files, while saveable, take about 3 minutes.
    • Limited cloud space even though you pay for a license.
    Read full review
    Usability
    Serif Europe Ltd.
    Because the software is great. I have forced myself to learn it. I highly recommend to others. This is a game changer. Adobe is evil for going all subscription and not giving anyone the option to purchase lifetime versions of Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign it is CRIMINAL
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Celsys, Inc
    I think that once one gets the hang of how to navigate and use Clip Studio Paint, they will find that it has so much more to offer than one might expect when looking at it for the first time. There are hidden gems all throughout this program, and they are all there to make your creative experience all the more streamlined and natural.
    Read full review
    Support Rating
    Serif Europe Ltd.
    I have not had much opportunity to go directly to support, but the training modules that are employed by the company are fantastic. I also find that if I need to understand something, there is always another user ready and willing to share their secrets. As this tool becomes more accepted local communities will also start to organize
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Celsys, Inc
    No answers on this topic
    Alternatives Considered
    Serif Europe Ltd.
    First, Affinity has a much more attractive licensing model for users: Buy it once, use it forever. That's great and means one less recurring cost for a company. But I can go further, and as I've mentioned in other questions, Affinity has a very refined and polished interface, as well as superior performance, especially compared to Adobe's tools. On our team, we use Figma as the main tool focused on Product Design, and where it falls short, we complement it with Affinity. Price and product quality are the factors that make this choice happen.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Celsys, Inc
    I have used a handful of other free art programs, including MediBang Paint, and while they are all good, and I'm sure perfect in the hands of the right artist, I feel as though they simply do not offer the number of options necessary for my needs. They feel very limited and stale; customization is limited and their UI's are outdated. Clip Studio Paint is modern and sleek, highly customizable, and offers far more tools than the other options around it.
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    Serif Europe Ltd.
    • Perfect for professionals. The price is insane for a professional tool.
    • I am able to fit the price of Affinity Designer into our business budget.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Celsys, Inc
    • I think that the initial price was incredibly steep, but I managed to get it on discount. As a starting artist, this was a hard blow to take at the start, especially before these subscription options existed.
    • After years of use I have more than paid off the cost I sunk into Clip Studio Paint EX.
    • I see myself making marked profits by continuing to use the program, even with the new subscription service rather than a perpetual lisence.
    Read full review
    ScreenShots