# Adobe / Apple / Autodesk / Canva / Maxon alternatives **URL:** \ **Category:** Latest News\ **Created:** [March 26, 2024, 8:15am UTC](https://blenderartists.org/t/adobe-apple-autodesk-canva-maxon-alternatives/1522359 "2024-03-26T08:15:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Metin\_Seven](https://blenderartists.org/user_avatar/blenderartists.org/metin_seven/32/1471846_2.png) [@Metin\_Seven](https://blenderartists.org/u/Metin_Seven)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 8:15am UTC](https://blenderartists.org/t/adobe-apple-autodesk-canva-maxon-alternatives/1522359/1 "2024-03-26T08:15:41Z")
Adobe, Affinity (Canva), Apple, Autodesk, Maxon and the like are all very commercial corporations, with pricy subscriptions and user data hoarding. In case you want to have a look around for possible replacements, here’s a list of free or reasonably priced alternatives. Please note that it became increasingly time-consuming to keep track of which application was made with involvement of AI and/or includes AI functionality, so I made the decision to add any editor that seems interesting and is free or affordable, and leave the judgement up to you. Please do not turn this thread into a pro-AI versus anti-AI discussion, thanks. Just decide for yourself if you’d like to use a tool or not. Tips are appreciated, also if you discover there’s something malicious in or surrounding a tool, or if a tool is removed or discontinued, thanks. I will then remove it from the list, or you can edit the list yourself if you’ve got Blender Artists Trust Level 1 or higher… **➡ This is a Wiki post, so Blender Artists users starting with Trust Level 1 can edit the post to modify it. If you do, then please…** - **Adjust the date when you modify the wiki.** - **Follow the syntax of the other entries (add a bullet point in front of an entry, etc.).** - **Keep the order alphabetical.** - **Add a 🆕 label behind new additions.** - **Keep an eye on possible inappropriate entries, such as obvious self-promotion.** - **Don’t delete an entry only because there’s some level of AI involved.** **Thanks! 🙏** ────────── #### 📅 Most recent edit: October 14 **➡ Recent additions are marked with 🆕** ↕ Order = alphabetical 🔠 ────────── ### 3D creation / CAD - [3D-Coat](https://3dcoat.com) - [Alpaca3D](https://alpaca3d.app) 🆕 - [Blender](https://www.blender.org) 🐵 - [Blockbench](https://www.blockbench.net) - [CADCraft](https://github.com/storytold/cadcraft) 🆕 - [Form-Z](https://autodessys.com/formz-free/) - [FreeCAD](https://www.freecad.org) - [Goxel](https://goxel.xyz) - [Ingetrazo](https://ingetrazo.com) - [Klay](https://klaysculpt.com) 🆕 - [Macad3D](https://github.com/Macad3D/Macad3D) - [MagicaCSG](https://ephtracy.github.io/index.html?page=magicacsg) (Windows only) - [MagicaVoxel](https://ephtracy.github.io) - [Material Maker](https://www.materialmaker.org) - [MoI 3D](https://moi3d.com) - [Nomad Sculpt](https://nomadsculpt.com) - [Open CAD Studio](https://www.open-aec.com/open-cad-studio) - [Pascal Editor](https://editor.pascal.app) - [Plasticity](https://www.plasticity.xyz) - [SDF Modeler](https://sascha-rode.itch.io/sdf-modeler) - [Serpentine 3D](https://chisomobanzi.github.io/Serpentine3D) - [Unbound](https://www.unbound.io) ### Audio editing / Music creation - [Audacity](https://audacityteam.org) - [LMMS](https://lmms.io) - [Ocenaudio](https://www.ocenaudio.com) - [Reaper](https://www.reaper.fm) - [SoundCraft](https://github.com/storytold/soundcraft) 🆕 ### Image editing / drawing / painting - [Acorn](https://flyingmeat.com) (Mac only) - [ArcBrush](https://arcbrush.com) 🆕 - [Artweaver](https://www.artweaver.de/en) - [BeFunky](https://www.befunky.com) - [Black Ink](https://blackink.bleank.com) (Windows only) - [Blender](https://www.blender.org) 🐵 - [ChaiNNer](https://github.com/chaiNNer-org/chaiNNer) - [Chasys Photo](https://www.jpchacha.com/chasysphoto/) (freeware, Windows only) - [Clip Studio Paint](https://www.clipstudio.net/en) - [Compositor](https://robbietilton.com/compositor) (Mac only) - [Concepts](https://concepts.app) - [DigiKam](https://www.digikam.org) - [FireAlpaca](https://firealpaca.com) - [GIMP](https://gimp.org) - [GraphicConverter](https://www.lemkesoft.de/en/products/graphicconverter) (Mac