Illustrator AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Digital Painting Tools

The best Digital Painting alternative to Adobe Illustrator is Inkscape, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Adobe Illustrator and many of them are Digital Painting Tools so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Digital Painting Tool alternatives to Adobe Illustrator are Affinity Designer, Linearity Curve, Figma and CorelDRAW Graphics Suite.

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Adobe Illustrator alternatives are mainly Digital Painting Tools, but if you're looking for Vector Graphic Apps or Image Editors you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Open Source, Mac, Free, Windows + Free, Android, Linux and iPad. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Adobe Illustrator.
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Alternatives list

  1. Inkscape icon

    Inkscape

     2292 likes
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    Unlike Illustrator, Inkscape is completely free and open source, and it uses Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) as its native format. This lightweight app is usually recommended if you don't have a powerful computer, as it also has many of the useful features from illustrator, including layers, grouping objects, drawing, shape, calligraphy, pencil tools, path simplification with variable threshold, bitmaps, and boolean operations. Plus, you can open or import a wide range of file formats including SVG, PDF, EPS, CDR, or even AI (Adobe Illustrator).

    122 Inkscape alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    Inkscape screenshot 1
     
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    548
    Comments about Inkscape as an Alternative to Adobe Illustrator
    Comment summary: Adobe Illustrator is praised for its comprehensive features and professional capabilities in vector art but criticized for slowing down with large files. Alternatively, Inkscape is appreciated for being free, open-source, and user-friendly with a robust SVG support. However, it faces criticism for performance issues, especially on macOS, and lacks some advanced features available in Illustrator. Despite its limitations, many consider Inkscape capable and recommend it for SVG-related projects.
    Top Positive Comment
    Paulo Coghi
    13

    It's feature complete, professional and as capable (or even more capable) than Illustrator

    Top Negative Comment
    arlenwh
    0

    Slows Down and lags if the file your working on is too large. So if you go ahead and turn a bitmap image into a vector and that image requires too many paths. The application basically becomes useless. Look else where if you need to turn large bitmap images into vector images.

    Guest
    Negative
    0

    I love how fast it operates and some of the cool color palettes (Munsell) but the functionality made it almost useless. Too many steps to change and quick copy objects. Like changing font or color and weird tool names/keyboard shortcuts.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
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    3 of 38 comments
    Adobe Illustrator Icon
    Inkscape icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Inkscape is a great Adobe Illustrator alternative.

    • Inkscape is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Adobe Illustrator.

    • Inkscape is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Adobe Illustrator.

    • Inkscape is Free and Open SourceAdobe Illustrator is Paid and Proprietary
    • Inkscape is Customizable, Privacy focused and LightweightAdobe Illustrator is not according to our users
  2. Affinity Designer icon

    Affinity Designer

     382 likes
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    Affinity Designer is fairly new when compared to the more popular vector editing apps, however it has gradually grown in popularity and influence, and for very good reasons. Its one time purchase (perpetual license) turns out to be a good argument for those who do not want to to pay a monthly subscription fee like Adobe's. In addition, it's available on iPad with an app that has ALL the features from the desktop version, which makes it probably the most complete vector editing mobile app on the market. It also has some unique features that Illustrator doesn't, like the ability to switch between raster and vector workspaces within the same tool, one million+ percent zoom, and unlimited redo.

    62 Affinity Designer alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • iPad
    Affinity Designer screenshot 1
     
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    29
    343
    Comments about Affinity Designer as an Alternative to Adobe Illustrator
    Comment summary: Affinity Designer is praised for its affordability, one-time purchase model, and comprehensive features that rival Adobe Illustrator. Users highlight its ease of use, high performance, and seamless integration with other Affinity apps. Its auto-export feature, responsive developers, and absence of subscription fees stand out as notable benefits. While it lacks some specific features like Object Blend, many consider it a superior alternative for both casual and professional users.
    Top Positive Comment
    Paul
    5

    Affinity Designer is faster, cheaper and can handle bitmap and vector illustrations. I finally got rid of Adobe.

    Jonathan Jewell
    Positive
    0

    Far and away the best of these tools. The Serif/Affinity product is so underrated with the dominance of Adobe out there. I cannot see why anyone not locked into a service contract or who did not need the wider Adobe product suite functionality would stay with them at the price with alternatives like Affinity out there. And they haven't had a password breach that I know in the past two decades I have been with them as a customer...

