Adobe Illustrator has established itself as the industry standard for vector graphics, dominating the market with its advanced features such as Repeat for Patterns, Shape Builder, and Global Edits. Today, it is the preferred design tool for over 60% of creative professionals worldwide.
Many users seek alternatives to Adobe Illustrator due to its high cost, platform limitations, or specific feature requirements. For those looking for more affordable options, simpler interfaces, or cross-platform compatibility, tools like Affinity Designer, CorelDRAW, and Inkscape provide diverse functionality and pricing models to suit various needs.
Geekflare has researched and compiled a list of the best Adobe Illustrator alternatives based on features such as vector editing capabilities, user interface and ease of use, file format compatibility, pricing, template availability, integration options, and overall performance.
- 1. Inkscape – Best for Open Source Vector Graphics
- 2. CoreIDRAW – Best for Vector Illustration
- 3. Vectr – Best for Browser-Based Vector Editing
- 4. GIMP – Best for High Quality Photo Manipulation
- 5. OpenOffice Draw – Best for Basic Vector Graphics and Diagrams
- 6. Linearity – Best for Animation Design
- 7. Affinity Designer 2 – Best for Logos and Brand Designing
- 8. Pixelied – All-in-One Design Suite Tool
- 9. Boxy SVG – Best for Editing SVG Files
- 10. Pixlr – Best for Free Online Photo Editing
- 11. Vecteezy Editor – Best for Template-Based Vector Editor
- 12. Sketch – Best for UI/UX design
- 13. Corel Vector – Best for Web-Based Vector Design
- 14. Xara Designer Pro+ – Best for Vector and Raster Graphics Editing
- Show less
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Inkscape
Best for Open Source Vector Graphics
Inkscape is a powerful, free vector graphics editor that lets users create and modify illustrations, logos, diagrams, and complex artwork. It excels at handling SVG files while supporting multiple formats, including AI, EPS, PDF, and PNG5.
Inkscape stands out with its versatile toolset, catering to both beginners and professionals. It offers tools for primitive shapes, Bezier curves, text paths, and bitmap tracing. The interface ensures precise object manipulation with features like layers, nodes, and paths.
Inkscape’s advanced node-editing features enable precise adjustments to vector objects, while the tweak tool allows effortless modifications across multiple elements at once. Its drawing tools, ideal for beginners, offer intuitive options like freehand sketching and calligraphy.
Being open-source, Inkscape benefits from continuous community development and offers extensive learning resources. The software runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux systems, making it versatile for vector graphics creation.
Inkscape Key Features
- Draw smooth curves and shapes that scale perfectly.
- Convert any text into artistic designs with a click.
- Choose from 250+ special effects for varied design works.
- Save your work in many formats, from web-ready to print-quality.
- Customize your workspace to match your creative style.
Has flexible drawing tools and pen tools that create bezier curves, spiro spline, etc
Free and open source with a customizable interface.
Supports broad file format compatibility including SVG, PNG, PDF, EPS, etc.
Does not support CMYK color format.
Slows down while handling complex projects.
Inkscape Pricing
Inkscape is completely free of cost.
CoreIDRAW
Best for Vector Illustration
CorelDRAW is widely recognized as a top vector graphics editor in design. It offers powerful tools for creating illustrations, logos, and industrial designs. It supports vector and bitmap image creation, with specialized features tailored to each format.
CorelDRAW leverages AI-powered tools like PowerTRACE for bitmap-to-vector conversion and LiveSketch for precise, intuitive drawing. Its user-friendly interface blends accessibility with professional features, including Bezier curves, mesh fills, and non-destructive effects, catering to beginners and experts.
CorelDRAW’s adaptability across multiple design domains sets it apart from others. Users can craft everything from simple logos to complex packaging designs. It supports variable fonts, customizable workspaces, and real-time duplication features.
For beginners, CorelDRAW offers a gentler learning curve compared to other professional graphics software while still maintaining advanced capabilities for experienced designers. The program runs on Windows, macOS, and previously supported Linux systems.
CorelDRAW Key Features
- Industry standard for vector graphics creation.
- Extensive design asset library.
- Advanced illustration and layout tools.
- Precise control over objects and effects.
