Skip to main content
CompareTiers
Design Tools

Affinity Designer vs Balsamiq: Pricing Comparison 2026

Side-by-side pricing comparison of Affinity Designer and Balsamiq. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.

Bottom line: Affinity Designer starts at Custom pricing and Balsamiq starts at $12/mo. Compare all 4 pricing tiers side by side.

Last updated: July 2, 2026

Data compiled by Arthur Jacquemin
Updated July 2, 2026
Try Affinity Designer freeTry Balsamiq freeUpdated this monthUpdated this month

Affinity Designer vs Balsamiq: Quick Pricing Facts

FeatureAffinity DesignerBalsamiq
Starting PriceCustom pricing$12/mo
Number of Plans22
Free TierYesNo
Pricing Modelflatflat
Annual DiscountN/AN/A

Affinity Designer and Balsamiq are both priced at Custom pricing, making them equally accessible Design Tools. Together they offer 4 pricing plans with 24 features compared, so the best choice comes down to which features match your needs.

Affinity Designer stands out with a free plan for getting started.

Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Design Tools needs.

Pricing Plans
Affinity Designer
Affinity Designer
Try free
Balsamiq
Balsamiq
Try free
Tier 1
Free
$0/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Advanced graphic design software
  • Real-time editing
  • Customizable workspace
  • Non-destructive editing
  • Precision control over shapes
Start with Free
Business
$12/month
Includes
  • Up to 2 projects
  • Unlimited users (& permissions)
  • Drag-and-drop wireframing
  • AI wireframing and prototyping NEW
  • 1,000 AI credits/mo
  • Integrations (Slack, MCP server) NEW
  • Share, comment, export
Start with Business
Tier 2
Affinity DesignerPopular
Custom pricing
Includes
  • Full vector design capabilities
  • Raster brush textures
  • Image tracing
  • Custom typography
  • Advanced photo editing tools
Start with Affinity Designer
Enterprise
$18/monthCheapest
Includes
  • SSO with SAML
  • 5,000 AI credits/mo 5x more
  • On-demand AI credit top-ups
  • Enterprise SLAs
  • Data storage in the US or EU
  • Security forms assistance
  • Priority customer support
Start with Enterprise

← Swipe to compare plans →

Ready to get started? Try either tool free — no credit card required.

Try Affinity Designer freeFree plan availableTry Balsamiq freeFrom $12/mo
Find the best deal for your team
Answer 2 quick questions and we'll help you choose the right plan

Affinity Designer

Professional vector graphic design app with one-time purchase

View all Affinity Designer plans

Balsamiq

Rapid low-fidelity wireframing tool for UI mockups

View all Balsamiq plans

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Affinity Designer if:

  • •You need professional vector illustration and UI design with precise control over outputs
  • •Affinity Designer's $69.99 one-time price is justified for regular professional design work
  • •Print-ready vector artwork or polished UI design are the primary outputs

Choose Balsamiq if:

  • •You need a fast, low-fidelity wireframing tool that keeps stakeholders focused on structure
  • •Balsamiq's intentionally sketchy aesthetic prevents premature design polish debates
  • •Starting at $9/month, it is affordable for product teams that only need wireframing

Affinity Designer creates polished vector artwork and UI designs. Balsamiq creates rough wireframes for early product ideation. Different tools for different stages - Balsamiq for sketching concepts, Affinity Designer for producing finished designs. A designer might use Balsamiq early in a project and Affinity Designer to create final deliverables. Not alternatives.

ShareShare

Frequently Asked Questions: Affinity Designer vs Balsamiq

How many pricing plans does Affinity Designer have vs Balsamiq?
Affinity Designer offers 2 pricing plans, while Balsamiq offers 2 plans. More plans typically means more flexibility to match your exact needs and budget.
Does Affinity Designer or Balsamiq offer a free plan?
Affinity Designer offers a free plan, while Balsamiq does not. If budget is a concern, Affinity Designer lets you get started at no cost.
What is the most popular Affinity Designer plan?
The Affinity Designer plan is Affinity Designer's most popular tier, priced at Custom pricing. Key features include Full vector design capabilities, Raster brush textures, Image tracing.
Does Affinity Designer or Balsamiq offer custom enterprise pricing?
Affinity Designer offers a custom-priced enterprise tier for larger teams. Balsamiq lists all its pricing publicly.
How do Affinity Designer and Balsamiq compare for Design Tools?
Both Affinity Designer and Balsamiq are Design Tools. Affinity Designer offers 2 plans starting at Custom pricing, while Balsamiq offers 2 plans starting at $12/mo. Review the feature breakdowns above to see which better fits your Design Tools needs.
AI Recommendations

Sources

  1. Affinity Designer Official Pricing- Vendor pricing page
  2. Balsamiq Official Pricing- Vendor pricing page

Related Articles

Best Design Tools for Agencies (2026)

Compare design tools pricing for agencies: Abstract (Custom), Adobe Creative Cloud ($9.99/mo), Adobe XD ($9.99/mo). Hand-picked tools that fit teams of 10-50...

Best Design Tools for Enterprise (2026)

Compare design tools pricing for enterprise: Abstract (Custom), Adobe Creative Cloud ($9.99/mo), Adobe XD ($9.99/mo). Hand-picked tools that fit teams of 100...

Best Design Tools for Small Teams (2026)

Compare design tools pricing for small teams: Abstract (Custom), Adobe Creative Cloud ($9.99/mo), Adobe XD ($9.99/mo). Hand-picked tools that fit teams of 2-...

Track Price Changes

Get notified when pricing changes for these tools.

See all Affinity Designer alternativesSee all Balsamiq alternativesDesign ToolsCompare more tools