# Concepts vs Affinity Designer 2 for iPad

Concepts and Affinity Designer 2 for iPad both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 77% of Concepts's written reviews are positive against 52% of Affinity Designer 2 for iPad's. Concepts also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks) and monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs paid). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Concepts sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Affinity Designer 2 for iPad sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. 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 Concepts against 4.7 for Affinity Designer 2 for iPad. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Concepts has 26K ratings behind it against 3.2K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 77% of Concepts's written reviews are positive against 52% of Affinity Designer 2 for iPad's.

Concepts ships an update fortnightly, Affinity Designer 2 for iPad every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Concepts | Affinity Designer 2 for iPad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (26K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/concepts/id560586497/reviews) | **[4.7 (3.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/affinity-designer-2-for-ipad/id1616833418/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **26K** | 3.2K |
| Positive reviews | **77.1% of reviews** | 51.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#185** | — |
| Size | 258 MB | 1.7 GB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TopHatch, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/560586500) | [Serif (Europe) Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/536107177) |

## What reviewers say

### Concepts

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/concepts/id560586497)

**Currently charting:** #185 Top Free · Graphics & Design (US App Store)

This flexible vector-based sketchbook offers an infinite canvas for ideation and design. Easily sketch, take notes, and create detailed designs with editable strokes and powerful tools. Share your work in various formats for seamless collaboration and professional output.

**Highlights:** Infinite canvas, Vector-based sketching, Realistic pens, pencils, and brushes, Editable vector elements, Unlimited layers, Scale and measurement tools, Object libraries

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Everything Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Everything Monthly + Trial | $4.99 | per month |
| Everything Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Everything Yearly + Trial | $29.99 | per year |
| Shape Library | $1.99 | one-time |
| Pen Brush Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Body Forms | $1.99 | one-time |
| Make Your Own Objects | $3.99 | one-time |
| Essentials (iPhone Only) | $4.99 | one-time |
| PDF Essentials | $4.99 | one-time |
| Pro Pack  Legacy | $7.99 | one-time |
| 10 Object Packs | $14.99 | one-time |
| Essentials | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Infinite canvas
- 👍 Intuitive and customizable interface
- 🎨 Powerful drawing and sketching tools
- 💡 Versatile for various use cases (architecture, design, note-taking)
- 🔒 Responsive customer support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Steep learning curve for some users
- 💰 Subscription model can be expensive for casual users
- 🔧 Limited text handling and editing capabilities
- 🔀 Inconsistent behavior of certain tools (e.g., eraser, alignment)

**Reported bugs**

- Memory issues when working with large, complex drawings
- Inconsistent behavior of the eraser tool
- Inaccuracies in the snap-to-grid and measurement tools
- Exporting issues, such as loss of data or poor quality

**Requested features**

- Improved text editing and formatting options
- Better color selection and customization tools
- Collaboration and real-time sharing features
- Seamless integration with other design/productivity apps
- Syncing and backup capabilities across devices


### 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Concepts free?

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

### Is Affinity Designer 2 for iPad free?

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

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

Affinity Designer 2 for iPad is rated higher. Concepts averages 4.7 out of 5 from 26K ratings, while Affinity Designer 2 for iPad averages 4.7 from 3.2K ratings.

### Do Concepts or Affinity Designer 2 for iPad have ads?

Neither Concepts nor Affinity Designer 2 for iPad shows ads.

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

Concepts ships an update fortnightly, and Affinity Designer 2 for iPad every 6 weeks. Most recently, Concepts was updated on September 24, 2026 and Affinity Designer 2 for iPad on September 24, 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.*