Adobe Illustrator alternatives are apps that offer capabilities similar to the popular, vector-based software developed by Adobe Inc. Adobe Illustrator is the graphic design standard for creating logos, drawings, icons, and other types of illustrations.
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Although Adobe Illustrator is highly functional, it can be expensive and a bit intimidating for beginners. Some potential users might be deterred by its more complex user interface (UI) and the Adobe Creative Cloud’s subscription cost ($31.49 with a monthly subscription or $239.88 for a yearly subscription).
Fortunately, there are many free or lower-cost alternatives with intuitive interfaces that offer similar functions and the benefits of cloud computing. While there are many alternatives for vector-based software, each may offer different capabilities—from simple image-manipulating tools to an all-in-one toolkit for vector illustration, typography, and photo editing—so it’s important to choose the right option for your task.
Best Adobe Illustrator alternatives
Depending on your project needs, experience level, and budget, the important things to compare when choosing graphic design software include the variety of output formats, easy vector conversion, color management, and photo editing tools as well as price.
With these essentials in mind, here are 9 of the best Adobe Illustrator alternatives:
1. Inkscape
Inkscape is an open-source vector editor and it is available for free. It operates on Windows, macOS, and Linux and supports a wide range of design formats, including Adobe Illustrator’s AI format, Boxy SVG format, and CorelDRAW’s CDR format, among others. Its core format allows it to run well even on low-end computers.
Its variety of features makes it a useful tool for both artistic and technical illustrations for designers of all kinds. Also, being open-source means that technically skilled users can customize some features and incorporate the app into other software.
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Price: Free
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Operating systems: macOS, Windows, Linux
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Project goals: Object creation and manipulation. Export PDFs with clickable links and metadata. Use across a variety of industries including marketing/branding, engineering/CAD, web graphics, and cartooning.
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Compatible formats: SVG, PNG, JPG, PDF, PSD, EPS, TIFF, AI and EXR
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Convert bitmap: Yes
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Core features: Open-source. Vectorize line drawings in the “Trace Bitmap” dialog. Live Path Effects (LPEs) including “Offset,” “PowerClip” and “PowerMask. Node editing. Duplicate guides, corners, and hairlines for technical drawings. Flexible canvas with “X-ray” and “Split-view” modes for more freestyle drawing.
2. Vectr
The purpose of Vectr is to create an easy-to-learn and easy-to-use alternative to Adobe Illustrator. It is available free of charge as a downloadable desktop app and in-browser, making it the ideal tool for beginners or those who only need to create basic designs for logos and illustrations. It has basic vector editing features, like shape creation, multiple design layers, and text, among others. The resulting designs can either be saved online or exported locally.
Details:
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Price: Free
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Operating systems: web browser, Windows, Linux, Chromebook
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Project goals: Create any 2D graphic for logos, icons, illustrations, websites, resumes, business cards, greeting cards, brochures, presentations, and more.
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Compatible formats: SVG, PNG, JPG
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Convert bitmap: Yes
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Core features: Super-simple vector editing. Perfect for beginners. Intuitive interface. Collaborate with multiple people by sharing a bespoke URL for each image.
3. Apache OpenOffice Draw
OpenOffice is a free office software bundle that can be used without any restrictions whatsoever. Its Draw product is an easy-to-use application that allows users to create various charts, graphics, diagrams, and posters, including 3D designs.
Although it lacks some of the most complex functions of Adobe Illustrator and some of its alternatives, its free-to-use policy and accessible interface make it a viable alternative for basic users. Also notable, OpenOffice is standards-compliant and is the first software package in the world to use ISO-approved OASIS OpenDocument Format (ISO/IEC 26300) as its native file format.
Details:
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Price: Free
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Operating systems: macOS, Windows, Linux
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Project goals: Produce everything from simple diagrams to dynamic 3D illustrations. Draw a quick sketch or a complex plan for technical or general posters, business processes, and diagrams.
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Compatible formats: PNG, JPG, GIF, TIFF, BMP and WMF
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Convert bitmap: Yes
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Core features: Maximum page size of 300cm by 300cm. Smart connectors for flowcharts, organizational charts, network diagrams, floor plans, etc. Dimension lines automatically calculate and display linear dimensions as you draw. Manipulate objects by rotating in two or three dimensions. Use the 3D controller to create spheres, cubes, etc. Gallery for clipart. Create Flash (.swf) versions of your work.
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4. GIMP
Although GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is more focused on image manipulation and has relatively limited back-end vector function, it features a highly customizable interface and third-party plugins, which qualifies it as an Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Photoshop replacement for some users. It is a free and open-source platform, and its sophisticated features make it a powerful design tool for desktop users.
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Price: Free
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Operating systems: macOS, Windows, GNU/Linux, Sun OpenSolaris, FreeBSD
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Project goals: Photo retouching, image composition, image authoring, and graphics manipulation.
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Compatible formats: PNG, JPG, GIF, TIFF, PDF, HEIF, BMP and DDS
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Convert bitmap: No
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Core features: Photo enhancement: fix perspective distortion with corrective mode; eliminate barrel distortion and vignetting with a powerful filter; adjust B/W photography with the channel mixer. Digital retouching. “Negative Darkroom” operation to simulate enlargement prints from scans of photographic negatives. Customizable interface.
5. Pixlr
Pixlr is a cloud-based software that’s a good pick for designers who are constantly on the go, as it supports mobile, desktop, and web-based platforms. Being a Software-as-a-Service product makes it a very accessible tool because it doesn’t have to rely on your computer’s processing and graphics rendering power. It utilizes the cloud’s hardware and processing speed instead.
Although it lacks some of Adobe Illustrator’s most advanced functions, its widespread support and user interface make it a good alternative that can also replace Adobe Photoshop.
