# element vs Affinity Photo 2 for iPad

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.

Both are free to download. Affinity Photo 2 for iPad sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. element asks for nothing beyond the download.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | element | Affinity Photo 2 for iPad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.9 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-vs-sample/id784416760/reviews) | **[4.6 (2.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/affinity-photo-2-for-ipad/id1616823773/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **2.2K** |
| Positive reviews | **50.0% of reviews** | 43.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 35 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 2 MB | 1.7 GB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tangent Wave Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/396651842) | [Serif (Europe) Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/536107177) |

## What reviewers say

### element

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-vs-sample/id784416760)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Affinity Photo 2 for iPad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/affinity-photo-2-for-ipad/id1616823773)

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:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free 7-Day Trial | Free | one-time |
| Photo 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 features
- 💡 Robust photo editing capabilities
- 👍 Great value for the price
- 🚀 Efficient workflows
- 👍 Seamless integration with iPad

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes
- 🐛 Buggy performance
- 👎 Confusing UI and navigation
- 👎 Lack of basic functionality
- 👎 Unstable after update

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

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


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