only) - [Graphite](https://graphite.rs) - [Inkscape](https://inkscape.org) - [Kala Paint](https://kalapaint.app) - [Krita](https://krita.org) - [MyPaint](https://www.mypaint.app) - [Our Paint](https://chengdulittlea.itch.io/ourpaint) - [Paint Tool SAI](https://en.saipainttool.com) (Windows only) - [Paint.net](https://getpaint.net) (Windows only) - [PD Howler](https://pdhowler.com/) (Windows only) - [PhotoCraft](https://github.com/storytold/photocraft) 🆕 - [PhotoDemon](https://github.com/tannerhelland/PhotoDemon) (Windows only) - [Photoline](https://www.pl32.com) - [Photomator](https://www.pixelmator.com/photomator) - [Photon Studio](https://tenzen.studio/photon) 🆕 - [PhotoPea](https://www.photopea.com) - [PhotoScape X](http://x.photoscape.org) - [PhotoSuite](https://github.com/eolix/photosuite) 🆕 - [Pinta](https://www.pinta-project.com) - [Pixelmator Pro](https://www.pixelmator.com) (Apple only) - [PixiEditor](https://pixieditor.net) - [Seahorse](https://apps.apple.com/app/seahorse-image-editor/id6742335288) (Mac only) - [Umoupen](https://umoupen.app) - [VectorCraft](https://github.com/storytold/vectorcraft) - [VectorPea](https://www.vectorpea.com) - [VectorStyler](https://www.vectorstyler.com) - [VPaint](https://www.vpaint.org) - [VTracer](https://github.com/visioncortex/vtracer) (bitmap to vector converter) 🆕 - [XnView](https://www.xnview.com) (image viewer with image processing and conversion functions) ### Photo editing - [Camerabag Photo / Pro](https://www.nevercenter.com/camerabag) - [Darktable](https://www.darktable.org) - [DaVinci Resolve](https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve) - [GIMP](https://www.gimp.org) (RAW import requires darktable or RawTherapee) - [LightCraft](https://github.com/storytold/lightcraft) 🆕 - [Nitro Photo](https://apps.apple.com/nl/app/nitro-photo/id1591292532) (Apple only) - [RapidRAW](https://github.com/CyberTimon/RapidRAW) - [RAWmakase](https://github.com/pch/rawmakase) 🆕 - [RawTherapee](https://www.rawtherapee.com) - [Zoner Studio](https://www.zoner.com) (Windows only) ### Pixel art - [Aseprite](https://www.aseprite.org) - [GrafX2](http://grafx2.chez.com/) (clone of the Amiga’s Brilliance pixel editor) - [LibreSprite](https://libresprite.github.io) (free, open source build of Aseprite) - [Pixelorama](https://orama-interactive.itch.io/pixelorama) - [Pixen](https://pixenapp.com) (Apple only) - [PixiEditor](https://pixieditor.net) - [Pro Motion NG](https://www.cosmigo.com/) (spiritual successor to Deluxe Paint, free and paid edition) - [PyDPainter](https://github.com/mriale/PyDPainter) (clone of the Amiga’s Deluxe Paint pixel editor) ### Design / Desktop publishing - [DesignCraft](https://github.com/storytold/designcraft) 🆕 - [FigCraft](https://github.com/storytold/figcraft) 🆕 - [PDFCraft](https://github.com/storytold/pdfcraft) 🆕 - [QuarkXPress](https://www.quark.com/products/quarkxpress) - [Scribus](https://www.scribus.us) ### Animation / Motion graphics / Video editing - [Apple Motion](https://www.apple.com/final-cut-pro/motion/) (Mac only) - [Autograph](https://www.maxon.net/en/autograph) 🆕 - [Blender](https://www.blender.org) 🐵 - [Caddis](https://www.caddis.app) - [Cavalry](https://cavalry.studio/en/) 🆕 - [DaVinci Resolve](https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve) - [EffectCraft](https://github.com/storytold/effectcraft) 🆕 - [FilmCraft](https://github.com/storytold/filmcraft) 🆕 - [Friction](https://friction.graphics) - [Glaxnimate](https://glaxnimate.org) - [Kdenlive](https://kdenlive.org) - [Moho](https://moho.lostmarble.com) - [MoveMatic](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/movematic-flexible-motion/id6771238493) (Mac only) - [Natron](https://natrongithub.github.io) - [OpenShot](https://www.openshot.org) - [OpenToonz](https://opentoonz.github.io/e/index.html) - [Pencil2D](https://www.pencil2d.org) - [Pikimov](https://pikimov.com) - [Shotcut](https://www.shotcut.org) - [Synfig Studio](https://www.synfig.org) - [Tahoma2D](https://tahoma2d.org) (OpenToonz fork) - [TiXL](https://tixl.app) - [Vegas Pro](https://www.vegascreativesoftware.com) - [Wick Editor](https://www.wickeditor.com) _ **💡 Tips for additions, discontinued entries or broken links are welcome. Just reply to this thread, or you can or add / fix it yourself if you’re a Blender Artists Trust Level 1+ user. Thanks.** _ _📝 Footnote: this started as a thread about the Affinity suite changes, hence the initial replies._ ---
