Canva, the web-based design platform, has made a significant move in challenging Adobe’s dominance in the digital design industry by acquiring the Affinity creative software suite. The acquisition, announced recently, grants Canva ownership over Affinity Designer, Photo, and Publisher, which are popular applications catering to creative professionals on Windows, Mac, and iPad.
Though the official figures for the deal remain undisclosed, reports suggest it is valued at several hundred million British pounds. This acquisition aligns with Canva’s strategy to appeal to a broader audience, including creative professionals. Despite already boasting approximately 170 million monthly global users as of January, Canva lacked offerings specifically targeting professionals like illustrators, photographers, and video editors—a gap Affinity’s suite fills aptly.
Affinity’s creative software suite is one of the biggest rivals of Adobe’s Creative suite.
Affinity Designer 2, for instance, offers vector-based capabilities akin to Adobe Illustrator, presenting an exciting opportunity for integration within Canva’s platform.
Canva emphasized its commitment to empowering designers at all skill levels, acknowledging the importance of catering to professional designers alongside its core user base. Affinity applications boast over three million users globally, with their one-time-purchase model, devoid of subscription fees, proving particularly attractive to those seeking alternatives to Adobe’s subscription-based ecosystem.
While Canva plans to maintain the autonomy of Affinity’s applications, some minor integrations are expected over time. With the addition of Affinity and its UK-based team, Canva strengthens its position to compete with Adobe across the broader creative software market.
Given Canva’s existing appeal to creatives for its user-friendly interface, the acquisition presents a viable opportunity to attract professionals disenchanted with Adobe’s subscription model.
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