I’ve been a paying affinity customer for years, and I’m not signing up for Canva.

I get it’s “free”, but I’m sketched out.

I was really hoping for Linux support some day. Now, I am totally fine sticking with GIMP.

Oh god, how are they financing its development? Selling my personal data? Training AI on my data? Nagware? Not giving us a Linux version, ever?

"Free"

It's weird that I can't just login using my existing Affinity ID, also Canva's privacy policy states clear as day under section 2 that they'll use your data to train AI models, and that policy applies to Affinity.

Edit: Data collection within Affinity seems to be opt-in for now.

If you’re on a Canva premium plan, you’ll also be able to unlock Canva’s powerful AI tools within Affinity.

So freemium, not free. Which is also fine, just saying.

Edit: Needs new Canva account. My Serif account didn't migrate. Be sure to turn off BS under https://www.canva.com/account/privacy-preferences

I need to make sure I have my old Affinity installers. I'm sure I won't be able to activate in a few years because they decide to take down the authentication server.

Enshittification countdown begins now

Top ten answers on the board; we asked 100 users "How will Canva cover the costs of the software development if Affinity is free?"

So this is basically v3, and they’re trying to gain critical mass adoption vs Adobe.

I’m happy with my v2 for now, but I have a hunch if I migrate to “3” I’ll be modifying my hosts file in the future.

I use this at a center I volunteer at that works with the mentally disabled. Unsurprisingly, a lot of those people are old. Surprisingly, Canva is simple enough that I've been able to train the elderly, of all people, to use the program to make fliers or three-fold pamphlets for themselves. It's a good program for what it does, and the center pays for a premium subscription, so it's not something I personally need to worry much about.

Honestly, I'm fine with this in terms of the program's functionality, as long as Canva does't fuck with its user interface. It is pretty simple and intuitive, and I'd argue that the UI is quite possibly one of its strongest assets, seconded only by the massive amount of options/elements you can add to your project. And it's already apparent what AI is mostly used for within the program: making more graphic elements to slap onto your page, and more ready-made templates you can still go in and alter everything in at-will. And honestly, I'm fine with that.

Still no Linux support. As someone who purchased the Affinity Suite, I'm not sure I like this shift in model. If they keep to just fencing off AI in premium and keep investing in the whole app, fine, but I don't have my hopes up.

Oh no. Affinity was a good paid alternative to the adobe shite, now this is going to turn down a subscription route after they get people hooked, isnt it?

Once canva bought affinity it was going to just go downhill eventually.

Lovely. \s They got brought by Canva and went down the Adobe rabbit hole.

never support anything by canva

So when will the ads start to pop up?

Enshitification is inevitable. Ugh.

At least give us a Linux version.

I have it installed on my laptop. I'm not using their AI web app.

If a business charges nothing for a product then it is not the product. You are.

Sometimes that's harmless as in they're wanting you to try their service. Your business for other projects is still the product in that transaction.

Other times it's your personal data that is the product and they're wanting to then turn around and monetize that data.

But in both scenarios, you, or something of yours, is the product.

Affinity is one of the things i lost in moving from windows to Linux, but I've been getting by.

I bought a license before canva acquired it and quite enjoyed the software.

Really sad to see canva doing what everyone knew they would do to it.

I sent them feedback back when I heard the news about the Canva merger.

I knew this would happen but it still hurts.

I can only hope I can keep my current version as is without further updates.

I almost bought publisher last week, and postponed till Black Friday. Just wow!!!