Affinity Designer vs Procreate vs Adobe InDesign – Compared
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(Reviews: 12.4K)
Est. users: 500K
Price Ranges: $49.99 - $19.99


(Reviews: 8.5K)
Est. users: 4.5M

(Reviews: 15K)
Est. users: 2M
Price Ranges: $20.99 - $52.99
Affinity Designer vs Procreate vs Adobe InDesign
Affinity Designer, Procreate, and Adobe InDesign serve different purposes in the digital design realm. Affinity Designer is a vector graphic design tool known for precision in creating logos, illustrations, and detailed graphic artwork, available on both desktop and iPad. Procreate is a powerful, iPad-only app focused on digital painting and sketching, lauded for its intuitive use and robust brush selection tailored for illustrators and artists. Adobe InDesign, on the other hand, is a desktop publishing software primarily used for creating layouts for print and digital media, such as magazines, books, and brochures, with a strong emphasis on typography and multi-page document handling.
Affinity Designer
- Focuses on vector graphic design.
- Available on Windows, Mac, and iPad.
- Offers raster features with vector.
- One-time purchase, no subscription.
- Comparable to Adobe Illustrator.
- Supports CMYK for print work.
- Live gradients and effects.
Procreate
- Raster-focused digital painting app.
- Available only on iPad.
- Uses Apple Pencil's full capabilities.
- Supports time-lapse video recording.
- One-time purchase, no subscription.
- Layered PSD file support.
- Great for digital artists and illustrators.
Key Differences
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Platform Availability
Affinity Designer is available on macOS, Windows, and iOS, Procreate is exclusive to iOS (specifically the iPad), and Adobe InDesign is available on macOS and Windows. This gives Affinity Designer the broadest platform reach.
Winner: Affinity Designer
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Purpose and Use-case
Affinity Designer and Procreate are primarily focused on graphic design and illustration, whereas Adobe InDesign is dedicated to layout design and desktop publishing, such as creating magazines and brochures.
Winner: Its a tie
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Learning Curve
Procreate is often considered more intuitive and easier to learn, especially for beginners, due to its touch interface and user-friendly design. Affinity Designer and Adobe InDesign have more complex interfaces with steeper learning curves.
Winner: Procreate
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Feature Set
Adobe InDesign excels in layout features, with advanced text and publishing options. Affinity Designer offers robust vector and raster design tools, while Procreate specializes in drawing and painting features with a focus on natural brushes and intuitive art creation.
Winner: Its a tie
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Cost
Affinity Designer and Procreate are available for a one-time purchase, making them cost-effective compared to Adobe InDesign, which typically requires a subscription model.
Winner: Its a tie
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Integration with Other Tools
Adobe InDesign has seamless integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud applications like Photoshop and Illustrator, allowing for a smooth workflow across different media. Affinity Designer supports some cross-operability with Affinity Photo, and Procreate exports to various formats but lacks deep integration.
Winner: Adobe InDesign
Distinct Features
Affinity Designer | Procreate | Adobe InDesign |
---|---|---|
Vector and raster design support in the same application | Optimized for iPad with Touch and Apple Pencil support | Professional page layout and design tool for print and digital publishing |
Advanced typography control | Wide array of brushes supporting pressure and tilt sensitivity | Master page functionality for consistent multi-page document design |
Real-time and non-destructive effects | Animation assist for frame-by-frame animation creation | Advanced text styling, formatting, and flow across pages |
Symbol management for design elements | Time-lapse recording of the drawing process | Integrated support for forms and interactive PDFs |
Export persona for preparing various formats and settings | User-friendly interface designed for quick creation and iteration | Integration with Adobe Creative Cloud for resource sharing and collaboration |
Pricing Overview
Affinity Designer
- Affinity Designer ($49.99) - Ideal for graphic designers and digital artists
- Affinity Designer for iPad ($19.99) - Perfect for designers who prefer mobile workflows
Adobe InDesign
- Single App ($20.99/month) - Ideal for freelance designers or smaller teams looking for powerful design tools.
- All Apps ($52.99/month) - Perfect for design teams or creative professionals who need a range of tools for various projects.
Indepth Overview
Affinity Designer | Procreate | Adobe InDesign | |
---|---|---|---|
Design Software | |||
Vector Graphics | ★4.8 - Highly praised for its powerful vector editing capabilities. | ★2.5 - Primarily focused on raster graphics, limited vector tools. | ★3.5 - Decent vector toolset but primarily a layout program. |
Raster Graphics | ★4.2 - Good raster support, but not as extensive as Procreate. | ★5.0 - Exceptional raster graphics capabilities, perfect for digital artists. | ★4.0 - Good handling of raster images, but not the key feature. |
User Interface | ★4.5 - Intuitive and user-friendly UI, easy for beginners. | ★4.9 - Smooth interface with gestures for seamless use. | ★4.0 - Complex for beginners, but powerful for professionals. |
Illustration Features | |||
Brush Customization | ★4.0 - Good customization options for brushes, but limited compared to Procreate. | ★5.0 - Extensive brush customization with multiple settings. | ★2.0 - Limited brush options, not a key feature of the tool. |
Layer Management | ★4.8 - Robust layer management system for complex designs. | ★4.7 - Highly efficient, supports many layers smoothly. | ★4.5 - Excellent for managing complex documents with layers. |
Support for PSD Files | ★4.0 - Offers decent PSD support for collaboration. | ★3.5 - Basic PSD support, but can lose some effects. | ★4.7 - Excellent PSD and Illustrator file integration. |
Output Formats | |||
SVG Export | ★4.5 - Strong support for SVG export for web use. | ★1.0 - No direct SVG export, uses raster formats mainly. | ★3.0 - Basic SVG exporting capabilities. |
PDF Export | ★4.8 - Excellent PDF export options for print-ready files. | ★3.5 - Can export to PDF, but lacks advanced options. | ★5.0 - Industry standard for high-quality PDF exports. |
Image Export | ★4.5 - Multiple image formats supported including PNG and JPEG. | ★5.0 - Wide range of raster format exports and settings. | ★4.5 - Can export to numerous formats, well-integrated. |
Special Features | |||
Dual Graphics Mode | ★4.8 - Supports both vector and raster workflows seamlessly. | ||
Non-destructive Editing | ★4.6 - Allows for non-destructive edits to layers. | ||
Artboards | ★4.5 - Multiple artboards for versatile project design. | ||
Time-lapse Recording | ★5.0 - Automatically records your drawing process. | ||
Animation Support | ★4.0 - Basic frame-by-frame animation features. | ||
Accessibility Options | ★4.5 - Good options for visually impaired users. | ||
Interactive PDF Features | ★4.9 - Supports interactive forms and multimedia. | ||
Typographic Control | ★5.0 - Industry-leading control over text and typography. | ||
Collaboration Tools | ★4.3 - Great integration for teamwork and sharing. |
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