Software Alternatives & Startups

Affinity Photo VS SolveSpace

Compare Affinity Photo VS SolveSpace and see what are their differences

Affinity Photo

Affinity is the imaging and design suite for creative professionals exclusively for Mac.

Rating
0 reviews
SolveSpace

SOLVESPACE is a parametric 3D CAD program with extrude, revolve, union and difference functions.

Rating
0 reviews
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Affinity Photo might be a bit more popular than SolveSpace. We know about 34 links to it since March 2021 and only 25 links to SolveSpace.

social mentions
34 vs 25
Image Editing popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 60

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Affinity Photo
SolveSpace
Website affinity.serif.com solvespace.com
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Affinity Photo 6 features
SolveSpace 5 features
  • Cost-effective
    Affinity Photo is available for a one-time purchase at a relatively low cost compared to the subscription model of Adobe Photoshop, making it a more affordable option in the long run.
  • Advanced Tools
    The software offers a wide range of advanced photo editing tools, including layer support, RAW editing, HDR merging, panorama stitching, and digital painting capabilities.
  • Non-Destructive Editing
    Affinity Photo allows for non-destructive editing with its powerful layers and mask features, ensuring that the original image remains unaltered.
  • Cross-Platform Availability
    Available on both macOS, Windows, and iPad, it provides a seamless experience across different devices, allowing users to work on their projects anywhere.
  • Performance
    Affinity Photo is optimized for high performance and can handle large files and complex edits without significant slowdowns, leveraging modern hardware capabilities effectively.
  • User Interface
    The user interface is modern, clean, and highly customizable, allowing users to tailor their workspace to their needs.

Possible disadvantages

  • Learning Curve
    New users might face a steep learning curve due to the abundance of features and tools, which can be overwhelming for beginners who are not familiar with photo editing software.
  • Limited Plugin Support
    Affinity Photo has limited third-party plugin support compared to Adobe Photoshop, which means fewer external resources and extensions are available.
  • Less Industry Adoption
    Despite its powerful features, Affinity Photo is less widely adopted in professional industries compared to Adobe Photoshop, which might pose challenges for collaborative work or standardizing workflows.
  • Compatibility Issues
    There can be compatibility issues with some Adobe Photoshop files (PSD), especially those that use complex or newer features, leading to potential difficulties in opening or converting files.
  • Mobile App Limitations
    While the iPad version of Affinity Photo is powerful, it does not offer all the features of the desktop version and might be less suitable for very demanding tasks.
  • Open Source
    SolveSpace is open-source software, which means it is free to use, modify, and distribute. This encourages community contributions and allows users to customize the software to their needs.
  • Lightweight
    The software is relatively lightweight compared to other CAD programs, making it suitable for older systems or for users who prefer a minimal footprint.
  • Parametric Modeling
    SolveSpace offers parametric modeling, allowing users to define geometric constraints and dimensions that can easily be adjusted to alter the design.
  • Cross-Platform
    SolveSpace is available on multiple platforms including Windows, Linux, and macOS, enhancing accessibility for users on different operating systems.
  • 2D and 3D Design
    The software supports both 2D and 3D design capabilities, making it versatile for various design projects ranging from basic sketches to complex 3D models.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Features
    Compared to more advanced and commercial CAD software, SolveSpace has limited features that might be insufficient for complex engineering projects.
  • User Interface
    The user interface of SolveSpace might seem outdated or less intuitive to users accustomed to more modern design environments.
  • Learning Curve
    New users may face a steep learning curve due to the program's unconventional approach and lack of comprehensive documentation or tutorials.
  • Performance
    While lightweight, SolveSpace can struggle with performance issues when handling complex or large 3D models, which may affect users working on detailed projects.
  • Limited Community Support
    As a lesser-known tool, the community around SolveSpace is smaller, which could lead to challenges in finding help or resources for troubleshooting.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Affinity Photo
SolveSpace

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Affinity Photo is considered a highly capable photo editing tool that holds its own against more expensive competitors. It is regarded as a professional-grade solution that provides excellent value for its cost, making it a strong contender in the photo editing software market.

Why this product is good

  • Affinity Photo is widely praised for its comprehensive set of features that cater to professional photographers and graphic designers. It offers robust tools for photo editing, such as advanced color correction, RAW editing, and a range of filters and selection tools. The software is also known for its speed and efficiency, with non-destructive editing options, seamless PSD import/export capabilities, and support for multiple layers. Many users appreciate its affordability compared to other high-end photo editing applications, as it offers a one-time purchase model without subscription fees.

Recommended for

    Affinity Photo is recommended for professional photographers, graphic designers, and enthusiasts who require powerful editing tools without committing to ongoing subscription costs. It is suitable for users seeking a highly capable and cost-effective alternative to Adobe Photoshop.

No analysis of SolveSpace yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Affinity Photo 3 videos + Add
SolveSpace 3 videos + Add

Affinity Photo | Hands on Review | Photography, Graphic Design, Web Design, Software

More videos

  • - AFFINITY PHOTO vs PHOTOSHOP 📷 How great is the 50$ Software?
  • - Affinity Photo Review (2018) - The #1 Photoshop Alternative

Solvespace Tutorial 0: Basics and User Interface

More videos

  • - SOLVESPACE 2.0 demo
  • - Solvespace Tutorial 1 - a Simple Plate

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Affinity Photo
SolveSpace
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
3D
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using Affinity Photo and SolveSpace. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Affinity Photo no reviews yet
SolveSpace no reviews yet

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We have no reviews of SolveSpace yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Affinity Photo 34 mentions
SolveSpace 25 mentions
  • Adobe Cuts Perpetual License for Elements Down to Just Three Years
    No more Adobe, happy with 'Affinity photo' already 6 years for now: https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/photo/. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Cancel Adobe if you are a creative under NDA with your clients
    And if you need a commercial alternative, for professional shops that need/require it, Affinity Photo is very good. Serif only offers perpetual, per major version licensing (i.e. No subscription) and offers a 'universal' licence if you... - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • A collection of useful Mac Apps
    Affinity Photo 2 - Price: $49.99 (one-time purchase) Professional photo editing software for Mac that features advanced editing tools and a user-friendly interface. Source: about 3 years ago

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  • Ask HN: What are your top open source apps/software?
    Love OBS and Blender. Recently started using Kdenlive and it is awesome. Big fan of OpenSCAD[1] and solvespace[2] for making functional 3D prints. I'm going to branch out a bit here and say GrapheneOS is my favorite thing going on right... - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • FreeCAD is an open-source parametric 3D modeler
    Just checked it out [1] but it appears the last version released was in 2022? Makes me wonder if it is still active. [1] https://solvespace.com/index.pl. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Ink and Switch Constraint System (2023)
    The comment on constraints which still blows me away is the footnote on the readme for Dune 3D: https://github.com/dune3d/dune3d Probably a bit more approachable for folks is: https://www.cadsketcher.com/ which adds the Solvespace... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago

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Alternatives to Affinity Photo and SolveSpace

When comparing Affinity Photo and SolveSpace, you can also consider the following products.