Comparison

Adobe XD vs Affinity Publisher 2 for iPad

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Adobe XD

Instantly preview your Adobe XD designs on native devices with real-time transitions. Connect via USB or load cloud documents to see your creations come to life before development.

Highlights
  • Real-time prototype preview
  • Transitions on native devices
  • USB connection
  • Cloud document loading
  • Optional storage upgrade
Features
Read full description

Eliminate the guesswork by previewing your Adobe XD designs, complete with transitions on native devices, in real time via USB or by loading them as cloud documents. If you enjoy using Adobe XD, please share a nice review. It really helps! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- MORE STORAGE (Optional in-app purchase) You can purchase an additional 20GB for $1.99 (US dollars) of Creative Cloud file storage per month. The recurring payment is automatically charged to your iTunes account. To stop service, go to account Settings and turn off auto-renew at least 24-hours before the end of your billing period. Prorating is unavailable — when you turn off auto-renew, service will continue until the end of that month’s billing period. The Fine Print You must be 13 or older and agree to Adobe’s terms and privacy policy, viewable at: https://www.adobe.com/go/privacy_policy http://www.adobe.com/go/terms Do not sell or share my information: https://www.adobe.com/privacy/us-rights-linkfree.html Use of Adobe mobile apps and online services requires registration for a free Adobe ID as part of a free, basic level of Creative Cloud membership. Adobe online services require an Internet connection, are not available in all countries or languages, and may be subject to change or discontinuation without notice.

About

Affinity Publisher 2 for iPad

Create professional documents like books, brochures, and magazines on your iPad. This powerful app offers advanced layout, typography, and image editing tools optimized for touch and Apple Pencil. Seamlessly manage files and export in various professional formats.

Highlights
  • Optimized iPad gesture controls
  • Professional layout tools
  • Advanced typography controls
  • Image and graphics editing
  • Productivity features
  • Import/export options
  • Professional output formats
Features
Read full description

Work wherever and whenever you want without compromise, with Affinity Publisher 2 for iPad, the on-the-go version of our award-winning desktop publishing software. This equally powerful page layout and design app has everything you need to create books, brochures, posters, reports, letters, portfolios, magazine layouts, book covers, ebooks, and so much more. OPTIMIZED FOR IPAD • Fully integrated and optimized iPad gesture controls to speed up your workflow • Command controller hosting on-screen modifiers • Quick Menu for context-sensitive access to commands • Context bar for all tools • Sliders for various attributes • Zoom to fit/zoom to previous, snapping, and preview mode options • Metal accelerated to achieve blazing-fast performance, even when editing large images • Sensitive to pressure, tilt, and angle, the app harnesses the full power and precision of Apple Pencil • Full iCloud drive integration allows for seamless file management, storage, and sharing • External display support with separate configuration options PROFESSIONAL LAYOUT TOOLS • Facing page spreads • Live master pages • Advanced guides, grids, and snapping • Tables and custom table formats • Wrap text around any object or image • Create text frames of any shape • Link multiple text frames together across your document • Footnotes, sidenotes, and endnotes ADVANCED TYPOGRAPHY • Full control over character and paragraph styles • Comprehensive OpenType support • Write text along any path • Advanced flow options and hyphenation PERFECT IMAGES & GRAPHICS • Link or embed images in your document • Place PSD, AI, PDF, JPG, TIFF, PNG, DWG, or Affinity files • Correct and enhance images with non-destructive adjustment layers • Precision engineered pen and node tools for creating vector curves and shapes • Boolean operations to add, subtract, combine, and divide shapes BUILT FOR PRODUCTIVITY • Section manager to organize your documents • Savable undo history with alternate futures • Smart master pages • Automatically generate indexes and table of contents • Manage and create anchors • Save documents as template files to re-use time and time again • Collate your document alongside all used image and font resources into a folder using the Package feature • PDF passthrough • Autoflow of multiple images and multi-page PDFs • Running headers • Cross-references ADVANCED OPTIONS FOR PLACING CONTENT & IMPORT/EXPORT • IDML & XLSX import • Import/export from Adobe InDesign ® and other programs • Layer visibility override for placed linked files (PDF/DWG/DXF/PSD and Affinity files) • Place linked web images using URLs • Dropbox API integration to retain placed resource linkage across multiple devices • AutoCAD DWG/DXF import, place, and edit (maintaining layer structure and scaling) PROFESSIONAL OUTPUT • End-to-end CMYK, PANTONE© and spot color • Live preflight checking • PDF/X-1a, PDF/X-3, PDF/X-4 output for professional printed works FULL INTEGRATION WITH OTHER AFFINITY APPS • Instantly switch to the advanced photo editing features of Affinity Photo and precise vector tools of Affinity Designer without leaving Affinity Publisher with StudioLink • The most fluid workflow ever conceived in a creative suite of applications

