# Adobe XD vs Affinity Publisher 2 for iPad

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Adobe XD | Affinity Publisher 2 for iPad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (11K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/adobe-xd/id1146597773/reviews)** | [4.6 (868 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/affinity-publisher-2-for-ipad/id1606942224/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **11K** | 868 |
| Positive reviews | 40.1% of reviews | **47.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 86 MB | 1.7 GB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Adobe Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/331646274) | [Serif (Europe) Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/536107177) |

## What reviewers say

### Adobe XD

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/adobe-xd/id1146597773)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CC Storage (20 GB) | $1.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/affinity-publisher-2-for-ipad/id1606942224)

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:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Publisher 2 for iPad License | Free | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*