**Author:** ![TheFlow](https://blenderartists.org/user_avatar/blenderartists.org/theflow/32/443587_2.png) [@TheFlow](https://blenderartists.org/u/TheFlow)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 8:28am UTC](https://blenderartists.org/t/adobe-apple-autodesk-canva-maxon-alternatives/1522359/2 "2024-03-26T08:28:19Z")
I read it 10 minutes ago and am VERY unsure what to think of it. Subscribtions are not on the table for the current version. But who says v3 will be without Subscribtions? And did I tell everyone I know about the wrong suite of tools to buy and learn? Only happy that it wasn’t Adobe, Autodesk, Maxon or Facebook/Meta. ---
**Author:** ![scopelma](https://blenderartists.org/user_avatar/blenderartists.org/scopelma/32/877097_2.png) [@scopelma](https://blenderartists.org/u/scopelma)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 8:37am UTC](https://blenderartists.org/t/adobe-apple-autodesk-canva-maxon-alternatives/1522359/3 "2024-03-26T08:37:27Z")
Oh no. There is really no chance that the independent nice software I like survives as such in this world, eh. ---
**Author:** ![Metin\_Seven](https://blenderartists.org/user_avatar/blenderartists.org/metin_seven/32/1471846_2.png) [@Metin\_Seven](https://blenderartists.org/u/Metin_Seven)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 8:39am UTC](https://blenderartists.org/t/adobe-apple-autodesk-canva-maxon-alternatives/1522359/4 "2024-03-26T08:39:59Z")
Have a look at this Mastodon thread for some tips regarding alternatives: > **[Metin Seven 🎨 (@metin@graphics.social)](https://graphics.social/@metin/112160618398616073)** > > 🧵 \[1/3\] > > Affinity has been bought by Canva, to compete with Adobe. > > It was of course a matter of time before Affinity would outgrow its status of sympathetic small-scale Adobe alternative, and be sold for large proceeds. > > Canva is into AI. Hopefully... ---
**Author:** ![the\_motionblur](https://blenderartists.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/41988e/32.png) [@the\_motionblur](https://blenderartists.org/u/the_motionblur)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 8:54am UTC](https://blenderartists.org/t/adobe-apple-autodesk-canva-maxon-alternatives/1522359/5 "2024-03-26T08:54:08Z")
Cool. So it happens again. We really need a good open source contender for a Photoshop and Indesign Alternative. I said it before and I say it again: Open Source software really is the only form of Software where everybody benefits from investments in the software and where time spent learning the software is most safe. Every improvement helps everybody - not just the few existing subscribers. Open Source will never be vanish or be sold from one day to the next. So … let’s see where this goes, now. Affinity software is not strong enough for gathering subscription fes, I think. But continue as is is also rarely happening after a buyout. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![TheFlow](https://blenderartists.org/user_avatar/blenderartists.org/theflow/32/443587_2.png) [@TheFlow](https://blenderartists.org/u/TheFlow)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 8:59am UTC](https://blenderartists.org/t/adobe-apple-autodesk-canva-maxon-alternatives/1522359/6 "2024-03-26T08:59:04Z")
Yes, I really tried getting away from Adobe and can say Affinity was able to make up for 90%, but is a lot more cumbersome in some areas. But, you can usually get the same results. I think Canva+Affinity could be a force to be reckoned with, if they make the right choices. ---