Screenshots

Adobe XD4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Adobe XD at 11K against Affinity Publisher 2 for iPad's 868. Adobe XD also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs paid). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Adobe XD sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per month and Affinity Publisher 2 for iPad sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Adobe XD against 4.6 for Affinity Publisher 2 for iPad. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Adobe XD has 11K ratings behind it against 868, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 40% of Adobe XD's written reviews are positive against 47% of Affinity Publisher 2 for iPad's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Adobe XD ships an update every 5 weeks, Affinity Publisher 2 for iPad every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Adobe XD versus Affinity Publisher 2 for iPad: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAdobe XDAffinity Publisher 2 for iPad
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (11K ratings) — better4.6 (868 ratings)
Positive reviews40.1% of reviews47.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings11K — better868
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPad
Requires iOS16.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size86 MB1.7 GB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAdobe Inc.Serif (Europe) Ltd.

Customer experience

Adobe XD

All ratings10,769 ratings
Positive92.8%
Neutral2.9%
Negative4.2%
Written reviews726 reviews
Positive40.1%
Neutral14.0%
Negative45.9%

Affinity Publisher 2 for iPad

All ratings554 ratings
Positive90.3%
Neutral2.3%
Negative7.4%
Written reviews323 reviews
Positive47.1%
Neutral13.3%
Negative39.6%

User reviews

Adobe XD

From 11K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Live preview on mobile
  • 👍 Seamless integration with desktop XD
  • 💡 Potential for full iPad functionality

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
  • 🔌 Compatibility issues with iOS 16
  • 👎 Limited editing capabilities on mobile
  • 🔍 Difficulty accessing and managing files

Affinity Publisher 2 for iPad

From 868 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Powerful, desktop-level design
  • 👍 Seamless integration with other Affinity apps
  • 🚀 Smooth and responsive on iPad
  • 💡 Universal license for all platforms
  • 👍 Intuitive and clean user interface

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
  • 🐛 Stability and reliability issues
  • 🐛 Compatibility problems with external keyboards
  • 🐛 Glitches with linked images and text
  • 🐛 Lack of precision and customization options

Bugs and requests

Adobe XD

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Login issues with Adobe account
  • Inconsistent performance and refresh
  • Fonts not rendering correctly
  • Prototype viewing limitations

Requested features

4 requests
  • Full XD editing capabilities on iPad
  • Wireless connectivity for prototyping
  • Improved font support and rendering
  • Ability to open files from cloud storage

Affinity Publisher 2 for iPad

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Crashing when working with large files
  • Corrupted layers and lost work
  • Printing issues and scaling problems
  • Inconsistent behavior with text formatting and layout
  • Laggy performance and freezes when scrolling through font lists

Requested features

5 requests
  • Support for right-to-left text (Arabic, Persian, etc.)
  • More templates and pre-designed layouts
  • Improved file management and renaming capabilities
  • Better support for large, complex documents
  • Enhanced keyboard shortcuts and power user features

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Adobe XD

Subscriptions1
  • CC Storage (20 GB)$1.991 Month
1 purchases

Affinity Publisher 2 for iPad

One-time1
  • Publisher 2 for iPad LicenseFree

Questions

Is Adobe XD free?
Adobe XD is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Affinity Publisher 2 for iPad free?
Affinity Publisher 2 for iPad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Adobe XD or Affinity Publisher 2 for iPad?
Adobe XD is rated higher. Adobe XD averages 4.7 out of 5 from 11K ratings, while Affinity Publisher 2 for iPad averages 4.6 from 868 ratings.
Do Adobe XD or Affinity Publisher 2 for iPad have ads?
Neither Adobe XD nor Affinity Publisher 2 for iPad shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Adobe XD or Affinity Publisher 2 for iPad?
Adobe XD ships an update every 5 weeks, and Affinity Publisher 2 for iPad every 6 weeks. Most recently, Adobe XD was updated on November 4, 2026 and Affinity Publisher 2 for iPad on November 3, 2026.

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