Comparison

element vs Affinity Photo 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

element

Control your color grading software remotely from your iPad. This app offers a virtual version of physical control panels, ideal for on-set work, training, or expanding your existing setup. It communicates with your software via WiFi and supports multi-touch gestures.

Highlights
  • Remote color grading control
  • Virtual Element control panels
  • On-set grading ideal
  • Portable grading solution
  • Multi-touch support
  • WiFi communication
Read full description

Control your colour grading software from your iPad with the element-Vs app. - Ideal for on-set grading. - Ideal as a portable grading panel. - Ideal for training. - Ideal for expanding your real Element panels. The element-Vs is a virtual version of the four panels that make up the Element control panel series by Tangent Wave Ltd. Every panel is presented in exactly the same layout as the real Element panels. All the controls are mapped on the element-Vs in exactly the same way as the real Element panels. What the controls do depends on the grading software you are using the panel with. You should refer to the control mappings for the Element panels provided by your software manufacturer. The element-Vs is fully multi-touch, so you can use different controls simultaneously. You do not need to own the real Element panels in order to use the element-Vs. You can use the element-Vs at the same time as your real Element panels. When you do this the controls will reflect any changes and information that happen to either real or virtual panels. If you do not own all the Element panels you can use the element-Vs to provide virtual versions of the panels you do not own. Communication with your grading software is via WiFi. NOTE: you will need to download and install the Tangent Hub software on your computer in order for your grading software to talk to the element-Vs app. Please read the manual which is available to download on our website - see the element-Vs product page. After you have used the sample version for 1 hour you will be reminded that it is the sample version and you should consider buying the app. You can then continue to use the app again the following day.

About

Affinity Photo 2 for iPad

A professional-grade photo editor for iPad, offering advanced tools for editing, retouching, and creating complex designs. It supports a wide range of file formats and color spaces, with optimized performance for iPad hardware and Apple Pencil.

Highlights
  • Non-destructive editing
  • Advanced masking tools
  • RAW image development
  • Layer support
  • Object removal
  • PSD file compatibility
  • 16-bit and 32-bit color editing
Features
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The next generation of the iPad App of the Year, Affinity Photo 2 for iPad is a genuine desktop-grade, professional photo editor used by photographers, graphic designers, illustrators, artists, and other creators around the world. Wielding tons of incredible new features, hundreds of enhancements and a completely redesigned UI, the award-winning photo editing app has everything you need to edit images, retouch photos, create multi-layered art, beautiful raster paintings, designs, and so much more – no matter where you are. OPTIMIZED FOR IPAD • Fully integrated and optimized iPad gesture controls to speed up your workflow • iOS16 ready, including optimization for virtual memory swap, dramatically increasing performance on large documents • Sensitive to pressure, tilt, and angle, the app harnesses the full power and precision of Apple Pencil • Command controller hosting on-screen modifiers • Quick Menu for context-sensitive access to commands • Full iCloud drive integration for seamless file management, storage, and sharing • External display support with separate configuration options POWERFUL TOOLS & FUNCTIONALITY • Non-destructive RAW development of linked/embedded RAW images • Non-destructive Live Mesh Warp filter and other live effect layers • Luminosity, hue range, and band pass live masks • Compound masks • Multiple shadow, outline, and overlay layer effects per object • Normals adjustment for editing normal maps from material and texturing workflows • JPEG XL file import and export • OCIO v2 support – particularly useful for video editors, VFX, film, and 3D artists PERFORMANCE & POWER • Massive image support (100+ Megapixels) • Pan and zoom at maximum refresh rate • Open, edit, and save Adobe Photoshop ® PSD/PSB files • RGB, CMYK, Greyscale and LAB color spaces • Full 16-bit and linear unbounded 32-bit per channel editing • Work with all standard formats like PNG, TIFF, JPG, JPEG XL, GIF, SVG, EPS, EXR, HDR, and PDF UNSURPASSED PRODUCTIVITY • Full support for unlimited layers, layer groups, adjustment layers, filter layers, and masks • Edit live filters, adjustments, effects, blend modes, and masks non-destructively • Remove objects or erase backgrounds with magic eraser tool, blur photos, add filters for pictures, cut, crop, and more with ease • Savable history with alternate futures • Customizable shortcuts with attached keyboard or new quick menu • Isolate, edit, and duplicate spare channels with a simple touch • Link layers to edit simultaneously • Stitch picture-perfect panoramas on location PROFESSIONAL IMAGE PROCESSING • Open RAW in a dedicated 16-bit development workspace and edit straight from your camera • Adjust exposure, blackpoint, clarity, vibrance, white balance, shadows, highlights, etc. • Advanced lens corrections including chromatic aberration, defringe, vignette, and noise reduction • Paint areas or use fully customizable gradients to mask adjustments • View histograms, blown highlights, shadows, and tones as well as detailed EXIF information • Focus Merge, HDR Merge, and Tone Mapping for advanced image processing QUALITY RETOUCHING & CORRECTION TOOLS • Intuitive selection brush and refinement for precise selections like strands of hair • Dodge, burn, clone, patch, blemish, red eye, advanced inpainting, and object removal • Smooth and retouch skin with built-in frequency separation • Dedicated Liquify persona gives freehand control over warps, twirls, pinch, punch, and turbulence ADVANCED BRUSH ENGINE • Huge library of painting, drawing, textures, and professional DAUB® Brushes included • Create custom brushes and nozzles with full control over advanced dynamics FAST, CUSTOMIZABLE EFFECTS • Massive collection of effects available, including blurs, distortions, tilt-shift, shadows, glows, lighting, and many more • Swipe-able split or mirrored screen always available for before and after views • Path text capabilities