**Author:** ![Metin\_Seven](https://blenderartists.org/user_avatar/blenderartists.org/metin_seven/32/1471846_2.png) [@Metin\_Seven](https://blenderartists.org/u/Metin_Seven)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 9:01am UTC](https://blenderartists.org/t/adobe-apple-autodesk-canva-maxon-alternatives/1522359/7 "2024-03-26T09:01:52Z")
The [Affinity press release](https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/press/newsroom/canva-statement/) shows exactly the same “We’re so excited and grateful” bullshit as Pixologic wrote when they had sold themselves to Maxon. It’s predominantly a case of commercial self-interest, as usual. The FAQ is also reminiscent of the ZBrush FAQ after the Maxon take-over: there’s no explicit “There won’t be a subscription”. 😏 Maxon introduced subscriptions faster than you could process the Pixologic take-over. ---
**Author:** ![the\_motionblur](https://blenderartists.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/41988e/32.png) [@the\_motionblur](https://blenderartists.org/u/the_motionblur)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 9:10am UTC](https://blenderartists.org/t/adobe-apple-autodesk-canva-maxon-alternatives/1522359/8 "2024-03-26T09:10:39Z")
The sad thing is that we already have a VERY fair subscription model for commercial applications that actually works really well: Jetbrain’s implementation. Every 12 month subscription has a fallback to a perpetual license of the last major point release before the most recent one (so in many cases you could go back a bit). And if you actually stick to paying each consecutive year gets cheaper, three years in a row. Fairest subscription model in my opinion. Just apparently not the preferred one by the industry. ---
**Author:** ![Hologram](https://blenderartists.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/41988e/32.png) [@Hologram](https://blenderartists.org/u/Hologram)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 9:47am UTC](https://blenderartists.org/t/adobe-apple-autodesk-canva-maxon-alternatives/1522359/9 "2024-03-26T09:47:45Z")
Apparently Canva has received a lot of venture capital, which doesn’t bode well for Affinity. ---
**Author:** ![Metin\_Seven](https://blenderartists.org/user_avatar/blenderartists.org/metin_seven/32/1471846_2.png) [@Metin\_Seven](https://blenderartists.org/u/Metin_Seven)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 9:50am UTC](https://blenderartists.org/t/adobe-apple-autodesk-canva-maxon-alternatives/1522359/10 "2024-03-26T09:50:32Z")
Yeah, investors are probably like “This program needs generative AI and subscriptions, like Adobe!” 😒 ---
**Author:** ![Hologram](https://blenderartists.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/41988e/32.png) [@Hologram](https://blenderartists.org/u/Hologram)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 9:52am UTC](https://blenderartists.org/t/adobe-apple-autodesk-canva-maxon-alternatives/1522359/11 "2024-03-26T09:52:26Z")
So we now have Inkscape, vector only or Krita, which should be getting better vector tools to be able to compete with Affinity. But, Krita is a rasterised application in the end. @Metin_Seven you forgot about these in your Mastodon post: Penpot [https://penpot.app/](https://penpot.app/) And Graphite [https://graphite.rs/](https://graphite.rs/) Graphite is still very much in the works and can expect to get a desktop based app in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Hologram](https://blenderartists.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/41988e/32.png) [@Hologram](https://blenderartists.org/u/Hologram)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 9:53am UTC](https://blenderartists.org/t/adobe-apple-autodesk-canva-maxon-alternatives/1522359/12 "2024-03-26T09:53:00Z")
And extortion, more extortion of users makes more money. ---
**Author:** ![Metin\_Seven](https://blenderartists.org/user_avatar/blenderartists.org/metin_seven/32/1471846_2.png) [@Metin\_Seven](https://blenderartists.org/u/Metin_Seven)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 10:10am UTC](https://blenderartists.org/t/adobe-apple-autodesk-canva-maxon-alternatives/1522359/13 "2024-03-26T10:10:58Z")
> [@Hologram](#): > > And Graphite [https://graphite.rs/](https://graphite.rs/) > Graphite is still very much in the works and can expect to get a desktop based app in the future. Thanks for the tip, added to one of the [thread](https://graphics.social/@metin/112160618398616073) posts. 👍 ---
