{"id":96063,"date":"2022-08-25T10:00:20","date_gmt":"2022-08-25T09:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/designshack.net\/?p=96063"},"modified":"2022-08-18T10:55:48","modified_gmt":"2022-08-18T09:55:48","slug":"affinity-publisher-vs-indesign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/designshack.net\/articles\/software\/affinity-publisher-vs-indesign\/","title":{"rendered":"Affinity Publisher vs InDesign: Pros, Cons & Advice"},"content":{"rendered":"
Affinity Publisher is arguably the best Adobe InDesign alternative available today. But how good is this desktop publishing software? Can you replace InDesign with Affinity Publisher for professional work?<\/p>\n
Today, we take a closer look at both Affinity Publisher and Adobe InDesign to find answers to these questions. We\u2019ll compare the best features and benefits of using these popular apps to figure out which platform is suitable for your needs.<\/p>\n
The similarities between the two publishing software are uncanny. They basically offer the same set of features and tools but with just a few differences. Although, these differences affect your overall experience in a big way. That\u2019s what we\u2019re going to focus on in this comparison.<\/p>\n
Without further ado, let\u2019s dive in.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Adobe InDesign has been around since 1999 and it\u2019s still the most popular software for designing all kinds of publishing from magazines to business brochures, newspapers, and much more.<\/p>\n
There hasn\u2019t been a worthy competitor for InDesign for many years. While many software makers came up with alternatives they were not as user-friendly or innovative as InDesign. That changed in 2019 when Serif officially released Affinity Publisher.<\/p>\n
Serif has a suite of design software, including Affinity Photo<\/a> and Affinity Designer<\/a>, which are unbelievably good alternatives to Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. Affinity Publisher follows the same path as a great alternative to Adobe InDesign.<\/p>\n Affinity Publisher<\/a> has the same functionality of InDesign. It offers a complete set of tools for all your publishing projects. However, when comparing the two software, we came across a few pros and cons to using both apps.<\/p>\n As a beginner, the ability to learn your way around software and get into a smooth workflow is very important. Most software are designed with modern user interfaces to offer the best experience to both beginners and advanced users.<\/p>\n This is one area where Affinity Designer takes a win, thanks to its intuitive user interface that features a simple tool palette with separate sections, windows, and a workspace that benefits all types of users. Even if you start using Affinity Designer without any prior design experience, it\u2019s very easy to understand how the software works.<\/p>\n The latest versions of InDesign follow the same path. But since the app packs a lot of different functions and features, the user interface could feel a bit too complex for beginners.<\/p>\n It\u2019s only been a few years since Affinity Publisher was officially released. Even though the software takes inspiration from all the good features and tools of InDesign, it is still a new player in the publishing industry. This is the biggest drawback to using Affinity Publisher.<\/p>\n When you\u2019re working in a professional environment, whether it\u2019s working in a team or sharing files with a client, file compatibility is key.<\/p>\n You and the other person have to be using the same software for collaboration. And guess which software is used by everyone and which one is unheard of?<\/p>\n You\u2019re correct! InDesign is still the most popular desktop publishing software. And it\u2019s the app used by all the industry professionals.<\/p>\n If you regularly work with long brochures, large eBooks, or newspapers, you know the importance of the performance of software and how it affects your workflow. The bigger the file gets the laggier your design software will be.<\/p>\n At least that\u2019s how it is with Adobe software, including InDesign. Unless you have an incredibly powerful PC, you will constantly feel the software lagging and slowing down.<\/p>\n This is not something you have to worry about when using Affinity Publisher. It consumes fewer system resources and runs quite fast on even low-end computers. In fact, the software only requires 4GB of RAM for the software to function.<\/p>\n One area where Affinity Publisher excels is with its tools palette. Unlike InDesign, Affinity Publisher is not just a tool used for publishing print media. You can also use it for designing website mockups, branding designs, product labels, and even social media graphics.<\/p>\n The software also includes full color control with the ability to make non-destructive adjustments to images and photos without having to switch to a different graphic design app.<\/p>\n Being able to use pre-made templates is another important feature that has a direct connection to your workflow. With the right templates, you can create amazing designs in half the time and deliver professional results to clients.<\/p>\n You won\u2019t have to look far to find great-looking templates for your InDesign projects. There are thousands of InDesign templates<\/a> out there for all kinds of brochures, flyers, magazines, and more.<\/p>\nUser Interface & Ease Of Use<\/h2>\n
Go-To Choice Among Industry Professionals<\/h2>\n
Better Performance & Lightweight Design<\/h2>\n
Useful Design Tools for Advanced Users<\/h2>\n
Pre-Built Templates and Resources<\/h2>\n