# Affinity Designer 2 for iPad vs Goblin Node

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Affinity Designer 2 for iPad at 3.2K against Goblin Node's 2. Affinity Designer 2 for iPad also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.5). Goblin Node's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 6 weeks) and monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs paid). On price, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Affinity Designer 2 for iPad sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Goblin Node sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Affinity Designer 2 for iPad holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Affinity Designer 2 for iPad has 3.2K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Affinity Designer 2 for iPad ships an update every 6 weeks, Goblin Node every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Affinity Designer 2 for iPad | Goblin Node |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (3.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/affinity-designer-2-for-ipad/id1616833418/reviews)** | [4.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/goblin-node-texture-lab/id6759722832/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.2K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 51.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 1.7 GB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Serif (Europe) Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/536107177) | [Rainer Weston](https://appshunter.io/developer/1880351882) |

## What reviewers say

### Affinity Designer 2 for iPad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/affinity-designer-2-for-ipad/id1616833418)

Create stunning illustrations, branding, logos, UI/UX designs, and more with a powerful touch-focused vector graphics app. Optimized for iPad and Apple Pencil, it offers real-time performance and precise tools for both vector and raster workflows.

**Highlights:** Vector Warp, Shape Builder Tool, Knife Tool, Drawing scale, Vector Flood Fill, Switch between vector and raster workspaces, Sophisticated typography

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free 7-Day Trial | Free | one-time |
| Designer 2 for iPad License | Free | one-time |
| Affinity Collection for iPad | $36.99 | one-time |
| Affinity V2 Universal License | $164.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful vector tools
- 🎨 Excellent for digital art and illustration
- 💰 Great value for the price
- 👍 Intuitive and streamlined UI
- 🔄 Seamless integration between iPad and desktop versions

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- 🔍 Cluttered and unintuitive UI in some areas
- 🖌️ Lacking advanced brush and pencil features
- 💾 Unreliable saving and file management
- 🔀 Confusing transition from Affinity Designer v1

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when switching between vector and pixel layers
- Exported files not retaining expected quality or format
- Grid spacing and snapping issues
- Disappearing or unresponsive UI elements

**Requested features**

- Vector trace tool
- Better layer management and organization
- Improved Apple Pencil support and pressure sensitivity
- Ability to rename documents on creation
- Customizable keyboard shortcuts and UI


### Goblin Node

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/goblin-node-texture-lab/id6759722832)

Create professional PBR textures and materials on your iPad with a touch-first, non-destructive procedural workflow. Generate reusable patterns, tileable surfaces, and complete material suites anywhere inspiration strikes, without needing a desktop rig.

**Highlights:** Touch-native procedural texturing, Non-destructive workflow, Modular material generation, PBR material suite creation, 100+ nodes including generators, 3D preview engine, One-time purchase for pro features

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Unlock | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Affinity Designer 2 for iPad free?

Affinity Designer 2 for iPad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Goblin Node free?

Goblin Node is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Affinity Designer 2 for iPad or Goblin Node?

Affinity Designer 2 for iPad is rated higher. Affinity Designer 2 for iPad averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3.2K ratings, while Goblin Node averages 4.5 from 2 ratings.

### Do Affinity Designer 2 for iPad or Goblin Node have ads?

Neither Affinity Designer 2 for iPad nor Goblin Node shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Affinity Designer 2 for iPad or Goblin Node?

Affinity Designer 2 for iPad ships an update every 6 weeks, and Goblin Node every 9 days. Most recently, Affinity Designer 2 for iPad was updated on October 13, 2026 and Goblin Node on September 30, 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.*