A 
Affinity Designer
Survived by being the anti-subscription, then getting even cheaper.
NOT REALLY
why this verdict
Keep paying — OpenAI has not replaced it
OpenAI's version overlaps, but does not finish the design job, so this one still earns its $6/mo.
- A named launch, not a vibe named, unlinked
- One-time pricing looks better every time a subscription adds an AI tax. OpenAI, March 25, 2025 — no announcement link recorded yet.
- How much of the job it covers not the job editorial call
- Parts of it. The job still needs the tool to get finished.
- Is there a free way to do it? yes
- 2 of 2 listed replacements have a usable free tier: Inkscape and Figma.
- What the call is worth $72/yr
- $6/mo at the entry paid tier — $72 a year per seat.
Reason composed from the fields above missing: announcement linked recorded: free replacement listed recorded: two or more escape hatches
- Threatened by
- OpenAI
- Since
- March 25, 2025
- List price
- $6/mo
- Per year
- $72
The backstory
Affinity's pitch was always "professional tools, one payment, no subscription". As every creative subscription added AI credits and price increases, that pitch got stronger, not weaker. Canva's acquisition and the subsequent move to make the Affinity apps free for individuals turned a survivor into a beneficiary.
Escape hatches
I 
Inkscape Free vector editing.
inkscape.org open_in_new F 
Figma Free for individuals, and it has AI now.
figma.com open_in_new2 of 2 replacements have a usable free tier.