Canva Releases Free All-in-One Affinity App for iPad
Canva has launched Affinity for iPad, bringing free sketching, vector, photo, and layout tools to Apple's tablet with Apple Pencil support.
Canva has officially released Affinity for iPad, bringing its free all-in-one design application to Apple's tablets. The release includes a brand-new Sketch Studio built specifically for touch input and Apple Pencil integration.
- The app combines sketching, vector graphics, photo editing, and page layout into a single unified workspace.
- Core sketching, vector, photo, and layout tools are completely free for individuals with a Canva account.
- AI-powered capabilities require a paid Canva premium plan through the dedicated Canva AI Studio.
- The application requires iPadOS 18.0 or later and is available as a free download on the App Store.
Designed Specifically for iPadOS
Unlike a mere scaled-down port of the desktop software, Canva built the iPad interface specifically for tablet workflows. Users can seamlessly switch between Sketch, Vector, Pixel, and Layout studios while working inside the same .af file format, which is fully compatible with desktop environments.
Sketch Studio provides freehand drawing capabilities alongside a customizable brush library, while Sketch to Shapes converts hand-drawn outlines into editable vector paths. Photo editing tools feature RAW support, non-destructive adjustments, and a specialized Mask Tool to easily trace complex edges like hair and fur.
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The iPad app takes full advantage of modern Apple hardware, offering deep integration with Apple Pencil Pro. Creators can utilize features such as barrel roll, squeeze gestures, and hover support, alongside standard pressure and tilt sensitivity controls.
While the core toolset is robust, some desktop features are omitted at launch, including Books, Batch processing, Data Merge, macro recording, and Astrophotography Studio. Canva plans to introduce additional capabilities in future updates.
Free Core Tools and Premium AI Features
Following the strategy established during the 2025 desktop relaunch, core features remain free for individual creators who sign up for a free Canva account. Monetization is strictly tied to advanced AI tools locked behind a premium subscription tier.
Available through Canva AI Studio, these paid features include Generative Expand, image upscaling, noise reduction, and Decompose Layer, which splits flattened images into separate editable layers for advanced photo manipulation.
Impact on the Digital Design Landscape
The arrival of Affinity for iPad democratizes high-end digital creation by offering a professional suite of tools on mobile hardware without mandatory subscription fees for fundamental tasks. It provides a flexible, powerful solution for creatives working on the go.
