I'm a creative software editor - and these are the 8 most exciting updates that made content creation even easier in 2025
The best updates I saw in the creative apps space this year, from editing on your phone to designing websites with AI
· TechRadarFeatures By Steve Clark published 30 December 2025
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It’s been a big year for digital creativity. As the creative software editor for TechRadar Pro, I’ve spent the last 12 months covering a seemingly relentless stream of updates, beta launches, platform overhauls, and the maturing of AI tools from nice-to-haves to essential for professional workflows. And these are the 8 most exciting updates I've seen in 2025.
From one of the best photo editors becoming completely free to the arrival of generative AI models that seamlessly integrate into existing pipelines, the creative apps space continues to dramatically shift. These new tools mean it's never been easier to ideate, generate, and collaborate on creative endeavours - whether you're a solo content creator or a creative professional working in a team.
The barrier to entry is dropping just as the ceiling for quality is rising. While I can't wait to see what 2026 brings. But for now, these are the stand-out updates for creative software that defined the year.
Affinity goes free
Probably the best news I covered all year - Affinity is now completely free for everyone (and if you're paying a Canva Pro subscription, you get a few more tools, too).
Rumors started long before the reveal, when the site blocked the ability to purchase its apps, followed by making all apps free for iPad users. Then came the news that, yes, all Affinity apps were being rolled into a single platform and that they'd be free for all.
Affinity Photo, Publisher, and Designer have long been one of my favorite alternatives to Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator. It may not be quite as feature-rich as Adobe's own creative software, but it'll tick all the boxes for most creators.
Considering what's on offer - and what I expect to see coming in 2026 - I still can't quite believe it. But it's not one to be missed. Affinity CEO Ash Hewson explained to TechRadar Pro his reasoning for scrapping all lifetime licenses in this article.
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