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Affinity Photo 2 for iPad at 4.6 against element's 2.9. Affinity Photo 2 for iPad also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 35 months) and ratings volume (2.2K vs 8). element's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support 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. Affinity Photo 2 for iPad sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. element asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Affinity Photo 2 for iPad holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Affinity Photo 2 for iPad has 2.2K ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of element's written reviews are positive against 43% of Affinity Photo 2 for iPad's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

element ships an update every 35 months, Affinity Photo 2 for iPad every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 12, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
element versus Affinity Photo 2 for iPad: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterelementAffinity Photo 2 for iPad
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.9 (8 ratings)4.6 (2.2K ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews — better43.1% of reviews
Number of ratings82.2K — better
Update frequencyEvery 35 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPadiPad
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB1.7 GB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTangent Wave Ltd.Serif (Europe) Ltd.

Customer experience

element

All ratings8 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral12.5%
Negative37.5%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral14.3%
Negative35.7%

Affinity Photo 2 for iPad

All ratings2,131 ratings
Positive89.4%
Neutral3.1%
Negative7.5%
Written reviews355 reviews
Positive43.1%
Neutral11.8%
Negative45.1%

Bugs and requests

element

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Affinity Photo 2 for iPad

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Crashes when adjusting white balance
  • Issues with importing and opening photos
  • Brush tools not working as expected
  • Layers and masks not functioning properly
  • Exporting issues causing loss of work

Requested features

5 requests
  • Auto subject selection
  • Improved help and documentation
  • Better file management and export options
  • Support for more RAW formats
  • Astrophotography tools like the desktop version

In-app purchases

None

element

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Affinity Photo 2 for iPad

One-time4
  • Free 7-Day TrialFree
  • Photo 2 for iPad LicenseFree
  • Affinity Collection for iPad$36.99
Show 1 more
  • Affinity V2 Universal License$164.99

Questions

Is element free?
element is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Affinity Photo 2 for iPad free?
Affinity Photo 2 for iPad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, element or Affinity Photo 2 for iPad?
Affinity Photo 2 for iPad is rated higher. element averages 2.9 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Affinity Photo 2 for iPad averages 4.6 from 2.2K ratings.
Do element or Affinity Photo 2 for iPad have ads?
Neither element nor Affinity Photo 2 for iPad shows ads.
Which is updated more often, element or Affinity Photo 2 for iPad?
element ships an update every 35 months, and Affinity Photo 2 for iPad every 6 weeks. Most recently, element was updated on September 12, 2026 and Affinity Photo 2 for iPad on September 22, 2026.

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