Details:
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Price: Freemium — Basic access: Free / Premium: $7.99 per month, Team (up to 5 seats) $12.99 per month (discounts for yearly plans)
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Operating system: Web browser
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Project goals: Photo editing and graphic design. Edit photos on your mobile device.
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Compatible formats: SVG, PNG, JPG, PSD, PXD and WebP
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Convert bitmap: Yes
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Core features: Two online versions: Pixlr X (for quick edits and beginners) and Pixlr E (for advanced edits and pros) supported by ads. AI-powered tool (Pixlr BG) for automatic and free image background removal. Simple steps to achieve aesthetic photo effects. Library of stickers, overlays, borders, and decorative texts.
6. Vecteezy
Vecteezy allows users to create their own vector designs or choose from Vecteezy’s library of stock images. Its clean UI and simplified processes reduce the learning curve and make it a very useful tool for those who lack graphic design experience.
The free version is integrated into the web for a streamlined experience and includes enough options and features for beginners and pros. The paid Pro subscription adds access to Vecteezy’s entire collection of vector images, photos, and videos with unlimited downloads, plus a Pro license for full commercial rights to use their images.
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Price: Freemium — Basic version: Free / Pro subscription with unlimited images and videos: $14 per month or $108 per year / Pro Extended license add-on to Pro subscription: $99
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Operating system: Web browser
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Project goals: Edit SVG files. Online resource for free, professional-quality vector art, fresh stock photos, and videos to jumpstart your projects. Customize Vecteezy content before downloading it, or create your own vector designs.
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Compatible formats: SVG, PNG
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Convert bitmap: (Only with paid Pro subscription)
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Core features: Millions of free resources. Easy for beginners but powerful enough for professionals. (If you don’t want to subscribe to a Pro account, you can still “pay as you go” for individual Pro image downloads.)
7. Boxy SVG
Boxy SVG is available free of charge as a desktop app for Linux, but a paid subscription gives access to a Google Chrome extension making the web app compatible on any device and operating system.
It is a very suitable tool for beginners because of the simplicity of its UI, narrowing down the list of options to only include the fundamental features. Overall, it is easier to work with than Adobe Illustrator and its uncomplicated interface means it’s also simple to master.
Details:
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Price: 15-day free trial. Linux desktop app: Free / macOS desktop app: $19.99 / Cloud-based web app: $9.99 per year for a standard subscription or $99.99 per year for a premium subscription
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Operating systems: Linux, macOS, Windows, web browser
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Project goals: Create and stylize icons, charts, and illustrations with an SVG editor.
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Compatible formats: SVG, SVGZ, PNG, JPG, GIF, WebP, PDF and HTML
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Convert bitmap: Yes
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Core features: Integration with Open Clip Art Library, Pixabay stock photos, and Google Fonts. 100+ keyboard commands. “Vectorize,” “pixelate,” “triangulate” and “primitivize” generators for converting bitmap images to vector artwork using various effects. Tools for web developers.
8. Affinity Designer
Launched in 2014 and available for Windows, macOS, and iOS, Affinity Designer is a popular Adobe Illustrator alternative. The biggest selling point of Affinity Designer is its interface, which allows the user to create in three distinct personas: Designer Persona, Pixel Persona, and Export Persona.
Experienced Adobe users will enjoy easily switching between vector, pixel, and export modes, making Affinity Designer a mix between Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop.
Details:
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Price: 30-day free trial. Cost: $40.99 (for Windows and macOS) or $11.99 for iPad. No monthly subscription fees.
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Operating systems: Windows, macOS, iOS
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Project goals: Work on large documents, organize with layer groups and color tagging, and create unique illustrations with vector and raster tools.
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Compatible formats: SVG, JPG, PDF, PSD, TIFF, AI and EXR
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Convert bitmap: Yes
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Core features: Unlimited artboards. Create custom document setups and templates. Create new documents from delivery-ready presets. Advanced grids, snapping, and alignment. Customizable keyboard shortcuts. CMYK, 16-bit and 32-bit RGB, Pantone, ICC profiles.
9. CorelDRAW
Initially launched over three decades ago, CorelDRAW is probably the most well-known Adobe Illustrator alternative. It is a cross-platform app available on Windows and macOS and offers similar design possibilities to Adobe’s app but with a completely different interface and overall approach.
CorelDRAW is slightly more affordable than Adobe Illustrator, but it is more expensive than all of the other options on this list.
Details:
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Price 15-day free trial. Graphics Suite subscription: $16.58 per month / $269 per year / One-time purchase: $424
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Operating systems: macOS, iOS, Windows, web browser
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Project goals: Vector illustration and page layout, image editing and pixel-based design, bitmap-to-vector tracing, RAW photo editing
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Compatible formats: SVG, PNG, JPG, PDF, PSD, AI, DWG, DXF, EPS, TIFF and HEIF
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Convert bitmap: Yes
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Core features: Compatible with other tools in the CorelDRAW Graphics Suite. Multipage view. Draw in perspective. Export multiple assets with one click. New and improved “Replace Colors” filter. 7,000 clipart, digital images, and vehicle wrap templates. Over 1,000 TrueType and OpenType fonts. Over 600 fountain, vector, and bitmap fills.
Pro tip: If you’re interested in testing Adobe Illustrator, you can get a free, seven-day trial of the full version. To do this, simply go to the Adobe Illustrator product page and click the “Try for free” button. You must sign in or set up an Adobe ID. This trial works on macOS, iOS for iPad, and Windows. If you don’t cancel before the trial period ends, you will be billed automatically for a paid Creative Cloud membership.
I hope you find this article helpful.
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