- Professional output capabilities.
Turns basic shapes and lines into complex works of art.
Offer a rich library of templates, fonts, and clipart to speed up creative workflows.
Has powerful layer-based photo editing tools.
Lacks some advanced 3D design tools.
Present a steep learning curve for users new to professional graphic design tools.
Requires a relatively high initial cost compared to some competitors.
CorelDRAW Pricing
CorelDRAW subscription starts at $22.42 monthly.
Vectr
Best for Browser-Based Vector Editing
Vectr is an AI-powered online vector graphics platform that simplifies complex design tasks. It excels in vector conversions and collaborative design, offering real-time teamwork through easy URL sharing.
With an intuitive interface suitable for beginners and professionals, Vectr ensures cross-platform synchronization, keeping your projects accessible anytime, anywhere.
Vectr helps you create and edit vector images. It allows vectorizing an image and lets you save any jpg file as a vector. Its AI-powered tools deliver high-quality results for both print and display.
Vectr supports conversions like JPEG to SVG, AI to SVG, and text-to-image to image-to-vector formats. Compatible across Windows, macOS, Linux, Chromebooks, and web browsers, it delivers accessibility and convenience for all users.
Vectr Key Features
- AI-powered vector conversion tools for multiple file formats.
- Real-time collaboration with integrated chat functionality.
- Cross-platform synchronization across all devices.
- One-click background removal using advanced AI algorithms.
- Text-to-image conversion for quick graphic generation.
- Browser-based editor with Chrome optimization.
Creates scalable images without quality loss.
Enable real-time collaboration through cloud-based editing and sharing.
Allows real-time collaboration and seamless cross-platform syncing.
Get slows at times.
Lack of advanced features required for professional-grade graphic design.
Vectr Pricing
Paid plan starts at $3.99/month.
GIMP
Best for High-Quality Photo Manipulation
GIMP is a photo manipulation program with advanced features that allow you to perform tasks such as photo retouching, image composition, and image authoring. It offers a customizable interface enabling you to customize the view and behavior. It features a full-screen mode, allowing you to preview and edit your artwork using most of your screen estate.
GIMP can fix any distortion caused by the lens by simply choosing the correct transform tool. It gives you flexibility and does not let B/W photography get in your way. It includes unique hardware support for the input devices. It supports a wide range of file formats and allows the usage of special formats such as multi-color-depth Windows icon files.
GIMP has a transparent virtual file system that will enable you to save and load files from remote locations using protocols such as HTTP or FTP. It is supported on Linux, Microsoft Windows (7 or newer),macOS (10.12 or newer), Sun OpenSolaris, and FreeBSD.
GIMP Key Features
- Open-source raster graphics editor.
- Advanced photo editing tools (retouching, cropping, color correction).
- Supports layers, masks, and blending modes.
- Extensive format compatibility (JPEG, PNG, TIFF, PSD, etc.).
- Customizable interface and plugin support.
Provide advanced photo editing tools for image manipulation and retouching.
Include community support and detailed documentation for users.
Offers customizable interface and advanced photo enhancement tools.
Enable cross-platform compatibility for Windows, macOS, and Linux users.
Slower performance with large files.
Lack of built-in support for CMYK color mode
GIMP Pricing
GIMP is free to use.
OpenOffice Draw
Best for Basic Vector Graphics and Diagrams
OpenOffice Draw is an open-source vector graphics editor for creating photorealistic images with lighting effects, texture, and transparency. It supports exporting and importing a wide range of templates and document formats, enhancing flexibility and compatibility.
OpenOffice integrates with other OpenOffice tools, including a word processor (Writer), spreadsheet (Calc), equation editor, presentation software, and drawing programs.
OpenOffice Draw offers an autopilot guide to help you create complex documents. This tool allows you to create 3D objects like rings, spheres, or cubes. Smart connectors make diagramming and flowcharting very convenient. It is supported on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
OpenOffice Draw Key Features
- Vector graphics editor within the OpenOffice suite.
- Ideal for diagrams, flowcharts, and illustrations.
- Supports 3D object manipulation and rendering.
- Layer management for complex projects.
- Compatible with various formats (SVG, PDF, etc.).
