Which is better, Adobe Illustrator or Affinity Designer 2?

Based on our trust score analysis, Adobe Illustrator scores 9.4/10 compared to Affinity Designer 2 at 9.2/10. Adobe Illustrator ranks higher across expert reviews, user sentiment, and value metrics, making it the stronger choice overall.

What is the price difference between Adobe Illustrator and Affinity Designer 2?

Adobe Illustrator is priced at $21.00 – $34.00 and Affinity Designer 2 is priced at $70.00. Affinity Designer 2 is the more expensive option at $70.00, while Adobe Illustrator comes in at $21.00 – $34.00.

Is Affinity Designer 2 worth the extra money over Adobe Illustrator?

Affinity Designer 2 ($70.00) has a value score of 8.4/10 compared to Adobe Illustrator ($21.00 – $34.00) at 9.4/10. Adobe Illustrator offers better value for money despite the lower price point.

Home / Graphic Design Software / Adobe Illustrator vs Affinity Designer 2

Adobe Illustrator vs Affinity Designer 2

Name: Affinity Designer 2
Brand: Serif
Rating: 4.7 (1 reviews)

Head-to-head comparison based on trust scores, features, pricing, and real user feedback.

Our pick: Adobe Illustrator (Trust Score 9.4 vs 9.2)

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe

$21.00 – $34.00

9.4

Excellent

Best Overall

Pros

+Industry standard with unmatched tool depth
+AI-powered generative features
+Seamless Creative Cloud integration

Cons

−Subscription-only pricing
−Steep learning curve for beginners

Don't buy if

⚠ Adobe Illustrator requires an ongoing subscription; canceling mid-term may incur an early termination fee of 50% of remaining months.

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Affinity Designer 2

Serif

$70.00

9.2

Excellent

Runner-Up

Pros

+One-time purchase, no subscription
+Combined vector and pixel editing
+Blazing fast real-time performance

Cons

−Smaller plugin ecosystem than Adobe
−Some advanced features missing vs Illustrator

Don't buy if

⚠ Affinity Designer uses its own file format; export to SVG or PDF when sharing with clients who use Adobe products.

Check Price on Amazon

Score Comparison

Metric	Adobe Illustrator	Affinity Designer 2
Trust Score	9.4 ✓	9.2
Expert Score	9.4 ✓	9.2
User Sentiment	9.3	9.3
Value Score	9.4 ✓	8.4
Complaint Risk	9.5	8.6 ✓
Price	$21.00 – $34.00	$70.00

The Verdict

Adobe Illustrator wins this comparison with a Trust Score of 9.4 vs 9.2. It's rated "Best Overall" and scores higher across the majority of our evaluation criteria. However, the Affinity Designer 2 may be a better fit depending on your specific priorities — check the pros and cons above.

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