**Author:** ![scopelma](https://blenderartists.org/user_avatar/blenderartists.org/scopelma/32/877097_2.png) [@scopelma](https://blenderartists.org/u/scopelma)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 10:11am UTC](https://blenderartists.org/t/adobe-apple-autodesk-canva-maxon-alternatives/1522359/14 "2024-03-26T10:11:34Z")
Also, if there was any hope that v2 would have had the same long life span as v1, I guess we can give it up ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Hadriscus](https://blenderartists.org/user_avatar/blenderartists.org/hadriscus/32/978263_2.png) [@Hadriscus](https://blenderartists.org/u/Hadriscus)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 10:37am UTC](https://blenderartists.org/t/adobe-apple-autodesk-canva-maxon-alternatives/1522359/15 "2024-03-26T10:37:41Z")
danggity dang a dingalong. Thanks for offering up alternatives, @Metin_Seven. Affinity Publisher was my home for printing jobs. I guess it’ll stay this way if they let me keep my license, until something better/foss comes up. ---
**Author:** ![thetony20](https://blenderartists.org/user_avatar/blenderartists.org/thetony20/32/1121876_2.png) [@thetony20](https://blenderartists.org/u/thetony20)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 11:01am UTC](https://blenderartists.org/t/adobe-apple-autodesk-canva-maxon-alternatives/1522359/16 "2024-03-26T11:01:03Z")
Well that’s not the best of news. Not that I own the apps yet, not had a pressing need, but it was always nice to know it was there as a solid, long term option vs Adobe. Should we start a ruffle to guess on which date the ‘Affinity Subscription’ will be announced… haha. ---
**Author:** ![psvedas](https://blenderartists.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/ba8739/32.png) [@psvedas](https://blenderartists.org/u/psvedas)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 11:04am UTC](https://blenderartists.org/t/adobe-apple-autodesk-canva-maxon-alternatives/1522359/18 "2024-03-26T11:04:40Z")
Judging from the blurb the pay to own ends with V2. Let’s see if V2 ends with 2.5, which is to say, quite soon. ---
**Author:** ![anon49703451](https://blenderartists.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/278dde/32.png) [@anon49703451](https://blenderartists.org/u/anon49703451)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 11:06am UTC](https://blenderartists.org/t/adobe-apple-autodesk-canva-maxon-alternatives/1522359/19 "2024-03-26T11:06:14Z")
On the plus side - accelerating the development of the Affinity package. On the minus side - likely subscription from v3 onwards. Gimp and Inkscape and other such rubbish are not alternatives to Affinity. It’s like going back to the Stone Age. ---
**Author:** ![Hadriscus](https://blenderartists.org/user_avatar/blenderartists.org/hadriscus/32/978263_2.png) [@Hadriscus](https://blenderartists.org/u/Hadriscus)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 11:30am UTC](https://blenderartists.org/t/adobe-apple-autodesk-canva-maxon-alternatives/1522359/20 "2024-03-26T11:30:30Z")
> [@thetony20](#): > > Should we start a ruffle to guess on which date the ‘Affinity Subscription’ will be announced… haha. Totally ! I guess they’re planning to announce it once the dust settles. I give it approximately a year. Let’s insert a bit of randomness to keep it interesting : february 18th, 2025. @anon49703451 Inkscape has changed a lot recently, you might want to give it another try if you haven’t. I personally have some gripes with the navigation and transformations, but I’m so spoiled with Blender… ---
**Author:** ![joseph](https://blenderartists.org/user_avatar/blenderartists.org/joseph/32/1433056_2.png) [@joseph](https://blenderartists.org/u/joseph)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 11:55am UTC](https://blenderartists.org/t/adobe-apple-autodesk-canva-maxon-alternatives/1522359/21 "2024-03-26T11:55:14Z")
Well, that blows 😔 I just recently bought the full V2 package too… > [Affinity] will now be used to complement Canva’s selection of artificial intelligence-powered tools… Ugh! [Next page](https://blenderartists.org/t/adobe-apple-autodesk-canva-maxon-alternatives/1522359.md?page=2)