Has a magnetic grid-point system and creative image manipulation tools.
Support exporting drawings in multiple formats, including PDF and SVG.
Enable customization of designs through layers, styles, and object linking.
Lacks advanced design features like Illustrator.
Outdated interface and limited file format support.
OpenOffice Draw Pricing
You can access OpenOffice Draw free of cost.
Linearity
Best for Animation Design
Linearity offers a powerful suite for graphic design and animation. With the newly introduced AI Grab feature, you can instantly separate objects from their backgrounds with a single tap, enabling you to create stunning digital collages by layering isolated elements effortlessly.
With Linearity, you can export multiple files at once and resize individual artboards in your new export screen. Its built-in sharing and collaboration tools help streamline team-based design projects.
Linearity is a unified creative suite tailored for Apple users. It combines vector design and animation with two integrated tools, Curve for design and Move for animation, enabling streamlined, professional-grade content creation. Teams can collaborate effortlessly in real-time via Linearity Cloud.
Linearity is fully compatible with macOS, iPad, and iPhone, making it a versatile choice for creators. It emphasizes a smooth workflow and integrates with tools like Adobe Creative Cloud, Figma, and Sketch.
Linearity Key Features
- AI-powered design tools for accelerated creative processes.
- Multi-language support covering 12 major languages globally.
- Seamless integration between design and animation workspaces.
- File compatibility with industry standards like Figma and Illustrator.
- Apple Pencil support for precise creative control.
Offer AI-powered tools such as Auto Animate and Background Removal to enhance productivity.
Support high-resolution exports, enabling video outputs up to 8K.
Maintain a user-friendly experience across MacOS and iOS devices.
Limit availability to Apple devices.
Offer limited features in the free version.
Linearity Pricing
The Pro plan of Linearity starts at $9.99/month.
Affinity Designer 2
Best for Logos and Brand Designing
Affinity Designer is an award-winning vector graphics software renowned for its speed and responsiveness, even with complex projects. It offers powerful organizational tools like layer groups and color tagging to manage thousands of objects. With a live outline view, it ensures precise selection and effortless navigation, all without any lag.
Affinity Designer allows you to add grains to your crisp vectors and enclose pixel layers. It contains various time-saving tools with functions to match your attributes for easy editing and grid setting. It also helps you set up planes, guides, link symbols, and customize keyboard shortcuts and constraints effortlessly.
With the usage of pixel preview mode, you can view your vector in both retina and standard resolution. This helps you achieve an utterly live view of how every element of your design will export. Affinity Designer’s cross-platform compatibility allows smooth transitions between iPad, Mac, and Windows.
Affinity Designer 2 Key Features
- Professional-grade vector and raster design tool.
- Seamless switching between vector and raster workspaces.
- Advanced tools like live gradients, real-time blending, and isometric grids.
- Non-destructive editing with history tracking.
- Cross-platform compatibility (Windows, macOS, iPad).
Professional output for digital, print, or collaboration.
Contains various sophisticated typography options.
Can achieve pixel-perfect designs every time.
Allows layout of all items across an unlimited number of artboards.
Lacks an auto-trace feature, which can limit specific workflows.
Performance is slower in Windows than in MacOS.
Affinity Designer 2 Pricing
Affinity Designer 2 offers a One-off payment of $69.99 for macOS and Windows users.
Pixelied
Best for All-in-One Design Suite Tool
Pixelied is an easy-to-use platform that offers a large selection of photo effects, templates, stock photos, and filters. It offers pre-made templates for various platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and even more niche channels like Etsy and Amazon Kindle.
Pixelied is an all-in-one digital design suite tailored for non-designers, simplifying complex tasks into a few clicks. It offers millions of stock photos and customizable templates, making it easy to create stunning visuals in minutes. Its intuitive tools and well-organized interface resemble a professional digital studio, ensuring a seamless design experience.
Pixelied allows users to create multiple workspaces, useful for managing multiple projects or teams. It includes custom illustrations and icons that can be used directly in designs. The interface resembles a well-organized digital studio. It is supported on Windows, Linux, and MacOS.
Pixelied Key Features
- One-click background removal with advanced editing capabilities.
- 4+ million royalty-free stock photos for unlimited creative possibilities.
