The Best Free Illustrator AlternativesTop Vector Graphic Apps & Digital Painting Tools like Illustrator

The best free alternative to Adobe Illustrator is Inkscape, which is also Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Adobe Illustrator and loads of them is free so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting free alternatives to Adobe Illustrator are Linearity Curve, Figma, Graphite and MyPaint.

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Adobe Illustrator alternatives are mainly Vector Graphic Apps, but if you're looking for Graphic Design Tools or Image Editors you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Online + Free. 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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Vector graphics editor with advanced color controls and creative effects for comprehensive design tools across print, web, and mobile content.

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Adobe Illustrator alternatives page was last updated Apr 1, 2025
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  1. Inkscape icon
     2251 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

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku

    Properties

    1.  Customizable
    2.  Scalable
    3.  Privacy focused
    4.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Support for Layers
    2.  Vectorize raster images
    3.  Support for SVG
    4.  Live Path Effects
    5.  Support for Keyboard Shortcuts
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Export to SVG
    9.  Edit PDF
    10.  High-resolution images
    11.  Visual Editing
    12.  Symbols

    Inkscape VS Adobe Illustrator

     
    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
    Nov 24, 2021
    13

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

    Top Negative Comment
    arlenwh
    Mar 18, 2023
    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.

    Most Recent Comment
    qlowf
    Positive Apr 1, 2025
    0
    1. Free.
    2. Extremely capable.
    3. Runs great on all kinds of hardware, even those with lower specs.
    4. Cross-platform.
    5. Did I mention it's free?
    6. Some things it actually does better. However, there are also a few missing features for very specific cases.

    Biggest hurdle is orienting yourself when coming from Illustrator, but it's more than worth the adjustment.

    Logos by Nick is a great resource, he has tons of tutorials.

    https://www.youtube.com/@LogosByNick

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    3 of 36 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 and Privacy focusedAdobe Illustrator is not according to our users
  2. Linearity Curve icon
     351 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.

    35 Linearity Curve alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Intuitive Interface

    Features

    1.  Vector strokes
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  Artboards
    4.  Vector painting
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Vectorize raster images
    7.  Drawing Tablet Support
    8.  Support for Layers
    9.  Live Preview
    10.  No Coding Required
    11.  Hardware Accelerated
    12.  Dark Mode

    Linearity Curve VS Adobe Illustrator

     
    Comments about Linearity Curve as an Alternative to Adobe Illustrator
    FearedFusionX
    Negative Oct 9, 2024
    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
  3. Figma icon
     221 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.

    86 Figma alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Chrome OS
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • iPhone
    • iPad

    Top Figma Features

    1.  Prototyping
    2.  UI Design
    3. Sketch icon  Import from Sketch
    4.  Wireframing
    5.  Cross-Platform
    6.  Brainstorming
    7.  Export to SVG
    8.  Cloud Sync
    9.  Support for Layers
    10.  Create UI Components
    11.  Design handoff
    12.  Auto Layout

    Figma VS Adobe Illustrator

     
    Comments about Figma as an Alternative to Adobe Illustrator
    RCLeahcar
    Negative Aug 16, 2020
    8

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

    Guest
    Positive Oct 22, 2020
    1

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

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

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

    • Figma is Freemium and ProprietaryAdobe Illustrator is Paid and Proprietary
  4. Graphite icon
     73 likes
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    Graphite is a free, open source vector and raster graphics editor, available now in alpha. Get creative with a fully nondestructive editing workflow that combines layer-based compositing with node-based generative design.

    52 Graphite alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Online

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  Support for Layers
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Non Destructive Editing
    5.  Export to SVG
    6.  Node Based
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  Live Preview
    9.  No registration required
    10.  Text to Image Generation
    11.  WYSIWYG Support

    Graphite VS Adobe Illustrator

     
    Comments about Graphite as an Alternative to Adobe Illustrator
    Guest
    Positive Aug 6, 2024
    1

    Its goal to be all in one tools and the vision is really good. But it's under the development.

    Adobe Illustrator Icon
    Graphite icon
    • Graphite is Free and Open SourceAdobe Illustrator is Paid and Proprietary
    • Graphite is Lightweight and Privacy focusedAdobe Illustrator is not according to our users
  5. MyPaint icon
     380 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.

    121 MyPaint alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • CH flagSwitzerland

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • PortableApps.com

    Properties

    1.  Distraction-free

    Features

    1.  Sketching
    2.  Support for Layers
    3.  Infinite canvas
    4.  Portable
    5.  Drawing Tablet Support
    6.  Fullscreen support
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  No registration required
    9.  Custom Brushes
    10.  Color blending

    MyPaint VS Adobe Illustrator

     
    Comments about MyPaint as an Alternative to Adobe Illustrator
    Top Positive Comment
    Dmitrii Kunicin
    Jun 30, 2021
    -2

    the application is suitable for use by children, simple

    Top Negative Comment
    lauraess
    Apr 3, 2024
    1

    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.

    Most Recent Comment
    mackenziecarr
    Negative Jan 12, 2025
    0

    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.

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    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
  6. GodSVG icon
     26 likes
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    GodSVG is an editor for Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) files. Unlike other editors, it represents the SVG code directly, doesn't add any metadata, and even lets you edit the SVG code in real time. GodSVG is inspired by the need for an SVG editor without abstractions that...

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • RU flagRussia

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android

    GodSVG Features

    1.  No registration required
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Works Offline
    5.  Support for SVG
    6.  GdScript

    GodSVG VS Adobe Illustrator

     
  7. Vectr icon
     91 likes
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    Vectr is completely free and browser-based, offering a quick and easy way to get started with vector editing through an intuitive interface. Since it's browser based, each image has a custom URL that you can share with others to be reviewed and collaborate in real time with multiple people. You can export your finished work as an SVG, PNG, or JPEG file. Its features are much more simple than those offered by Illustrator, so it's really not recommended for very complex projects. However, it is an excellent choice if you are a beginner with vector editing software.

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Chrome OS

    Vectr Features

    1.  Real time collaboration
    2.  Web-Based
    3.  Extensive settings menu
    4.  Convert images to PDF
    5.  Image Sharing

    Vectr VS Adobe Illustrator

     
    Comments about Vectr as an Alternative to Adobe Illustrator
    Ibuddy66
    Positive Sep 20, 2021
    0

    Vectr has a great user interface and has lots of tools to fine tune designs. They have plenty of numerical value boxes to get better results with what you want and have an easy to learn interface. I have used it for quite a few projects. Great to make new icons with too! Love it!

    Guest
    Negative Apr 6, 2017
    -4

    Cannot open existing ai- and eps-files. Exporting is very limited.

    Adobe Illustrator Icon
    Vectr icon
    • Most users think Vectr is a great Adobe Illustrator alternative.

    • Vectr is Freemium and ProprietaryAdobe Illustrator is Paid and Proprietary
7 of 56 Adobe Illustrator alternatives