Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite VS Affinity Designer

Compare CorelDRAW Graphics Suite VS Affinity Designer and see what are their differences

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite logo CorelDRAW Graphics Suite

Empower your creativity with CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2018, packed with powerful features and updates to transform creative ideas into visually stunning designs! Learn more or download a free trial today!

Affinity Designer logo Affinity Designer

Professional creative software, exclusively for Mac.
  • CorelDRAW Graphics Suite Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-20
  • Affinity Designer Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-21

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite features and specs

  • Versatility
    CorelDRAW supports a wide array of design tasks, including vector illustration, layout, photo editing, and typography, making it a versatile tool for various creative professionals.
  • User-friendly Interface
    The intuitive UI is designed to cater to both beginners and advanced users, allowing for a smooth learning curve and efficient workflow.
  • Robust Toolset
    CorelDRAW offers a comprehensive collection of tools such as LiveSketch, PowerTRACE, and more, which enhance productivity and creativity.
  • File Compatibility
    The software supports a wide range of file formats, including AI, PSD, PDF, JPG, PNG, SVG, DWG, and DXF, making it easier to collaborate and share work.
  • Customizability
    Users can customize the interface, shortcut keys, and workflow settings to suit their preferences, improving efficiency and user experience.

Possible disadvantages of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite

  • Pricing
    CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is relatively expensive compared to some of its competitors, which may be a barrier for individuals or small businesses.
  • Resource Intensive
    The software can be quite demanding on system resources, requiring a powerful computer to run smoothly, particularly for large or complex projects.
  • Platform Limitation
    CorelDRAW is primarily optimized for Windows. While a Mac version exists, it may not offer the same level of performance and feature parity.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its user-friendly design, the vast array of features and tools can be overwhelming for new users, requiring time and effort to master.
  • Customer Support
    User reviews often mention that customer support can be slow or unhelpful, which might be problematic when users encounter issues.

Affinity Designer features and specs

  • Cost
    Affinity Designer is a one-time purchase, which is significantly cheaper in the long run compared to popular subscription-based alternatives like Adobe Illustrator.
  • Performance
    Affinity Designer is known for its smooth performance and stability, even when working with large files or complex designs.
  • Cross-platform compatibility
    The software is available on both macOS, Windows, and iPad, allowing for a seamless experience across different devices.
  • User Interface
    Affinity Designer features a modern, intuitive, and highly customizable user interface, making it easier for both new and experienced users to adapt.
  • Advanced Vector Tools
    Offers a wide range of vector editing tools, which are on par with industry standards, making it a powerful tool for professional designers.
  • Regular Updates
    Serif, the company behind Affinity Designer, frequently releases updates that add new features and improve performance.
  • Seamless Integration
    Affinity Designer offers seamless integration with other Affinity products such as Affinity Photo and Affinity Publisher, enhancing overall workflow.

Possible disadvantages of Affinity Designer

  • Learning Curve
    New users, especially those transitioning from Adobe products, might find the interface and tools slightly unfamiliar, leading to a learning curve.
  • Limited Third-party Plugin Support
    Affinity Designer has limited support for third-party plugins compared to Adobe Illustrator, which can restrict additional functionalities.
  • Community and Resources
    While growing, the community and available resources for Affinity Designer are not as extensive as those for more established software like Adobe Illustrator.
  • Lack of Cloud-based Features
    Affinity Designer does not offer built-in cloud storage or cloud-based collaboration features, unlike some other industry-leading design software.
  • Interoperability with Adobe Files
    Although it offers some compatibility, Affinity Designer may struggle with fully maintaining formatting and layers when importing/exporting Adobe Illustrator (AI) files.

Analysis of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite

Overall verdict

  • CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is generally considered a good software for graphic design, especially by users looking for options outside of the mainstream Adobe products.

Why this product is good

  • Comprehensive Toolset: CorelDRAW offers a range of powerful vector illustration and page layout tools.
  • User-Friendly Interface: Known for its intuitive interface, which can be more accessible for beginners.
  • Versatility: Suitable for various types of design work, including logo creation, vector illustrations, layout, and typography.
  • Value for Money: Often seen as offering robust features at a more competitive price than some other industry-leading software.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility: Available for both Windows and macOS, with features specifically optimized for each OS.

Recommended for

  • Graphic designers looking for a comprehensive tool that is not Adobe-centric.
  • Businesses or individuals who want a cost-effective alternative to the Adobe Creative Suite.
  • Users who prefer a perpetual licensing model, giving them the option to own the software outright.
  • Artists needing strong vector and layout tools for projects across different media.

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite videos

What's new in CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2019?

More videos:

  • Review - CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2019

Affinity Designer videos

Illustrator vs Affinity Designer - Review and Comparison

More videos:

  • Review - Affinity Designer Review
  • Review - A DESIGNERS Review : Affinity Designer on iPad Pro 2018

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to CorelDRAW Graphics Suite and Affinity Designer)
Graphic Design Software
26 26%
74% 74
Image Editing
22 22%
78% 78
Vector Graphic Editor
100 100%
0% 0
Design Tools
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare CorelDRAW Graphics Suite and Affinity Designer

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite Reviews

We have no reviews of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite yet.
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Affinity Designer Reviews

Figma Alternatives: 12 Prototyping and Design Tools in 2024
Affinity Designer has recently released version 2 of the app for professional photo editing, illustrations, and graphic designs. It’s used by millions of designers worldwide for prototyping, mind mapping, and other visual content.
5 Figma Alternatives for UI & UX Designers
And last but not least, the area in which Affinity Designer excels is its licensing system. You only pay for the software once ($60 + a free trial) and can use it on your Windows or macOS devices.
Source: stackdiary.com
10 Best Adobe Illustrator Alternatives
if you are looking for an editing tool that can switch between vector, export, and pixel modes, Affinity Designer is a perfect choice.
The best digital art software for creatives in 2020
Not only that, last year's upgrade (here's our Affinity Designer review) saw Affinity add support for the Apple Pro Display XDR monitor, and tweak the program to run faster than ever on new Macs. While this is a dedicated vector tool, you can switch to a pixel environment if you wish. A new version (Affinity Designer 1.9) is currently in Beta so watch this space for a new...
The best software for digital artists
Affinity Designer has everything you need to create custom designs and illustrations. With Affinity Designer, you have precise control over curves, brush stabilisation options, advanced blend modes, and best of all: one million+ per cent zoom. No, really… it’s true! In fact, this might just be our favourite feature.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Affinity Designer seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 47 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite yet. Tracking of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Affinity Designer mentions (47)

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing CorelDRAW Graphics Suite and Affinity Designer, you can also consider the following products

Inkscape - Inkscape is a free, open source professional vector graphics editor for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.

Sketch - Professional digital design for Mac.

Adobe Illustrator CC - Adobe Illustrator CC is a commercial vector graphics editor.

Adobe Illustrator - Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editor.

Vectornator - A vector-based design software that allows you to create sophisticated graphics, amazing layouts...

Adobe Photoshop - Adobe Photoshop is a webtop application for editing images and photos online.