- Brand workspace management for teamwork and asset work.
- Extensive template library covering all social media platforms.
- Built-in photo effects and filters for professional-looking results.
Provide a library of high-quality stock images and templates.
Contains real-time collaboration and Vector upload features.
Fast loading time and easy-to-use interface.
No animation support.
Limited background remover credits.
Pixelied Pricing
Pro plan starts at $47 annually.
Boxy SVG
Best for Editing SVG Files
Boxy SVG vector graphics editor has a clean and intuitive interface that is easy to handle for beginners. It supports a wide range of file formats for export and import. It allows integration with creative cloud storage services to save time and make it easier to access work from anywhere.
Boxy SVG can synchronize app preferences between multiple devices and automatically remove unused assets such as patterns or gradients. It is an offline app for macOS, Windows, and Linux users.
Boxy SVG Key Features
- Web-based SVG editor for vector graphics.
- Lightweight and user-friendly interface.
- Supports CSS styling and inline SVG editing.
- Ideal for icons, logos, and illustrations.
- Available as a desktop app and browser extension.
Mathematical control for SVG manipulation.
Support a wide range of export file formats like SVG, PDF, and PNG.
Images can be printed with high quality at any resolution.
Restrict animation tools, making them less suitable for motion graphics design.
SVG filters such as color tint or blur cannot be utilized.
Boxy SVG Pricing
Boxy SVG one-time plan is $9.99, and for the web apps, it’s $9.99 annually.
Pixlr
Best for Free Online Photo Editing
Pixlr offers a robust suite of generative AI and photo editing features. It has an intuitive user interface with various tools for quick enhancements and adjustments. It allows you to access various AI-powered features like smart selections and auto-fixes that can simplify your editing process.
Pixlr offers a wide range of templates that can make your project look more creative and unique. It supports various file formats, including PXD, JPEG, PSD (Photoshop), and PNG. You can easily remove backgrounds using BG removal and create transparent images with a simple tap.
Free and premium plans ensure affordability and feature flexibility, making Pixlr a go-to choice for quick, professional-grade editing within a web browser. It is supported on Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS.
Pixlr Key Features
- Online photo editor with AI-powered features.
- Supports layers, blending modes, and filters.
- Works directly in the browser; no installation is needed.
Extensive Library of stock images.
Feature a wide variety of filters, effects, and templates to enhance creativity.
Contains an extensive database of copyright-free images for background use.
Limited advanced features compared to Photoshop.
Requires flash for some outdated functions.
Pixlr Pricing
Pixlr offers a 7-day free trial, and the monthly subscription starts at $0.99.
Vecteezy Editor
Best for Template-Based Vector Editor
Vecteezy Editor is a versatile SVG customization tool that offers intuitive features like an extensive image library, image tracing, and flexible licensing options. It allows users to easily customize designs, offering features like drag-and-drop functionality, color adjustments, and text editing.
Vecteezy provides a vast collection of images, vectors, and videos, making it an essential tool for maintaining brand consistency. It offers convenient resource bundles for bulk downloads, saving time and effort. Its built-in editing tool features intuitive shapes and fully customizable templates, empowering users to easily create professional visuals.
Vecteezy Editor is perfect for quick, high-quality designs, offering both free and premium options. It is supported on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Vecteezy Editor Key Features
- Simplified interface for beginners.
- Extensive library of templates, icons, and illustrations.
- Quick export options (SVG, PNG).
- Ideal for social media graphics and web illustrations.
No minimum usage requirements.
Offer a vast library of pre-designed templates and stock illustrations.
Convenient browser-based editing.
Contains limited free vectors.
Constantly redirects users to Shutterstock.
Vecteezy Editor Pricing
The monthly subscription to Vecteezy Editor starts at $7 monthly.
Sketch
Best for UI/UX design
Sketch contains various vector shape sets, such as rectangles, ovals, arrows, triangles, or polygons. It helps to create a new shape from two or more shapes with non-destructive boolean operations. You can snap your vector points to full, quarter, or half pixels or disable snapping entirely. It supports P3 and sRGB displays.