    Du
    Positive
    1

    I especially enjoy auto export feature, when changes in artboards are immediately exported to a custom set of formats. Just change the design, and your jpegs, pngs and pdfs of your preferred resolutions are already there, ready to use. A treat for web design, but also very useful for 3d modelling textures and decals.

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    3 of 29 comments
    Adobe Illustrator Icon
    Affinity Designer icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Affinity Designer is a great Adobe Illustrator alternative.

    • Affinity Designer is the most popular iPad alternative to Adobe Illustrator.

    • Affinity Designer is the most popular commercial alternative to Adobe Illustrator.

    • Affinity Designer is Paid and ProprietaryAdobe Illustrator is also Paid and Proprietary
  4. Linearity Curve icon

    Linearity Curve

     354 likes
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    Vectonator is a very complete free vector editing app, known mainly for its iPad apps, focusing on simplicity and ease of use. You can export to JPG, PNG, SVG and PDF. Also, unlike Illustrator, you can render a time-lapse video of your project to share on social media (with some limitations). Cloud syncing allows you to continue work started on iPad and finish it directly on macOS.

    39 Linearity Curve alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Linearity Curve screenshot 1
     
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    1
    249
    Comments about Linearity Curve as an Alternative to Adobe Illustrator
    FearedFusionX
    Negative
    1

    This used to be a great app for both Mac and iOS, but ever since the subscription update, the app has been reaching it's breaking point.

    Adobe Illustrator Icon
    Linearity Curve icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Linearity Curve is a great Adobe Illustrator alternative.

    • Linearity Curve is the most popular iPhone alternative to Adobe Illustrator.

    • Linearity Curve is Freemium and ProprietaryAdobe Illustrator is Paid and Proprietary
    • Linearity Curve is Lightweight and Privacy focusedAdobe Illustrator is not according to our users
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    Xara Photo & Graphic Designer icon
    Xara Photo & Graphic Designer

    Xara Photo & Graphic Designer, formerly Xara Xtreme, is a fast graphics software with versatile illustration tools and advanced photo management. It streamlines creative tasks, allowing users to retouch images, create social ...

    https://www.xara.com
    Learn More
  6. Figma icon

    Figma

     236 likes
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    Figma has a bigger focus on UI design, wireframing and collaborative work. Like Sketch, its interface is cleaner and easier to understand than Illustrator. It's can also be used throught web browsers and collabore with more members of your team in real time. It features automatic cloud synchronization so you can use your files on the platform you want, in addition to unique features such as arc tools and vector networks, which allow non-designers to format their templates easily. Animated prototypes are definitely a great advantage to interact with your design before coding.

    96 Figma alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Chrome OS
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    ,
     
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    37
    Comments about Figma as an Alternative to Adobe Illustrator
    RCLeahcar
    Negative
    8

    Figma places a heavier focus on user interface design, while Illustrator is a general vector graphics editor.

    Guest
    Positive
    1

    With a focus on UI, it is a much better tool to use for UI design and prototyping

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Adobe Illustrator Icon
    Figma icon

    • Most users think Figma is a great Adobe Illustrator alternative.

    • Figma is the most popular Web-based, Android, SaaS & Android Tablet alternative to Adobe Illustrator.

    • Figma is Freemium and ProprietaryAdobe Illustrator is Paid and Proprietary
  7. CorelDRAW Graphics Suite icon

    CorelDRAW Graphics Suite

     215 likes
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    It is one of the oldest and most reliable vector tools in the industry, not only offering excellent performance, but also providing an intuitive interface that's ideal for any beginner designers. Different from Illustrator, you can choose to pay a monthly subscription or obtain a license through a one-time purchase (although a bit expensive), which will include other compatible Corel design software such as Photo-Paint (Corel's alternative to Photoshop), as well as a font manager and content organization applications. CorelDRAW lets you edit multi-page documents, non-destructively convert bitmaps to vectors, and create QR codes.

    87 CorelDRAW Graphics Suite alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    CorelDRAW Graphics Suite screenshot 1
     
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    49
    Comments about CorelDRAW Graphics Suite as an Alternative to Adobe Illustrator
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    The first vector illustrator I ever used. Sadly not available on the Mac

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    It's much easier to use and understand. It gives the average user a quicker grasp of editing and creating graphics. It is also less greedy with RAM.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Compatibility with .ai files, is a vector manipulator. Includes a "Hairline" stroke weight, which is very useful for certain applications. One-time license purchase

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Adobe Illustrator Icon
    CorelDRAW Graphics Suite icon

    • Almost everyone thinks CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is a great Adobe Illustrator alternative.

    • CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is Paid and ProprietaryAdobe Illustrator is also Paid and Proprietary
    • CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is CustomizableAdobe Illustrator is not according to our users
  8. MyPaint icon

    MyPaint

     387 likes
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    The biggest difference with Illustrator is that MyPaint works with bitmaps instead of vector graphics. It's open source software designed mainly to illustrate and draw with a digitizer tablet. It has a simple interface, where almost all the basic drawing functions are assigned to keyboard shortcuts, which improves workflow speed. In addition, you can hide the entire graphical interface and focus all attention on the drawing without being distracted by unnecessary or complex buttons or palettes. It's a good option if you are interested in digital illustration without too many overwhelming features.

    126 MyPaint alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • PortableApps.com
    MyPaint screenshot 1
     
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    5
    Comments about MyPaint as an Alternative to Adobe Illustrator
    Top Positive Comment
    Dmitrii Kunicin
    -2

    the application is suitable for use by children, simple

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Top Negative Comment
    lauraess
    2

    Illustrator is a vector image editing app. I can import bitmaps but those are more likely to be traced as vectors. This is a drawing program and is bitmap based.

    mackenziecarr
    Negative
    1

    It is more accurately considered an alternative to Adobe Photoshop rather than Illustrator, due to the distinguishing features of raster graphics editing in Photoshop versus vector graphics editing in Illustrator.

    Show more comments
    3 of 5 comments
    Adobe Illustrator Icon
    MyPaint icon

    • This alternative is disputed. MyPaint is a legitimate Adobe Illustrator alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.

    • MyPaint is Free and Open SourceAdobe Illustrator is Paid and Proprietary
  10. Karbon icon

    Karbon

     56 likes
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    Karbon is a vector drawing application with a user interface that is easy to use, highly customizable and extensible. That makes Karbon a great application for users starting to explore the world of vector graphics as well as for artists wanting to create breathtaking vector art.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • KDE Plasma
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Karbon screenshot 1
     
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    18
  11. LazPaint icon

    LazPaint

     45 likes
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    Raster & vector graphic editor with many tools and filters, written in Lazarus. Portable, 32bit & 64bit versions, ORA format & 16384x16384 image support. In app 3D import & rendering.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Main UI
     
  12. Xara Designer Pro icon

    Xara Designer Pro

     32 likes
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    Xara Designer Pro offers tools for illustration, photo editing, and desktop publishing, with exceptional vector design capabilities. Suitable for billboards, business cards, and more, it supports diverse file formats, provides abundant templates, and powers web design and prototyping without coding.

    Cost / License

    • Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Xara Designer Pro screenshot 1
     
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    2
    9
    Comments about Xara Designer Pro as an Alternative to Adobe Illustrator
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Xara is avey intuïtive and fast drawing application that can do print, websites, animation, DTP, bitmaps and everything you would could ask from a graphic program.

    The possibilities are endless considiering it flawless combines vector editing with bitmaps.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Extremely fast and better with bitmaps than Illustrator

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Adobe Illustrator Icon
    Xara Designer Pro icon

    • Most users think Xara Designer Pro is a great Adobe Illustrator alternative.

    • Xara Designer Pro is Paid and ProprietaryAdobe Illustrator is also Paid and Proprietary
    • Xara Designer Pro is LightweightAdobe Illustrator is not according to our users
  14. Amadine icon

    Amadine

     6 likes
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    Amadine is a macOS vector graphics app designed for both beginners and pros, offering a user-friendly interface, precision design tools, multiple layers, and a seamless workflow. It's developed by BeLight Software, emphasizing intuitive use and versatile creativity.

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Amadine screenshot 1
     
  15. Sumo Paint icon

    Sumo Paint

     74 likes
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    Sumo Paint is a powerful image editor with a long-standing history as a fully capable Photoshop clone in the browser. Being designed for the browser, it's accessible on practically any system and loads much faster than most comparable desktop tools while still providing core...

    107 Sumo Paint alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    Sumo Paint screenshot 1
     
12 of 22 Adobe Illustrator alternatives