Software Alternatives & Startups

Affinity Photo VS StackStats.app

Compare Affinity Photo VS StackStats.app and see what are their differences

Affinity Photo

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

Rating
0 reviews
StackStats.app

Advanced analytics for Substack writers. Runs 100% locally, no cloud, no subscription. Discover your superfans, churn risk, and cohort retention.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Paid $39 / Annually (1 Year License)
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?

Based on our record, Affinity Photo seems to be a lot more popular than StackStats.app. While we know about 34 links to Affinity Photo, we've tracked only 1 mention of StackStats.app.

social mentions
34 vs 1
Image Editing popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 2

Base details

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

Affinity Photo
StackStats.app
Website affinity.serif.com stackstats.app
Pricing —
Paid $39 / Annually (1 Year License) Official pricing
Company — Startup from the United Arab Emirates · 1 - 9 employees · 2026
Listed in

About Affinity Photo and StackStats.app

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

Affinity Photo
StackStats.app

No description of Affinity Photo yet.

StackStats is a local desktop app for serious Substack writers. Import your CSV exports and get analytics Substack doesn't show you: bot-filtered open rates, cohort retention, dead subscriber detection, superfan ID, content-to-growth correlation, and an optional AI layer (supports Ollama,...

Read more about StackStats.app

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Affinity Photo 6 features
StackStats.app 6 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.
  • Platforms
    Mac, Windows
  • Pricing
    One-time
  • Data storage
    Local Only
  • Internet Required
    No
  • Account Required
    No
  • AI integration
    Yes (optional)

Analysis

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

Affinity Photo
StackStats.app

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.

Overall verdict

  • StackStats.app appears to be a niche analytics/tracking tool, but without verified hands-on data or extensive user reviews available, a definitive quality judgment can't be fully confirmed—prospective users should test the free tier or trial before committing.

Why this product is good

  • Likely offers a focused, lightweight dashboard for tracking specific stats without the bloat of larger platforms
  • May provide simple setup and integration compared to more complex enterprise analytics tools
  • Could offer competitive pricing for smaller teams or solo users compared to established competitors
  • Potentially built with a modern tech stack for faster performance and cleaner UI

Recommended for

  • Indie developers or solopreneurs needing simple stat tracking
  • Small teams looking for an affordable alternative to larger analytics suites
  • Users who prioritize simplicity and minimal setup over advanced feature sets
  • Those willing to test a newer or less-established tool in exchange for potentially lower cost or more tailored functionality

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Affinity Photo 3 videos + Add
StackStats.app 0 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

No StackStats.app videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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
StackStats.app
100% 100%
0% 0%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Affinity Photo and StackStats.app.

What's the story behind your product?

StackStats.app's answer:

I built StackStats because Substack's native analytics weren't cutting it. I wanted cohort data, real open rates (not bot-inflated), and a way to identify which posts were actually driving subscriber growth — but every tool I found was either cloud-based or required migrating off Substack entirely. So I built a local app that works with Substack's own CSV exports. No migration, no cloud, no subscription.

What makes your product unique?

StackStats.app's answer:

StackStats runs 100% locally on your machine — your subscriber data never touches a server. It also goes far beyond what Substack shows natively: bot-filtered open rates, cohort retention, superfan identification, dead subscriber detection, and content-to-growth correlation. No subscription, no account, no cloud. Pay once, own it forever.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

StackStats.app's answer:

Most newsletter analytics tools are cloud-based SaaS with monthly subscriptions. StackStats is a one-time purchase that runs entirely on your device. For Substack writers who care about privacy — especially those with paid subscribers — that's a meaningful difference. You also get analytics features that don't exist anywhere else, like bot-filtered open rates and cohort retention, without having to migrate away from Substack.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

StackStats.app's answer:

Serious Substack writers who are frustrated by Substack's shallow native analytics and want real data to drive growth — without moving their subscriber data to the cloud.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

StackStats.app's answer:

Electron (macOS + Windows), HTML/CSS/JavaScript, Chart.js, PapaParse. Optional AI layer supports Ollama, Claude, GPT-4, Gemini, Groq, and OpenRouter. Licensing via Cloudflare Workers + D1. Payments via Gumroad.

User comments

Share your experience with using Affinity Photo and StackStats.app. 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
StackStats.app no reviews yet

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We have no reviews of StackStats.app 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
StackStats.app 1 mention
  • 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 / about 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: over 3 years ago

View more

  • Ask HN: What are you working on? (November 2026)
    I'm working on 3 products now: 1. FormBeep(https://formbeep.com) at $38 MRR now - A form to Whatsapp tool. Stack is mainly CF workers with Clerk Auth. 2. SlashLink(https://slashlink.app) $0 - A simple pay as you go amazon link localizer.... - Source: Hacker News / 2 days ago

Alternatives to Affinity Photo and StackStats.app

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