Sketch allows you to layer styles and blend modes with multiple gradient fills. In addition, it supports bitmap images and provides image dimensions to be reset. Use math operators to resize and reposition your artboards and layers easily. It has an auto-responsive feature that allows you to control an element’s fixed height or width manually. Sketch only works on macOS.
Sketch Key Features
- Mac-exclusive vector design software.
- Popular for UI/UX design and prototyping.
- Collaborative features for design teams.
- Extensive plugin ecosystem for extended functionality.
- Clean and intuitive user interface.
Contains real-time editing and shared libraries.
Integrate well with third-party plugins and tools for enhanced functionality.
Provides precise vector editing capabilities.
Offers robust prototyping capabilities for creating interactive designs.
Only available for Mac users.
Depend heavily on plugins for advanced features.
Sketch Pricing
The standard subscription to Sketch starts at $12 monthly and offers a 30-day free trial.
Corel Vector
Best for Web-Based Vector Design
Corel Vector offers a responsive design that allows texts and images to appear on phones and desktops. It contains a variety of creative tools for creating shapes, points, and lines and manipulating vector paths.
Corel Vector provides nondestructive editing, like a live boolean operation that allows you to create complex shapes. You can even edit them later without destroying the original. It includes AI-powered features like LiveSketch that allow sketching with vector accuracy.
Corel Vector has various tools for adjusting lighting and color, blending, and filters. It is perfect for creating layouts as it can be scaled to any size without losing resolution. It is supported on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Chrome OS.
Corel Vector Key Features
- Cloud-based vector graphic design tool.
- Advanced pen and shape tools for detailed designs.
- Export options include SVG, PDF, PNG, and more.
- Ideal for branding, marketing materials, and web design.
Occupies smaller storage space than raster images.
Appear in different-sized devices without distortion.
Supports custom fonts.
Include pre-designed templates to help users start projects quickly.
Not suitable for complex graphic displays.
Less supported by web browsers than raster graphics.
Corel Vector Pricing
Corel Vector’s paid plan starts at $69.99 annually.
Xara Designer Pro+
Best for All-in-One Graphic and Web Design
Xara Designer Pro+ offers a comprehensive suite of illustration tools, including feathering, shadows, fills, blending, and 3D extrusion, making it ideal for diverse creative projects. This versatile graphic design software is tailored for professionals and creatives, providing an all-in-one solution for vector design, photo editing, page layout, and web design.
Xara Designer Pro+ offers advanced text handling features such as autofitting text. It provides improved rules of sizing and anchoring in repeating objects. The intelligent duplicate feature allows users to quickly create multiple copies of objects with a single drag click.
Xara Designer Pro+ has a steep learning curve and uses compression techniques to make the files up to 10 times smaller. The online content catalog provides a variety of print templates, graphics, and stock photos. It contains ready-made sliders, HD players for pictures and videos, and interactive galleries. It is supported on Windows.
Xara Designer Pro+ Key Features
- All-in-one design solution for vector and raster graphics.
- Advanced typography, 3D extrusion, and photo editing tools.
- Drag-and-drop functionality for ease of use.
- Non-destructive editing with real-time updates.
- Supports both print and web graphic creation.
Intuitive drag-and-drop interface with no coding required.
Offers a wide range of templates for web and print.
Includes powerful photo retouching and over 130 filters.
Support collaboration through cloud-based editing and file sharing.
Limited compatibility with Mac OS.
Challenging for beginners to master all features.
Xara Designer Pro+ Pricing
Paid plan starts at $16 monthly.
Features to Consider When Choosing Alternatives to Adobe Illustrator
When choosing alternatives to Adobe Illustrator, it’s important to evaluate several features to ensure the tool meets your design needs. Here are the key features to consider:
- Easy Content Sharing: Features that enable users to share content with team members effectively and enhance collaboration.
- Basic Tool Set: All the standard tools and tools required for designing triumph and vector images.
- User-Friendly Design Tools: Clean and user-friendly UX design that improves productivity level.
- Enhancing Interactive Tools: Some features suggest better ways to enhance the design for users who can see it.
- Variety of Templates: Templates for different types of media assets to make it easier to complete the above headings.
- Affordable and Flexible Subscriptions: Pricing models that offer both affordability and flexibility to fit various budget needs.